CRUEL SUMMER

9: Oh...

OLIVIA'S LIFE was officially ruined. Although it felt nice to get it off her chest, coming out to her brothers at a party was not how she imagined it. She would rather have done it in her own time and certainly not in public- but she felt like she had to tell her brothers, especially because she could no longer go through it alone.

She thought coming out would make it easier, yet she couldn't shake away the anxiety and guilt. Via worried that people might've seen her go to kiss Marisa- she didn't even like Marisa! She loved Belly. No girl would ever distract her from loving Belly... and that's what hurt Via the most, especially because Belly didn't even like her back.

"Go away." Via mumbled as somebody knocked on her door. She had been cocooned in her bedsheets all morning, unable to find the strength to get up without crying. Susannah had already tried to get her up multiple times this morning, though nothing worked. Via mumbled again, "Go away, mom."

"Not mom. Laurel." The woman peeked her head in the room as she slowly opened the door. Laurel exclaimed, as she held a tray of food, "I made you a big lunch since you missed breakfast."

Via rolled over on her bed so her back was facing Laurel. She muttered, "I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten breakfast, haven't brushed your teeth, haven't gone to the bathroom." Laurel listed in worry, "Via, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing." Via deadpanned, "You can tell my mom I'm fine."

"But you're not fine." Laurel replied, as she placed the tray of food on the desk, "Whatever is going on, we can help you. You do understand that, don't you?"

Via's voice broke, "Please, just leave me alone."

Laurel sighed, before walking out of the girls room. Via rolled her eyes when Laurel didn't close the door behind her. She rolled over in her bed, before unexpectedly seeing Belly stood in the doorway. She smiled at Via, who sat up quickly as Belly walked into her room.

"Taylor's gone home, so I thought I'd make you Mickey Mouse pancakes. They might make you feel better." Belly said softly, as she placed a plate of pancakes on her bed. Belly sat down opposite her, before taking a breath, "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

Via shook her head, as the burning sensation became a lump at the back of her throat. She avoiding eye contact, as she fiddled with the material of her bedsheets.

Belly took a bite out of her pancake, before clearing her throat, "You know, I'm your best friend, right? That means we're supposed to tell each other everything." She paused at Via's silence, "You need to at least eat something, Livy."

The girl finally spoke, but her voice was hoarse from crying, "I can't."

Belly worried, "Why can't you eat? Do you feel sick? Should I tell Susannah?"

"No." Via insisted, before finally looking at Belly with tears in her eyes. She spoke shakily, "Please, don't tell anyone, Belles."

Belly panicked, "Do you not wanna eat anymore?"

"No, uh, it's not that." Via replied, as she held her stomach. She pointed to her upper stomach, "You know, this is where I feel my anxiety?" She paused, "When I'm worried I, uh, I lose my appetite."

"What are you worried about?" Belly asked curiously, "Is it the Debutante thing because, trust me, I think everyone is worried about that."

"I don't have a date." Via explained, "And I'm, uh, afraid that I will never find one."

"Livy, of course you'll have a date for the Ball." Belly reassured, as she held both of Via's hands, "You're so beautiful. I mean, I don't know what boy wouldn't wanna go with you-"

Via blurted out, "I don't want a boy."

"He doesn't have to be your boyfriend or anything." Belly exclaimed, "So, if you didn't want to commit to him then... you know, you would just dance with him-"

Via gritted her teeth, as tears swelled in her eyes as she looked down at her bedsheets, "I don't want a boy... ever."

Belly frowned, as a confused expression wrinkled upon her brow. She adjusted her posture, as a feeling of regret washing over Via. Belly realised, as she spoke softly, "Oh."

Via repeated, her head hung low into her lap as multiple tears fell onto her bedsheets, "Oh."

Belly crawled next to Via, hugging her head into her chest as her chin rested on Via's head. She cried into her chest, as Belly reassured, "Hey, hey. It's okay. Breathe, Livy."

Via cried, "I don't know what to do."

Belly cupped Via's face, wiping the tears away from her cheeks. She smiled slightly, "You're my best friend. I'll always love you, you know that, right?" She paused, "Does anybody else know?"

"I-I told Connie and Jere yesterday." Via replied, taking a breath.

Belly tilted her head to the side, "That's why you were crying?" She guessed, as Via nodded. Belly smirked, "Wait, do you know what this means?"

Via deadpanned, "That I'm gay."

Belly exclaimed, "Well, yeah, but, this means we can find you a girl friend for the Ball." She held both of Via's hands, shaking them in excitement, "It's gonna be so cute-"

"I haven't even come out to the moms yet, Belles." Via interrupted, "And I don't think I'm gonna go to the Deb Ball anymore."

"What?" Belly's smile dropped, as she clasped her hands together. She begged, "Please, go. I can't be there without you! We can go together, as friends. Plus, you've already brought your dress. Please, please, please!"

Via smirked, "If I say yes, will you lower your voice?"

a/n:
a chill chapter before i break all of you in the future😈😈