Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 40-Unexpected Company and Hidden Tensions

I received a text from Brigit saying that Josh and Leroy would be coming along with her and Rhyian. Of course, it made sense—they didn't know where I lived, and those two were always looking out for me. A part of me felt reassured, though the idea of having more people here than I expected made me a little nervous.

I decided to take a quick shower to freshen up, hoping it would help me relax. After drying off, I glanced in the mirror and spent a moment fixing my hair, and adjusting my shirt. I wanted to look like everything was fine—like I wasn't weighed down by everything happening with Nick. With a small sigh, I felt somewhat satisfied with how I looked. At least on the outside, I seemed okay.

Stepping out of my room, I headed for the living room to wait for my friends. The smell of dinner drifted through the house, warm and comforting. In the living room, I saw Michael playing with Grae, keeping him entertained while Mom busied herself in the kitchen. The normalcy of the scene felt both soothing and strange at the same time, considering everything that had been on my mind.

I smiled at Michael as I walked in.

"I heard some of your friends are coming over?" Michael asked casually, not looking up as he passed Grae a toy.

"Yeah," I nodded, sitting down. "Aside from Josh and Leroy, a couple of my new classmates want to check in on me too." I smiled, trying to sound lighthearted, though a small part of me felt a little anxious about the gathering.

Michael glanced up, a faint smile on his face. "That's good. You need the company. It'll take your mind off things."

I nodded again, though deep down, I wasn't sure. I appreciated the support, but I couldn't shake the lingering heaviness of Nick's absence. Still, I tried to push the thought away, focusing instead on the fact that soon my friends would be here, filling the house with their energy.

Nearly an hour had passed when I finally heard a knock at the front door. My heart picked up pace. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous flutter in my chest, and walked slowly towards the door, wondering how this evening would unfold.

As I turned the knob and opened the door, there stood Joshua with his ever-present grin, eyes sparkling with the same energy I could always count on. "Hi, babe!" he exclaimed, pulling me into his familiar, bone-crushing hug before I could say a word. His arms wrapped around me tightly, almost lifting me off the ground. I couldn't help but laugh softly, though I could feel the air being squeezed out of my lungs.

Behind him, Leroy, Rhyian, and Brigit stood side by side on the doorstep, each one reacting differently to the moment. Leroy, tall and easygoing, smirked with his usual laid-back charm, giving me a look that said, Yeah, I know how Joshua is. His chuckle was light but laced with amusement, almost as if he pitied me for having to endure Joshua's overwhelming affection.

Rhyian, on the other hand, was calm, her posture relaxed but with an air of quiet observation. She offered me a small, reassuring smile that made me feel like everything was going to be okay. Next to her, Brigit stood, beaming warmly, her eyes twinkling in the dim evening light. Her smile was soft but genuine, and there was something comforting about it—almost like she understood what I was feeling but knew I'd get through it.

"Come in, come in," I said, my voice a little breathless as Joshua finally let go. I smoothed down my clothes, trying to regain my composure, though I couldn't help but feel a bit light-headed from the intensity of his greeting.

One by one, they stepped over the threshold and into my home. The room seemed to warm instantly with their presence, the familiar buzz of our friendship filling the space. Joshua sauntered in first, his energy contagious, while Leroy strolled in behind him, still chuckling under his breath. Rhyian followed closely, her calm demeanor balancing out Joshua's boisterousness, and Brigit was last, casting me another gentle smile as she passed through the door.

As they entered, I couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation. These were the people closest to me, yet tonight felt different, like something was about to shift. But for now, with the warmth of their company surrounding me, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the comfort of their presence.

I watched as Michael stood up, holding my younger brother Grae in his arms. His expression was a mix of curiosity and wariness as he looked at the two unfamiliar faces standing in front of him—two undeniably gorgeous women, Brigit and Rhyian. I could see the way his eyes flickered between them, trying to make sense of their presence.

From behind me, I heard the sound of footsteps, and within seconds, my mom emerged from the kitchen, her usual warm and welcoming energy filling the room.

"Oh, hi there!" Mom exclaimed with her usual enthusiasm, her eyes bright as she took in our unexpected guests.

"Mom, Michael, these are my friends from school—Brigit and Rhyian. And, of course, you already know Josh and Leroy." I smiled as I introduced them, hoping to ease some of the tension in the room.

Brigit, ever polite and graceful, spoke first. "Good evening, Mrs. Latrelle, sir," she said, nodding towards Michael, who still held Grae in his arms. "We just wanted to visit Arwen," she added with a sweet smile, her voice soft and respectful.

"Of course, of course! Please, have a seat," Mom replied warmly, gesturing towards the sofas. I could see her eyes light up, always thrilled to meet new faces.

As everyone began settling in, I noticed Josh making his way over to Michael, gently taking Grae from him. Michael, now free of my squirming little brother, sat down on one of the sofas. But something about his demeanor made me uneasy. His eyes hadn't left Brigit and Rhyian since they arrived, and I could see the slight furrow in his brow—his forehead creased with suspicion, as though something about them didn't sit right with him.

I tried to catch his gaze, silently pleading with him to stop. Please don't make that face, I thought to myself. But it was no use; Michael wasn't someone who easily hid his feelings. His guarded expression remained, and I could see that it wasn't lost on Rhyian either. From the corner of her eye, she was studying him too—though her face stayed perfectly neutral, there was a flicker of something in her eyes, a silent exchange between them that I couldn't quite decipher.

"Well, are you all going to join us for dinner?" Mom asked brightly, her tone cheerful as always, trying to make everyone feel comfortable.

Before I could respond, Brigit stepped in with her usual charm, flashing those big, innocent puppy eyes that made it hard for anyone to say no to her. "Actually, Mrs. Latrelle, would it be okay if we invited Arwen to have dinner with us? It's just two blocks away from here," she said, her voice sweet but persuasive.

I glanced at Mom, knowing how easily she could be swayed by that look. But what really caught my attention was Michael's reaction. His hardened expression seemed to falter, softening as he looked at Brigit. It was almost as if he'd seen that kind of charisma before—like something about her disarmed him, but he wasn't sure whether to trust it. His brow relaxed, and for a moment, he looked unsure, which was rare for him.

Mom, of course, was already smiling, charmed by Brigit's request. "Well, if it's just two blocks away... I suppose that's fine," she said, glancing at Michael for confirmation.

Michael hesitated for a moment, still processing. I could tell he wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea, but something about the way Brigit asked seemed to make it hard for him to object. "Yeah... that's fine," he finally said, though his voice carried a hint of reluctance.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me, though I couldn't help but wonder what Michael had sensed. Something about the way Brigit and Rhyian interacted with him had thrown him off, and I wasn't sure if I should be concerned. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside, grateful for the chance to step out with my friends and escape the intensity of the situation, even if only for a little while.