Broken Promise

Chapter 7: The Betrayal

The air was thick with tension as Faele walked through the school hallways, her mind racing with thoughts of Vince. After their last conversation, she had hoped for clarity and connection, but instead, confusion clouded her heart. She had been trying to reach out to him, but every time she saw him with Stella or caught snippets of their laughter, a knot tightened in her stomach.

That afternoon, as she approached the cafeteria for lunch, Faele spotted Stella and Vince sitting together at a table. They were deep in conversation, their heads close together, laughter spilling from their lips like a melody that felt all too familiar yet painfully distant.

Faele hesitated at the entrance, uncertainty gnawing at her. Should she join them? Or would it only amplify the growing rift in her heart? She took a deep breath and stepped inside, determined to confront whatever feelings were brewing inside her.

“Hey!” Faele called out, forcing a smile as she approached their table.

Stella looked up first, her expression shifting from surprise to warmth. “Faele! Come sit with us!”

Vince turned to her, his smile faltering for just a moment before he masked it with casual indifference. “Hey, Faele.”

As she sat down across from them, the atmosphere felt charged—an electric current of unspoken words hanging in the air. Faele tried to engage in light conversation, but every laugh from Stella and glance from Vince felt like a dagger to her heart.

“Did you hear about the dance next week?” Stella asked, attempting to lighten the mood.

“Yeah,” Faele replied absently, her gaze drifting toward Vince. “Are you going?”

“I might,” he said nonchalantly, but there was something in his tone that made Faele’s stomach churn.

Just then, Stella leaned closer to Vince and whispered something that made him laugh—a genuine laugh that echoed in Faele’s ears like a taunt. The sight twisted something deep within her; it felt like betrayal wrapped in the guise of friendship.

“Excuse me for a second,” Faele said abruptly, rising from the table before either of them could respond. She needed air—space to think away from the laughter that felt like a cruel reminder of what she was losing.

Outside the cafeteria, she leaned against the cool wall and closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. Why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like every moment spent with them was another reminder of her isolation?

Suddenly, she heard voices approaching—Stella and Vince were coming out together. Faele’s heart raced as she pressed herself further against the wall, hoping they wouldn’t notice her.

But then she heard it—the unmistakable sound of lips meeting lips followed by soft laughter. Her eyes flew open just in time to see Stella lean in and kiss Vince softly on the lips.

Time seemed to freeze around her as shock coursed through Faele's veins like ice water. The world blurred as betrayal washed over her—sharp and painful. She wanted to scream but found herself rooted to the spot, unable to move or react.

Vince pulled back slightly, a look of surprise mingled with delight on his face. “Wow,” he said softly, almost breathless.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” Stella admitted shyly, biting her lip as if testing the waters.

Faele’s heart shattered into countless pieces as she stood there hidden from view. How could this happen? How could they betray her like this? The promise of friendship felt hollow now—an empty shell filled with deceit.

She turned away quickly before they could see her—a rush of emotions overwhelming her as tears threatened to spill over. It felt like everything she had held onto was slipping through her fingers; trust had been shattered in an instant.

As she hurried down the hallway away from them, memories flooded back—moments shared with Stella when they had promised each other they would always be there for one another. But now those promises felt meaningless; they had been broken without hesitation.

Faele stumbled into an empty classroom and shut the door behind her, leaning against it as sobs wracked her body. She felt lost—adrift in a sea of confusion and heartbreak.

Why did it hurt so much? Why couldn’t she just let go?

In that moment of vulnerability, Faele realized how deeply intertwined love and friendship could be—and how easily they could turn into betrayal when least expected. The weight of loss pressed down on her chest again; this time it wasn’t just about losing her parents—it was about losing trust in those who mattered most.

As tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked, Faele knew she had to confront this pain head-on; she couldn’t allow herself to be consumed by it any longer. But how could she face Stella again? How could she look at Vince without feeling that sharp sting of betrayal?

With shaky breaths and determination igniting within her heart, Faele wiped away her tears and steeled herself for whatever came next—knowing that this betrayal would change everything.