Previously :
"Why is it so hard for you to tell me the truth?" Ellie asked. Her voice cracked just a little. "It's not about her. It's about you not letting me in."
Bella froze. For a second, she didn't know what to say. Ellie's words hit somewhere deep — the place she always tried to keep locked.
"I'm sorry," Bella whispered. "I just… don't know how to explain it."
The next morning felt strange.
Not bad. Just… off.
Ellie was already awake when Bella stepped into the kitchen. She was moving around a little too efficiently, humming to herself while making coffee. Two cups sat on the counter, perfectly aligned.
"Morning," Bella said.
"Morning!" Ellie replied quickly, almost too quickly. She slid one cup toward Bella. "Coffee."
Bella eyed her. "You're in a good mood."
Ellie smiled wide. "I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
Bella took the cup. "No reason."
Ellie nodded, satisfied. A beat passed.
"And just to be clear," Ellie added, casually leaning against the counter, "I'm not mad about anything."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say you were."
"I know. I'm just saying. For no reason."
Bella took a sip. "That sounds like a reason."
Ellie pointed at her. "No. This is me being… aggressively normal."
Bella snorted before she could stop herself.
They sat at the table in a quiet that wasn't uncomfortable—just cautious. Ellie kept talking, filling the space with stories about the restaurant, about a customer who complained the soup was too hot, about nothing important at all.
Halfway through her story, Ellie stopped.
She frowned slightly, staring at her own coffee.
Why was she doing this?
Bella wasn't her girlfriend. They weren't anything. Bella could text whoever she wanted, talk to whoever she wanted. Ellie knew that. Rationally.
So why did Alice's name still irritate her?
Ellie sighed and shook her head. Get it together.
Later that afternoon, they ended up on the couch, a movie playing quietly in the background. Bella was scrolling through her phone, face neutral.
Ellie tried not to look.
She failed.
"I mean," Ellie said suddenly, sitting up straighter, "she texts you a lot."
Bella looked at her. "Who?"
Ellie waved a hand. "Alice. Obviously."
Bella blinked. "Okay."
Ellie crossed her arms. "Like… does she not have a life? Or hobbies? Or… other friends?"
Bella stared at her for a second.
"…Are you okay?"
Ellie froze.
Oh.
She replayed her words in her head. The tone. The speed. The fact that she sounded like a jealous ex instead of… whatever she was supposed to be.
She cleared her throat. "I'm fine. I don't care. I just— as a friend— think she's mildly annoying."
Bella tilted her head. "You care."
"I do not."
"You do."
Ellie exhaled. "I care about your phone battery."
Bella laughed softly. That sound made Ellie feel both relieved and embarrassed.
There was a pause, then Bella locked her phone and set it aside.
"She's not just an old friend," Bella said quietly.
Ellie's heart skipped. "Oh."
Bella's eyes stayed on her hands. "We were together. For a long time."
Ellie swallowed. "Together… together?"
Bella nodded. "Yes."
Ellie reached for her water and immediately knocked it over.
"—Shit."
She scrambled for a towel, knocking her knee against the table in the process.
"I'm okay," she said quickly, even though no one had asked. "Totally okay. Cool. Very cool information."
Bella watched her with a small, almost fond smile.
Ellie finally sat back down, cheeks warm. Her mind raced.
So Bella wasn't straight.
Not that it mattered. Obviously. That wasn't the point.
But it also… mattered. A little.
Ellie frowned at herself. Don't be stupid.
"You don't owe me anything," Ellie said, more seriously now. "I mean it. You don't have to explain yourself to me."
"I know," Bella said.
Ellie hesitated, then added more quietly, "I just didn't like seeing her make you uncomfortable."
Bella looked at her then, really looked at her.
"Thank you," she said.
The movie kept playing, forgotten.
Bella's phone buzzed on the table.
Neither of them reached for it.
Ellie glanced at the screen, then away. "So," she said, trying to sound casual again, "she was your ex."
Bella sighed. "Unfortunately."
Ellie nodded. "That explains a lot."
Bella turned to her. "Like what?"
Ellie smiled, small and a little shy. "Why I was being weird."
Bella smirked. "You were."
"I know," Ellie said. "Please never quote me on that."
Bella laughed, leaning back into the couch.
For the first time since last night, the space between them felt lighter.
Bella was still smiling when the laughter faded.
The movie kept playing, but neither of them was really watching anymore. Ellie shifted on the couch, suddenly aware of how close they were sitting. Too close to be accidental. Too far to do anything about it.
Bella reached for the blanket between them.
Ellie's hand moved at the same time.
Their fingers brushed.
It was barely anything — just a soft, accidental touch.
Still, Ellie froze.
Bella did too.
"Sorry," Ellie said quickly.
"It's okay," Bella replied, just as fast.
Neither of them pulled away right away.
Ellie could feel the warmth of Bella's fingers against hers, the faint pressure, the hesitation. Her heart started beating faster for no logical reason.
This is stupid, Ellie told herself. Don't make it weird.
She slowly pulled her hand back.
Bella's hand lingered a second longer before resting on the blanket.
The space between them felt louder than before.
Ellie cleared her throat. "So… Alice."
Bella hummed. "What about her?"
Ellie looked at her, then away. "I guess that explains why you don't look at her the way you look at me."
The words slipped out before Ellie could stop them.
Silence.
Ellie's stomach dropped. Shit.
Bella turned to her, eyebrows slightly raised. "How do I look at you?"
Ellie swallowed. "I didn't mean, I just forget I said that."
Bella studied her face, her expression unreadable.
"You're not wrong," Bella said softly.
Ellie's breath caught. "About…?"
"The difference."
Ellie laughed, nervous. "Okay, now I'm confused."
Bella didn't answer right away. She leaned back against the couch, her shoulder brushing Ellie's arm.
Just enough to feel intentional.
"You're easy," Bella said quietly. "With her, I'm always on edge."
Ellie's pulse jumped. "Easy how?"
Bella turned her head, their faces suddenly much closer than before. Too close.
"Safe," Bella said.
Ellie forgot how to breathe.
For a moment, she thought Bella might move closer. Or maybe she would. She couldn't tell.
Ellie forced herself to look away first.
"Don't say things like that," she muttered, half joking. "You'll give me the wrong idea."
Bella smiled not teasing, not playful.
"Maybe you already have it."
Ellie's laugh came out softer this time.
"Yeah," she said. "Maybe."
The phone buzzed again on the table.
Neither of them looked at it.
Ellie reached for the blanket, this time deliberately. Her hand brushed Bella's again, and this time, she didn't apologize.
They stayed like that, close but not touching, the air between them heavy with something neither of them was ready to name.