Beneath the Surface

Nicole woke up to the silence in the room, the dim light filtering through her curtains casting a melancholy glow on everything it touched. She had stayed home from school, avoiding the world outside her door. The pain from the night before still lingered in her chest like a heavy weight. Her mind replayed her final words to Andrew and his silent withdrawal afterwards. She hadn't wanted him to look at her like she was the one at fault. But that's exactly what happened.

Her phone buzzed on the bed beside her, but she ignored it. Violet's messages piled up, each one a little more urgent than the last. She couldn't bring herself to face her best friend or anyone else, really. The numbness felt safer than facing the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

Her mother then knocked gently on her door, "Nicole, are you okay?"

Nicole didn't respond.

Her mother opened the door slightly, her voice filled with concern, "You've been quiet for days. You don't have to talk to me, but I don't want you to be alone in this."

Poor mom thought Nicole is just heartbroken due to grandmother's death. Little did she know.

Nicole sat up, staring at the wall, feeling detached from everything. "I'm fine, mom. I just need some time."

Her mother sighed softly but didn't push her. "Whenever you're ready." She left the door slightly open, her presence was a subtle reminder that Nicole wasn't alone, even if it felt that way.

Nicole curled up under the covers, drowning in her isolation. The walls around her felt like a cage, the silence suffocating.

Meanwhile, Andrew sat in the park, staring at the phone in his hand. He hadn't called Nicole back. He hadn't texted. Every time he thought about picking up the phone, he hesitated. His mind kept running in circles, and his heart waged an internal war.

David then sat next to him, watching him in silence. Finally, David spoke up, "You're not going to fix this by avoiding her, you know."

Andrew didn't look up. "I can't fix it. I don't know how."

David sighed, exasperated. "Then tell her everything. The whole damn truth. This thing- whatever it is with your father, the mess with Nicole- none of it is going to get better until you come clean."

Andrew gripped the phone tighter, his knuckles turning white. "She doesn't need to know everything. It's too much."

David's voice softened. "Is it really about what she needs? Or is it about what you're afraid of losing?"

Andrew didn't respond. He couldn't. David's words cut deep, and reality of it all was starting to hit him. He had been pushing Nicole away to protect her, but in the process, he had alienated the one person who mattered the most. He wanted to tell her; he wanted to make everything right- but the fear of losing control held him back.

"I'll figure it out," Andrew muttered, standing up and walking away, the weight of his own indecision pulling him further into confusion.

Violet stood at Nicole's door, knocking until she could hear the soft shuffle of footsteps inside. She waited a moment before pushing the door open, finding Nicole wrapped in a blanket, staring at her phone.

Nicole looked up, surprised. "Violet, what are you doing here?"

Violet didn't bother with pleasantries. "I'm not leaving until you talk to me."

Nicole stood up, her hands shaking slightly. "I'm fine, really."

"No, you are not. You've been hiding from everything for days. From me. From your family. And especially from Andrew. What happened, Nicole?"

Nicole flinched at the mention of his name. She had been avoiding and thinking about him, but now, his presence loomed over everything she did. "I don't know what to do anymore. Andrew- he just keeps pulling away. And I don't know how to fix it. I don't know if I should."

Violet stepped closer; her voice firm yet gentle. "You can't keep running from him. You can't keep pretending like you don't care. You deserve better than this. So, what are you going to do?"

Nicole felt the walls she had built around herself starting to crack. Violet was right, as always. She couldn't keep hiding from the truth. She needed to face everything.

"I don't know," Nicole whispered, the uncertainty hanging in her voice.

Violet's expression softened. "You don't need to have all the answers, Nikkie. But you do need to talk to him. Otherwise, you'll lose him."

Nicole's eyes welled up with tears, but she wiped them away quickly. "I'm scared." She admitted.

Violet hugged her tightly. "I know. But you're not alone in this. I'm here."

Later that afternoon, Nicole left her house, unsure where she was going but desperate to escape the silence. She walked through the park, trying to clear her head. That was when she saw him. Andrew sitting alone on a bench, staring out of the horizon.

Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she froze. She had wanted to avoid this confrontation but the pull to him was undeniable.

He noticed her standing there and he stood up, his face unreadable.

"Nicole, he said quietly, as if testing the waters.

She crossed her arms defensively. "What are you doing here, Andrew?"

He hesitated. "I don't know."

The words stung and Nicole felt the anger rise in her chest. "You don't know? You've been pushing me away for weeks and now you don't know?"

Andrew looked down on his feet, the weight of everything he had been hiding pressing down on him. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words never came. Instead, silence stretched between them like a vast charm.

Nicole couldn't hold it in any longer. "If you keep running, don't expect me to wait. Andrew. I'm tired of this."

Andrew's heart shattered at the words. He had been so afraid of losing her that he had pushed her away, and now it felt like it was happening, like it was all slipping through his fingers. He reached for her arm, but she pulled away.

"Don't," she said, voice cracking. "I'm done."

She walked away, her heart pounding, leaving Andrew standing there, helpless.

As she was walking home her phone buzzed, and she saw a message from Andrew's father.

"I need to speak with you. It's important."

Nicole hesitated, her stomach twisting. She had been avoiding him for days, but something in his father's message made her feel like she had to know the truth. She didn't know what to expect, but she couldn't ignore it anymore.

She typed a quick reply. "Where?"

As soon as she hit send, she stared at the screen, her heart heavy with anticipation. She didn't know what was coming, but she knew it would change everything.