my seven for your three.

the meeting. (birds don't sing)

The sun barely peeked through the thick layer of fog that clung to the horizon when the girls woke up, groggy and quiet. The weight of the day settled over them like a heavy blanket, each of them knowing what they were about to do. Today was the day they'd confront Eleanor, and May couldn't shake the feeling of dread creeping up her spine.

Lainey sat up first, rubbing her eyes before glancing at May. "Today's the day," she said, her voice unusually steady for how dark the situation felt. "Are you ready?"

May's heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't ready—not for this. But she had no choice. She had to face Eleanor.

Bianca stretched and sat up beside Lainey, her expression more serious than usual. "It's going to be hard, but you have to stay strong," she said, locking eyes with May. "We'll be there with you, but you have to be the one to talk to her."

"I don't even know what I'll say," May whispered, her voice trembling. "What if she doesn't even care? What if... what if she hates me?"

"She's going to act like she doesn't care," Lainey said, standing up and pulling on her jacket. "But that's not the point. The point is for you to get some kind of closure. You need to say what you have to say, and we'll deal with the fallout together. But this... this is for you."

Bianca nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and don't let her talk circles around you. She's going to try to deflect, or make excuses, but you have to be direct. Make her face it."

May swallowed hard, feeling the pressure building. Her hands were already trembling just thinking about seeing Eleanor again. After everything that had happened—after all the lies, all the heartache—what would she even say?

"What if she just walks away?" May asked quietly.

"She won't," Lainey replied, her voice firm. "Because you're not going to let her. You're not the same person you were when she did all that to you. You're stronger now."

May wasn't sure if she believed that, but she nodded, trying to summon the courage she didn't quite feel.

They packed up their things and climbed into the car, the tension hanging thick in the air as they drove toward Eleanor's house. The streets were still empty, the early morning haze making everything look dreamlike. May stared out the window, her stomach churning with anxiety.

When they pulled up to Eleanor's house, the knot in May's stomach tightened even more. She hadn't been here in so long. The familiar white picket fence, the neatly trimmed lawn—it all seemed so normal, but nothing about this situation felt normal.

"Go ahead," Lainey urged from the driver's seat, giving May a nudge.

Taking a deep breath, May stepped out of the car and walked up the path to the front door. Her hands shook as she raised her fist to knock. The door creaked open, and there stood Eleanor's mom, her face tightening into a scowl the moment she saw May.

"What do you want?" Eleanor's mom asked, her tone dripping with cold disdain. Her eyes flicked over May with barely concealed disgust.

May swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm looking for Eleanor. Is she home?"

"She's out with a friend," her mother replied icily. "Somewhere in town. I suggest you look elsewhere."

The door slammed shut before May could say another word, leaving her standing there, feeling hollow. She turned slowly and made her way back to the car.

"Cold, huh?" Lainey asked, raising an eyebrow as May slid back into the passenger seat.

"Yeah," May mumbled, feeling the sting of Eleanor's mom's words. "She's somewhere in town. With a friend."

Lainey didn't say anything, but Bianca reached over and squeezed May's hand. "We'll find her."

The hours dragged on as they drove around the small town, searching for any sign of Eleanor. Every street felt like a dead end, and every corner seemed to lead them further away from their goal. The tension in the car grew with every minute, the weight of what they were about to do hanging over them like a cloud.

It wasn't until they passed the diner on Main Street that May finally saw her—through the large glass window, Eleanor was sitting in a booth, leaning in close to a guy. May's heart stopped. She recognized that booth—the same one Eleanor used to take her to. The same diner where they'd shared countless moments. And now, there she was, laughing and kissing someone else as if none of it had ever mattered.

"There she is," May whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lainey's eyes darted to the window, her jaw tightening. "Let's go."

They parked the car a block away and walked toward the diner, each step feeling heavier than the last. May's palms were sweaty, her throat dry, but she forced herself to keep moving. She had to do this.

When they entered the diner, the bell above the door jingled softly, drawing Eleanor's attention. She looked up, and for a brief moment, her eyes met May's. Her smile faltered, but she quickly composed herself, pulling away from the guy she'd been kissing. She whispered something to him, and he got up and left without a word, leaving the three girls standing in front of her.

"Eleanor," May began, her voice shaky but determined.

Eleanor didn't respond. She crossed her arms and stared at May, her expression unreadable.

"We need to talk," May said, forcing herself to hold Eleanor's gaze.

Eleanor let out a slow breath, her face hardening into something cold, detached. "Not here," she said quietly, her voice void of any emotion. "We'll talk at the park."

May blinked in confusion. "Why can't we talk now?"

"I said, we'll talk at the park," Eleanor repeated, standing up from the booth and grabbing her purse. She brushed past May without another word, her movements stiff and calculated, as if she were keeping something bottled up.

Lainey's eyes followed Eleanor with suspicion, while Bianca reached for May's arm, gently pulling her back.

"We'll go to the park," Bianca said softly. "But don't let her control this. You're the one who needs answers."

May nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as they followed Eleanor out of the diner and into the looming uncertainty of what would come next.