51

The walls almost closed in as I lay there on Iris' bed.

Iris was getting ready for her date with Carol, humming to herself as she went through her wardrobe, picking out clothes for the night. Her excitement was the only thing filling the space, but I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"I think Daniela and I broke up," I blurted suddenly.

Iris froze, her eyes going wide as she blinked a few times, clearly shocked. She didn't immediately respond, instead standing there for a moment.

What?" She asked quietly, her voice a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

I nodded slowly, the lump in my throat growing larger. "We haven't talked in days. She's just... gone. And I haven't heard from her at all. I tried, Iris, I really did, but every time I reach out, it's like... nothing. I think it's over. For real this time. I- I just... ever since we got back from Santorini, shit's been going on."

"What's been going on?" She frowned.

I had to tell someone, and Iris was the one who always been there for me. So, I finally let it all spill out, the truth I'd been holding back.

"Adeline." I whisper shakily. "She found out about Daniela and I. Kept calling it an affair, but it... it was so much more than that! She started threatening me. Saying she'd tell my dad about us--about everything. Then... Cameron, She used him, Iris. She tried to make me go out with him to make Daniela jealous.I didn't want to hurt Daniela like that, but Adeline kept pushing. She didn't care about the consequences. She just wanted control! H-Hell, that time I said if anyone asked where I was, I was at your house... that's because Cameron tried to kiss me!"

Her jaw dropped. "What the actual fuck?" Her hands clenched into fists. "What... why did she use Cameron? Cameron as in, our Cameron? Wh-what..?"

I sat up and faced her. "Cameron Taylor. Adeline Taylor." I said. "Her nephew."

"I swear, I'm going to--" she started, her voice thick with frustration, but she stopped herself, taking a deep breath as she turned back to face me. "This is insane, Victoria. This is crazy! You don't deserve this. Nobody deserves this."

"I know," I whispered, voice breaking. "But she's already won. She's broken us apart. Daniela thinks I'm cheating on her with Cameron."

"You have to talk to her, Vic." She said. "You have to tell her the truth-- what Adeline's doing. That it's her fucking fault!"

My jaw clenched at her words, thinking for myself how on earth I'd tell her.

"If I tell her... Adeline will know and she'll tell my dad. She'll tell the entire fucking world." I mumble. "A student and a teacher, fuck!" I fell back on her bed again, spread out like a star fish.

I whisper. "I don't know what to do."

Iris sat beside me, running a hand through her hair and let out a sigh, like she was trying to hold everything together for both of us.

Then she spoke, her voice quieter but cutting deeper than I expected. "Do you love her?"

"I..." My voice faltered. I wanted to say yes, so badly, but I didn't know how to say it without everything else getting in the way. I couldn't find the words. "I do... but-"

"Then why the hell haven't you said it yet?" Iris interrupted, her eyes sharp as they locked onto mine. "Victoria, do you realize the whole reason things got so messed up in the first place? It wasn't just Adeline. It was because you couldn't say those words. You were so scared of being vulnerable, of feeling something real, that you couldn't even give her the one thing she needed the most."

Holy shit.

She's right.

I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling slightly as I clicked in the security code. The familiar sound of the gate unlocking felt weird, like stepping into a different reality, one where I had to face everything I'd been avoiding.

The gate creaked open, and I hesitated for a moment, staring at the path leading up to her door.

My heart pounded in my chest.

When I reached the front door, I hesitated again, my hand hovering over the doorbell. What if she didn't want to see me? What if she hated me now? I swallowed the rising panic and pressed the button.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and there she stood. Daniela. She didn't say anything at first, just stood there, looking at me as if trying to figure out if I was real, or if I was just a figment of her imagination.

Her eyes looked dead inside.

Her nose was puffy, her hair crazy, and her face pale. She looked like she hadn't slept in days. But the moment our eyes met, something inside me broke, and I knew I couldn't wait any longer.

"Why are you here?" She asked, her voice husky.

My heart sunk at her voice. She sounds tired. "Daniela, I'm so... so sorry."

"You're sorry?" She frowned, sadness in her eyes. "I've heard that many times before. They all say that."

Everyone that ever played her.

"No, no, you don't understand!" I almost yell, but tried to keep my voice steady not to provoke her. "Please, hear me out. It's not what it-- Cameron, he's not--"

My breath caught in my throat as the door clicked shut, leaving me standing in the cold.

"Daniela!" I called out, but it was useless. The sound of the door locking hit my ears. "Daniela!"

Tears formed in my eyes as I banged against the door. "Please, please!"

"Please, let me explain!"

Silence.

I wanted to scream, to break down and beg her to open the door, to let me explain. But I knew it wouldn't change anything.

So, I waited.

I turned my back against the door, sliding down it and sitting on the step.

I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them close to my chest, my body trembling from the chilly air. My mind kept racing with all the words I wished I could've spoken, all the things I should've done differently.

But suddenly after a few minutes, maybe twenty, the door opened. I jumped up, turning around and saw her standing there. Her jaw was clenched. A mug in her hand before she held it out to me.

"Hot chocolate. Extra marshmallows." She said, her voice a lot more softer than before.

I was so confused, but quickly accepted it before she could change her mind. "Thank you." I whisper followed by a sniff. I wrap my fingers around it, feeling the warmth.

She folded her arms. "You should go home, Victoria."

I looked back up to her, ignoring her words. "You weren't at class... I was getting worried."

"I needed some time."

I gulped, looking down at the marshmallows floating. "Yeah. I get that. And I--" But before I could continue speaking, she cut me off.

She closed her eyes for a split second. "Please, Victoria. Go home, for me."

I stiffened. "Oh."

I knew she was getting a headache as she massaged her scalp. "Keep the mug, you can give it back tomorrow."

That's all she said before shutting the door.