Better Beginnings 💞

26 - The Circle of Trust

As I left Noah and headed to my next class, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to confide in Ruby and Elena as well. They were my closest friends, and I knew I could trust them with anything. Plus, their perspectives might shed some light on Adelaide's cryptic warnings.

After my Classes, I sought out Ruby and Elena, finding them seated at our usual table in the cafe.

"Hey, Sadie!" Ruby greeted with a warm smile as she noticed me approaching. "What's up?"

Elena looked up from her lunch, her expression mirroring Ruby's warmth. "Hey, Sadie. You look like you've got something on your mind," she observed, her tone gentle and inviting.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I slid into the seat beside them, the crumpled note burning a hole in my pocket. "I need to talk to you guys about something," I began, my voice slightly trembling with emotion.

Their concern was evident as Ruby and Elena turned their full attention to me, their expressions reflecting a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Of course, Sadie. What's going on?" Ruby asked, her voice soft and reassuring.

I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing with the weight of the secret I was about to share. But I knew I couldn't keep it bottled up any longer. With a shaky hand, I reached into my bag and pulled out the crumpled note, unfolding it slowly to reveal the ominous message scrawled across the page.

Ruby and Elena leaned in closer, their eyes scanning the words on the page with growing concern. The air seemed to thicken with tension as they processed the message, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm.

"What... What does this mean, Sadie?" Ruby asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice trembling with uncertainty. "But I think it's connected to Adelaide."

Their brows furrowed in confusion as they looked to me for answers, their expressions a mirror of the turmoil raging inside me.

"Adelaide?" Elena echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What does she have to do with this?"

I recounted the events of the previous day, describing my chance encounter with Adelaide at the school gate and the cryptic warnings she had delivered. Ruby and Elena listened intently, their eyes widening in shock as they pieced together the puzzle of Adelaide's involvement.

"So you think Adelaide knows something about your family?" Ruby asked, her voice filled with concern.

I nodded, feeling the weight of the truth settling heavily on my shoulders. "I think so," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know what she's hiding or why she's involved in all of this."

Elena reached out and gently squeezed my hand, her touch a comforting anchor amidst the storm of uncertainty. "We'll help you figure it out, Sadie," she reassured me, her voice filled with unwavering resolve.

"I appreciate you both being here. I needed to talk about this with someone other than Noah. Given his relationship with Adelaide, I couldn't fully discuss it with him," I explained gratefully to Ruby and Elena.

Ruby and Elena exchanged understanding glances, their expressions filled with empathy and solidarity. "We get it, Sadie," Ruby said softly, her voice brimming with compassion. "Family stuff can be complicated, especially when it involves someone like Adelaide."

Elena nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the depth of their shared history. "You did the right thing by confiding in us," she reassured me, her voice filled with unwavering support. "We're here for you, no matter what."