The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die (GirlXGirl)

Chapter 26: A Moment of Weakness

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a glow across my room like a goddamn spotlight on a stage. I rubbed my eyes and stretched, feeling the remnants of last night's emotions clinging to me like a bad hangover. It was a new day, but the weight of the conversations still sat on my chest like a stubborn cat.

With a deep breath, I pushed myself off the bed, moving through my morning routine like a robot. After a quick shower that did little to wash away the fog in my head, I threw on my favorite hoodie and jeans, hoping the cozy fabric would shield me from the bullshit waiting outside. As I brushed my hair, my mind drifted back to the car ride home with Marie—the raw honesty, the tears I'd fought like a rabid dog to keep at bay.

Stepping outside, I was startled to see Marie waiting by her car, the engine humming softly like a cat purring in the sun. Her presence surprised me, but I felt a flicker of warmth at the thought of her offering to drive us to school together. A part of me wanted to turn around and crawl back into bed, but another part—one that was still waking up—was too curious to say no.

"Hey!" I called out, my heart doing an awkward little dance as I approached her car.

"Morning! Ready to tackle the day, or are you just here for the free therapy?" Marie asked, her smile brightening the interior of the vehicle.

"Uh, yeah, sure," I replied, still caught off guard by her unexpected appearance. I climbed in, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety. "I didn't think you'd be here."

"I figured I'd surprise you," she said, her tone casual, but I could hear the glimmer of excitement in her voice. "Plus, we could use a little adventure on the way to school, right? Or at least a minor heart attack."

I nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at me like a rat in a cage. "As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, my voice laced with the remnants of fatigue.

The hum of the car engine filled the silence as we drove through the quiet streets, the lights of the passing houses casting fleeting shadows across my face. Marie glanced at me, her focus on the road ahead, yet there was an unspoken understanding simmering in the air between us, like a ticking time bomb.

I leaned against the window, my arms crossed tightly as if trying to ward off the chill of the night. I could feel the weight of the conversation we'd just left behind, the way Marie's presence seemed to chip away at the defenses I had built around myself like a fortress made of cardboard.

"So," Marie broke the silence, her voice casual, "are you going to share any more of your riveting life stories, or are we sticking with witty remarks for the night?"

I chuckled softly, grateful for the attempt to keep things light. "I think sarcasm is more my speed, you know? It's kind of my thing. You don't want the real me. Trust me, it's like a horror movie without the cool effects."

"Fair enough," Marie replied, a smile dancing on her lips. "But I have to admit, I'm kind of curious about the real you behind all the clever comments. I bet there's a juicy backstory there."

A flicker of something stirred within me—a mix of warmth and fear. I hesitated, then sighed. "Well, if you really want to know, my mom died awhile ago. It was... not great." I paused, the words feeling heavy on my tongue. "It kind of shattered everything. Like, one minute, I had this whole life mapped out, and the next, I was just—poof—staring into the void."

I looked out the window, trying to keep my expression neutral, but the weight of my past pressed down on me like a ton of bricks. "She was the kind of mom who believed in fairy tales, you know? Always had this wild sparkle in her eye, like she could light up the entire room just by breathing. She made everything feel... magical, even when life was a shitstorm. And then, just like that, she was gone. No warning. It was like someone flipped a switch, and all the color drained from my world."