Butterflies | Charli Damelio

ch.9

**Charli's Morning:**

Charli and Dixie had started their day with coffee, a sisterly ritual that usually brought comfort, but today Charli couldn't shake the lingering sadness. Bella was still on her mind, and it showed. When they got back home, Charli took Rebel for a long walk, hoping the fresh air and music would clear her head. For an hour, she wandered the neighborhood, her thoughts spinning in circles. She wanted to feel better, to move on from the fight, but Bella's absence weighed heavily on her.

Returning home, Charli unlocked the door and found Dixie in the kitchen, talking on the phone. It looked like Noah had left. Charli put Rebel's leash away and grabbed a bottle of water before sinking into the couch, scrolling mindlessly on her phone. As she overheard the end of Dixie's conversation, her sister's words caught her attention.

**Dixie:** "Bryce needs to grow up."

The call ended, and Charli turned her gaze to Dixie.

**Charli:** "Who were you talking to, Dix?"

**Dixie:** "Vinnie."

**Charli:** "Oh."

**Dixie:** "He said Bella is doing a little better, Char."

**Charli:** "That's good."

Dixie tried to break the tension.

**Dixie:** "Umm, so what do you want to do today?"

**Charli:** "I don't know. I kinda just want to stay here."

**Dixie:** "You don't have any plans today?"

**Charli:** "Nope, just some work stuff."

Dixie sighed as Charli's attention drifted back to her phone.

**Dixie:** "Do you want to invite Avani over or something?"

Charli looked up, a hint of a smile on her lips.

**Charli:** "Dixie, you're not very good at this whole comforting thing."

**Dixie:** "I know... but I'm trying."

**Charli:** "Thanks."

Dixie perked up, trying a new approach.

**Dixie:** "How about this?"

**Charli:** "What?"

**Dixie:** "Let's go do something. Like shopping or something fun."

**Charli:** "I have a call for Born Dreamer later, and then Dad wants me to meet him at the office at 12."

**Dixie:** "Ugh, well... never mind then."

**Charli:** "It's okay. We can do something this weekend, but I appreciate your effort."

**Dixie:** "Yeah, for sure."

Charli got up, and Rebel followed her to her room. She closed the door behind them, sighing deeply. Sitting on her bed, she opened her phone and hovered over Bella's contact. She wanted to call but couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she shut off her phone and got ready for the day, pushing her emotions aside.

---

**Bella's Afternoon:**

Meanwhile, Bella had showered after the gym and spent the rest of the day locked in her room. She buried herself in mindless activities, making TikToks and watching TV, trying to distract herself from the storm of emotions swirling inside. But no matter what she did, her thoughts kept returning to her family and the weight of the news she had overheard.

She couldn't shake the memory of her mom's conversation with the doctor. The tears, the fear, the desperate plea to keep it from her siblings—Bella felt like she was drowning. How could she stay in California when her family needed her? Her thoughts drifted to Bryce and their two younger siblings back in Michigan, Bailey and Ben. Bailey was a senior this year, and Ben was just a sophomore. They were too young to deal with this alone.