Bella's POV:
I feel bad for Mia. I almost understand how it feels to be betrayed—but it wasn't betrayal. He cared for her. Still, he went too far. The scene had been almost unbearable. The look on her face when she took it all in… I couldn't see everything, thanks to that bastard. I hate him! He always shows up at the worst possible moment.
I toss the notebook across the bed. What was his name again? Knox. Why can't I stop thinking about him? Instead of focusing on exams, my mind keeps circling to a hot man I shouldn't care about. Wait… did I just admit he's hot? No. He's not hot. I slap my forehead. Silence. The house has been quiet since my parents went on a trip. I glance at my phone, debating whether to call Mia or just go see her. No question—I'm going to visit her. We need to talk.
I leap out of bed, ignoring exams. My friend matters more. I grab my coat and car keys, lock the door, and drive, all focus on getting to her as fast as possible. At a red light, I glance at the review mirror and notice a black SUV with tinted windows following me. Brand new.
The light turns green. The SUV keeps pace. Minutes pass, sweat prickling my skin. It's obvious now—I'm being followed. Bring it on. I have an advantage. I murmur under my breath, pressing the pedal to shake him.
The SUV speeds up in response. I twist through turns, lose Mia's street briefly, and finally—success. The car disappears behind me. That's strange; it's the first time anyone's followed me. Thank God Dad taught me to drive recklessly—well, more like off-reading. I remember being seventeen, him letting me drive, Mom scolding him, and me grounded for a week. Good times.
I hope Mia won't ignore me like she did to Noah. Yesterday he called, furious, begging me to talk to her. She'd avoided him the whole week. Poor rhino.
I arrive at Mia's house, park, and walk to the door. Last time, she'd mentioned living alone. It doesn't change anything. I knock. Silence. Birds chirp. I knock again. Third knock—the door creaks open just slightly.
The sight in front of me breaks my heart. Her eyes are puffy from crying; her clothes are disheveled. She fidgets with her shirt, clearly uncomfortable. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come. Pushing the awkwardness aside, I step forward and wrap her in a hug. Her hands tremble as she clutches me; soon, she grasps the back of my shirt. Her shoulders shaking. She's warm, and her chocolate scent surrounds me, bitter with sadness. We hold each other for a while, silent, until I finally whisper:
"Won't you let me in, Mia?"
I whisper. She nods silently, finally pulling away. I step inside and close the door behind me. She leads me into the living room. The walls are painted in earthy tones, with a wooden table in the center. Nature-themed wallpaper—landscapes and floral patterns—lines the walls. In the corner, grass tiles are mounted, and her trophies rest on wooden shelves. Plants are everywhere, on accent tables and hanging in pots from the ceiling. Large windows let in sunlight and offer a clear view of the outdoors. Cozy. Inviting. A perfect place to study—or recover.
"Nice room, by the way,"
I comment, hoping to lighten the mood, even if it feels unnecessary. I finally turn to her.
"How about we sit and talk?"
I suggest. She settles onto a fluffy sofa, and I follow, perching nervously across from her.
"Look, Mia… I—do you want to talk about it?"
I start, keeping the question simple, hoping it will open the door to something deeper.
Surprisingly, she answers, her voice low. "I just feel so overwhelmed. Everything seems to be going wrong lately."
I sigh. My heart twists at her words. I don't know all that happened between her and Noah, but I want to help. Think, Bella, think!
"I hear you. It's tough when it feels like the universe is against you. Want to… talk about it?"
I add softly, watching her foot tapping nervously against the floor.
She opens her mouth, hesitates, then continues.
"I guess. I just feel like Noah isn't like before. He seems… almost cold towards me. He should support me, cheer me on when I tell him about Arron, but he frowns when I mention him… and now he almost killed him."
Her voice cracks.
I frown. I've never seen Arron, but a part of me thinks Noah was doing the right thing. Still, Mia's pain matters more right now.
"You know what always helps me? A good laugh! Remember that time we tried to bake cookies and ended up with a kitchen disaster?" I suggest.
Her eyes widen, a small lift at the corners of her mouth.
"Oh gosh, yes! Flour everywhere!"
she exclaims, almost bouncing from the couch. A deer's mood can be lifted so easily.
"Exactly! And we ended up making a flour snowman instead. A total mess, but we laughed so hard!" I chuckle, remembering every chaotic detail.
"That was… really funny. I needed that,"
she admits shyly. I smile, happy that I could bring some joy back to her.
"How about we recreate that moment?" I suggest, winking playfully. "We can bake something together—this time, I promise to keep the flour contained!"
She chuckles.
"That sounds fun. I could use some laughter." Her smile brightens, and for a moment, she seems to forget about Noah entirely. Success.
"Great! And if it turns into a disaster again, we'll just make more flour snowmen! Do… you trust me with that?" I extend my hand.
"Deal! Thanks, Bella. You always know how to cheer me up,"
she says, taking my hand enthusiastically.
I pull her off the couch, and we dash toward the kitchen, laughter bubbling between us, the weight of the earlier day finally lifting—if only a little.