Chapter 2: The best friend

Merlina Sanchez stood at the front door, her knuckles rapping against it once. She waited, her heart thumping with excitement and a bit of uncertainty, the door swung open with a dramatic flourish.

"Amelia! You totally forgot about me, didn't you?" Merlina grinned, the words teasing, her eyes gleaming.

Amelia's face lit up instantly, and without hesitation, she pulled Merlina into a tight hug. The familiar scent of sandalwood and creamy vanilla surrounded Merlina, mixing with the chaotic comfort of their friendship. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warmth seep into her bones.

"No way. You're my best best friend," Amelia replied, shaking Merlina by the shoulders. The playful move made Merlina wince, her eyes rolling as she grinned despite the discomfort.

"Let go, it hurts," Merlina deadpanned, though she couldn't stop the smile creeping onto her lips. "And saying I'm your best best friend doesn't change the fact that you totally ghosted me."

Amelia laughed, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "Oh, come on, drama queen," she teased, rolling her eyes.

"Aren't you a little too generous, passing on your title, huh?" Merlina shot back with a raised eyebrow, crossing her arms in playful defiance.

The next thing Merlina knew, she was collapsing onto Amelia's bed. The sheets were so ridiculously soft that it almost felt like she was sinking into them. She sighed in bliss as she rolled over onto her back, eyes wandering across the room.

"Damn, your bed is ridiculously comfy," Merlina mumbled to herself, flipping through a crisp issue of Vogue. She paused on a page, her fingers skimming over the glossy texture, lost in thought.

"It's the one thing I'll miss when we move to NYC!" Amelia's voice broke through her momentary trance. Merlina froze, her breath catching in her throat.

A part of her had known it was coming, but hearing Amelia's words made it all too real. "Ah... about that," Merlina started, her voice quieter now. She sat up slightly, holding the magazine in her hands, the pages suddenly feeling far too stiff. "I'm not going to NYC."

The silence that followed was heavy, thick with unspoken words. Amelia froze in place, her eyes wide, as if she hadn't quite heard what Merlina had just said.

"No, no, no—don't say that," Amelia whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Merlina sighed, shifting uncomfortably. She had prepared herself for this moment, but it still hurt. "Listen. My mom always wanted me to go to Belview College. In Connecticut."

Amelia's face fell, the disappointment clear in her expression. "Seriously? Merlina Sanchez... We've been planning this for like, three freaking years."

Merlina bit her lip, guilt twisting in her chest. "I know," she said softly. "But things change. I feel like I owe it to her—to make some of her dreams come true. It's the only thing I can do for her now."

A long pause hung in the air. Amelia's gaze softened, but her hurt was still visible. "We've literally had this college dream forever," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

Merlina's heart twisted. She wanted to stay, to make this work. But she couldn't deny the pull of something else. "I know," she replied, her voice barely audible. "But some things overrule friendship."

Amelia's shoulders slumped slightly, but she forced a smile, her face softening. "Well... there's always FaceTime, right?" she said, a hint of lightness returning to her voice.

Merlina nodded, her own smile returning, though it was small. "Yeah," she agreed. They shared a genuine smile, small but real, as if to acknowledge the shifting tides of their lives.

Later that night, Merlina lay in her bed, a bowl of popcorn resting on her stomach, her favorite show playing on the screen. The soft, comfortable atmosphere of her room enveloped her, offering a small sense of normalcy in the chaos of everything changing.

Just as she reached for another handful of popcorn, a knock on her door broke the peaceful silence.

"Family meeting. Now," came her father's voice from the other side.

Merlina groaned and reluctantly turned off the TV, setting the bowl aside as she pushed herself out of bed. The last thing she wanted to do was be dragged into another one of Aiden's ridiculous family meetings.

In the living room, the usual tension was thick in the air. Melissa lounged on the couch, eyes glued to her phone. Alistair was scrolling through his, not even looking up as their father, Aiden, and Fiona entered. The moment Aiden walked in, the atmosphere shifted, like the air had become too heavy to breathe.

"Life is easier when everyone makes an effort," Aiden began, his voice flat, but there was an edge to it. "Peace doesn't just happen. It's built."

He scanned the room, his eyes landing on Merlina. She could feel his gaze, like he was waiting for something from her.

"The way you treat Fiona..." Aiden's voice grew colder. "It's uncalled for. She cares about you—like any mother would. And she's going to be my wife."

Merlina bristled at the mention of Fiona, her body tensing. She didn't even realize she had clenched her fists until she heard her younger brother Alistair groan.

"Is this why we're here? I've got stuff to do," Alistair muttered, sounding irritated.

"I'm not done," Aiden snapped. "So be quiet."

Alistair shot a glare at him but didn't say anything else.

"Seriously, can we just have some peace in this house?" Aiden continued, his tone forced calm, but Merlina could hear the underlying frustration.

"Then give us what we want," Merlina shot back, her voice cool, her arms crossed in defiance.

Aiden's body stiffened at her words, but he didn't back down. "Merlina, I'm still talking," he snapped, the tension palpable.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then, in an almost unsettling shift, Aiden's face softened slightly.

"I've decided it's time I start listening—really listening—to what makes you all happy," he said, his voice quieter now. "So let's clear the air. Say whatever's on your mind."

Fiona was the first to speak, her voice bitter. "Finally! Aiden, they treat me like I'm invisible, and you always defend them."

"They're my kids, Fiona," Aiden said firmly. "I'll always defend them."

Merlina couldn't help but suppress a laugh at her father's words. Fiona scowled in response.

"Can you f*cking see?!" Fiona snapped, voice dripping with disdain.

"Language. Dad, can you hear that?" Melissa chimed in, her tone teasing.

The room erupted into chaos, everyone shouting at once. But then Aiden lost his patience.

"Enough, this is insane!" he yelled, raising his hand in a desperate attempt to restore order. "One by one—quickly, what do you want?"

Alistair was the first to speak. "Well, I'm easy to please. I just want a car ready for when I pass my driving test."

Aiden nodded. "Fine. What about you, Melissa?"

Melissa smirked. "Thanks, Dad... I just want shopping—meaning, a higher allowance?"

"Done," Aiden agreed without hesitation.

Then, his eyes landed on Merlina. "And uh... you, Merlina?"

Merlina didn't hesitate. "You already know what I want. Belview. Nothing else."

Aiden paused for a moment, clearly weighing her words. "If that'll make you happy..."

Merlina nodded firmly. "It will."

He sighed and then turned to Fiona. "Fine. Fiona?"

Fiona wasted no time. "I just want you to tell your three rebels to start showing me a little bit of respect. And like Alistair, I could use a new car too."

Merlina's disgust was impossible to hide as she gagged, but she stayed silent.

Aiden glanced at Fiona before nodding. "Done." He kissed her forehead, and the kids all groaned audibly.

"Now that I'm giving you what you need," Aiden said, his eyes sweeping across the room. "Anyone gonna ask what I want?"

There was a long silence. Then Fiona, ever the sycophant, spoke up. "What do you need, sugar lips? You know I'm always yours to spoil."

"Does anyone else feel like throwing up?" Melissa muttered under her breath.

"Melissa, do not be disrespectful," Aiden snapped, his voice sharp. "I just want you all to live in peace. Is that so hard?"

Merlina's heart sank as she watched her father try to force them into some twisted version of normal. It felt suffocating. "That's what I sincerely want," he continued, his voice softening, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I need you all to get along and live like a normal family."

Alistair rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Cool story." He got up and exited the room without a second glance.

"Goodnight, Dad," Melissa said dryly, kissing him on the cheek before leaving.

Merlina lingered. The air felt heavy, thick with unspoken words. "Goodnight, Dad," she said finally, her voice soft. "And... thanks."

She turned to leave, but then Aiden spoke again.

"We'll be flying to Connecticut tomorrow. I already bought us tickets, so pack up. Don't stay up late."

Merlina froze in place, her eyes widening. "You'll be coming?"

Aiden gave her a sharp look. "You got a problem with that?"

"No." Merlina turned quickly, not wanting to show the turmoil inside.

Merlina's voice echoed in her mind as she walked away from her father, her heart heavy with everything that had just happened.

"Tomorrow, a new chapter unfolds. College. Belview. The truth waits. And so does the dark."