Beneath His Cold Charm

02

The Strength in Friendship

★★★

The following morning, Zoey arrived at school a little earlier than usual. The crisp autumn air sent a chill down her spine as she walked toward the front entrance. Her thoughts were muddled from the stress of her home life, the constant tension she felt around Matt, and the need to keep her emotions in check. But today, there was something—or someone—she knew would provide the comfort she needed: Emely Anderson.

Emely had been her best friend since preschool, and in many ways, she was Zoey's anchor, the one constant source of support in her life. While Chris could always make Zoey laugh and Nick was the voice of reason, it was Emely who truly understood her. Emely had a knack for seeing through Zoey's walls, for knowing when something was wrong even before Zoey had the chance to say it out loud.

As Zoey entered the hallway, her eyes scanned the crowd for Emely's familiar figure. There she was, standing near her locker, her light blond hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders, her warm brown, doe eyes lighting up as soon as she spotted Zoey.

"Zoey!" Emely exclaimed, rushing over with a bright smile that immediately lifted Zoey's spirits. "I was wondering when you'd get here!"

Zoey couldn't help but smile as she was enveloped in a tight hug. Emely had always been like this—effortlessly affectionate, a source of warmth in a world that often felt cold.

"Hey, Em," Zoey greeted, her voice a little quieter than usual.

Emely pulled back slightly, studying her friend's face with that familiar, knowing gaze. "What's going on? You've got your 'I'm fine but not really' face on."

Zoey let out a soft laugh, grateful that she didn't have to explain everything. "It's just...you know, the usual stuff. Home, school...Matt being a jerk."

"Ugh, Matt," Emely groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. "What did he do this time?"

Zoey shrugged, leaning against the lockers. "The same thing he always does—being smug, making snide comments, acting like he's better than everyone."

Emely crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "Honestly, I don't get how Chris and Nick put up with him sometimes. He's got such an attitude."

Zoey smiled softly at Emely's fierce loyalty. It was one of the many reasons she loved her. While Emely could be bubbly and fun, she wasn't afraid to stand up for her friends when it mattered.

"Speaking of the Struniolos," Zoey said, changing the subject slightly, "how's your 'favorite person' Chris doing?"

Emely made a face, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Chris? He's still insufferable."

Zoey chuckled. Emely and Chris had an interesting dynamic—despite being part of the same friend group, they often clashed. Where Chris was lighthearted and always joking around, Emely was more serious, focused, and didn't always appreciate his sense of humor. Their arguments had become a running joke among their friends, though Zoey couldn't help but notice a spark between them.

"Insufferable? You two bicker like an old married couple," Zoey teased, raising an eyebrow.

Emely's cheeks flushed slightly, but she scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. "Please. He's...he's annoying. Always making jokes when it's not the right time"

"Hmm," Zoey hummed, clearly unconvinced. "You sure there isn't something else going on there?"

"Absolutely not," Emely replied, her voice a little too quick. "I can barely tolerate him."

Zoey smirked, leaning in conspiratorially. "Maybe that's because he gets under your skin in ways other people can't."

Emely's blush deepened, but she crossed her arms defiantly. "Zoey Williams, stop reading into things. Chris and I are like oil and water—we don't mix."