Chapter 26: "A Peaceful Day"
The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Gabby was already up and in the bathroom, bathing and getting ready for the day. The two figures in the beds were still asleep, but Nell's eyes fluttered open first. She lay there for a moment, watching Tris sleep peacefully. A gentle smile spread across her face as she gazed at her. She took her phone from the nightstand. She saw a text from her mom and quickly opened to read her mom's message about them being fine and wished her a good day. She smiled and placed the phone down.
Nell carefully got out of bed, trying not to disturb Tris. She began to make her bed, folding the blankets neatly and smoothing out the wrinkles. As she worked, she noticed that Gabby's bed was empty, and she realized that Gabby must be in the bathroom.
Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Gabby emerged, her hair wrapped in a towel and a hint of frostiness in her demeanor. Nell greeted her with a warm smile. "Good morning, Gabby."
Gabby nodded curtly, her expression unreadable. Tris stirred at the sound of their voices and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Morning," she mumbled, checking the time on her phone. "It's 7:06."
"How was your first night here?" Gabby asked Nell, her tone a bit softer than before.
"It was fine, thanks," Nell replied. "The bed was comfortable."
Since it was Sunday, the girls didn't have any pressing plans. They decided to take their baths and get dressed at their leisure. Tris was starving, but she didn't want to go out and face those bullies again. Gabby smirked at her, seeming to read her mind.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Tris got up to answer it, expecting it to be a neighbor or perhaps a delivery. To her surprise, it was a woman in a canteen uniform, carrying a tray of food. "Someone ordered breakfast for you girls," she said with a warm smile.
Tris's eyes lit up as she took the tray from the woman. "Thank you so much!" she exclaimed.
The woman smiled and patted Tris's hand. "You're welcome, dear. I'm glad you're enjoying the food."
As Tris brought the tray into the kitchen, Nell asked, "Who ordered breakfast?"
Tris looked puzzled. "I'm not sure. I didn't order it."
They both turned to Gabby, who was focused on her phone. Feeling their stares, she looked up. "If you won't eat it, you might as well throw it away."
Realization dawned on them, and they turned to Gabby with surprise. "You ordered breakfast?" Tris asked, a smile spreading across her face.
Gabby rolled her eyes. "You can't possibly starve your sister and friend, right?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Tris grinned, feeling touched by Gabby's gesture. "Thanks, Gabby," Nell said, smiling.
The kitchen was warm and inviting, with the delicious aroma of breakfast wafting through the air. The food was laid out on the island, a spread of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon. The girls dug in, complementing the food and enjoying each other's company.
After breakfast, Nell volunteered to do the dishes, but Tris insisted on helping her. Gabby watched them with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
As they finished cleaning up, Gabby called Tris into the bedroom. "Trisha, I want to talk to you," she said, her voice low.
Tris excused herself and followed Gabby into the bedroom. "What's up, Gabby?" she asked, closing the door behind her.
"What has come over you, Tris?" Gabby asked, her brow furrowed in concern. "I know you felt guilty about what happened yesterday. Feeding and taking care of her, I understand. But why are you washing and cleaning? Aren't there people to do these things?"
Tris sighed, trying to explain. "It's not that, Gabby. I just want Nell to feel less pressured. She's already going through a lot."
Gabby's expression softened slightly. "Whatever your reasons are, I hope Uncle doesn't hear about this. You never know what he'll think."
Tris felt a pang of frustration. "Gabby, it's not about what dad thinks. It's about being kind and compassionate."
Gabby's expression turned cold again. "Just be careful, Tris. That's all I'm saying."
With that, Gabby left the bedroom, leaving Tris feeling a bit bewildered. Nell was standing in the hallway, and Nell nodded to Gabby as she passed by.
"Gabby didn't mean what she said," Tris told Nell, knowing she heard everything."I don't feel guilty towards you, I just like you."
Nell smiled and moved forward to hug Tris. "I know you like me, and Gabby will too. Don't worry."
The two friends hugged. As they pulled back, Nell asked, "So, what do you want to do today?"
Tris I want to properly thank the boy who helped us yesterday, Nell said.
You mean Leo, Tris asked surprised.
You know him? Nell asked.
Not really, ok we will do so wherever we meet him, Tris assured her.
Tris grinned, trying to change the topic without being fishy. "Well, since we're not going anywhere, how about we just relax and hang out?"
The girls spent the rest of the morning chatting and laughing, enjoying each other's company. As the day went on, they ordered food, took a nap, and generally enjoyed their lazy Sunday.
As they sat down to dinner, Tris started, "We should probably get some sleep soon. We have our first day of classes tomorrow."
Nell nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm excited but also a bit nervous. What are you guys majoring in?"
Tris smiled. "I'm majoring in architecture."
Nell's eyes widened. "That's amazing! I'm majoring in medicine."
Gabby, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "I'm majoring in computer engineering."
Nell's eyes lit up. "No wonder you're always on your phone!"
The girls laughed, and the conversation flowed easily.
As they finished their meal, Tris yawned, feeling content and full. "I think it's time for bed," she said, smiling at Nell and Gabby.
The others nodded in agreement, and they retired to the bedroom.They all took their bath and slammed on the bed. Each having their own thoughts.
The next morning would bring a new set of challenges, but for now, they could just enjoy the peacefulness of the evening.
As they drifted off to sleep, Nell felt a sense of belonging and happiness. She was excited to start her new life and make memories with her new friends.
RB