𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

είκοσιτρία ; 23

song of the chapter:
HOMETOWN GLORY ; adele

Margarita stirred, grogginess wrapping around her like a heavy blanket. The laughter floated through her door, bright and carefree, a stark contrast to the fog that lingered in her mind. She squinted at the slivers of sunlight spilling through her curtains, reminding her of the mess she'd left behind in the dark.

"Margarita! I'm coming in!" Sarah's voice rang out, excited and light, just as Kiara chimed in with a giggle. The sound of their friendship, their warmth, made her heart ache. She scrambled to sit up, brushing her hair out of her face, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her.

The door swung open, and Sarah burst in, a whirlwind of energy, followed closely by Kiara, who looked equally enthusiastic. "Surprise! We brought breakfast!" Sarah beamed, holding a bag filled with pastries and coffee.

Margarita forced a smile, the corners of her lips twitching upwards, though she felt the weight of her secret lurking in the background. "Hey, guys," she managed, her voice raspy from sleep.

Kiara's eyes scanned the room, catching the crumpled note on the bed, but she said nothing. Instead, she stepped forward, setting the bag down on the nightstand. "You okay? You weren't answering your texts."

"Yeah, just... slept in," Margarita replied, her heart racing slightly as she avoided eye contact. She didn't want them to see the shadows under her eyes or the remnants of her choices still hanging over her like a dark cloud.

"Girl, you've got to take care of yourself!" Sarah said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "We were worried."

"I'm fine, really," Margarita insisted, her tone a bit sharper than she intended. "Just needed some rest."

Sarah shared a glance with Kiara, a hint of concern flashing across her face, but she quickly brushed it off. "Alright, breakfast is here, and we're having a mini reunion! Just us girls!"

Margarita nodded, feeling the warmth of their camaraderie but also the tension of her hidden struggles. As they sat together, laughter and chatter filled the space, but beneath it all, she felt the creeping anxiety of the weight still sitting in her pocket.

While they dug into pastries and coffee, the noise of their laughter faded into the background as Margarita's thoughts spiraled. Part of her wanted to lean into this moment, to forget everything else, but another part reminded her that she was still playing a dangerous game. Would they notice? Would they care?

But for now, as they shared stories and playful banter, she forced herself to focus on them, pushing her inner turmoil deep down, at least until she could be alone again.

As they laughed and reminisced, Margarita's mind drifted back to Barry. The memory of that moment in his living room, the weight of the bag in her pocket, consumed her thoughts. Each bite of pastry felt heavy in her stomach, as if it could never quite fill the void that had opened up inside her.

She glanced at her phone, half-expecting a message from him, though she hadn't even saved his number. But the thought of reaching out sent a shiver of both excitement and fear down her spine. What would she even say? "Hey, I need more"? It felt reckless, but the pull was undeniable. The high had started to fade, and she was already craving that escape again.

"Earth to Margarita!" Sarah waved her hand in front of her face, pulling her back to the moment. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just...thinking," Margarita replied, forcing a smile. She couldn't let them see her turmoil, not when they were trying to pull her back into the light.

"Thinking about what?" Kiara leaned in, her expression curious. "You know you can tell us anything, right?"

"Just...life, I guess," Margarita said, her voice lacking conviction. "You know, it's been a lot since I got back." She tried to sound casual, but inside, her heart raced with the urge to escape this moment and text Barry for more.