Whispers of Deceit

CHAPTER 4: UNSPOKEN WORDS

Days turned into weeks, and the space between Mia and me seemed to stretch on forever, an invisible barrier we both pretended wasn't there. I kept telling myself that it was for the best, that some friendships weren't meant to last. But deep down, something kept tugging at me, like an itch I couldn't scratch. Tessa's words still lingered in my mind: "Maybe it's not as simple as you think." I thought about that every time I saw Mia, which was often, too often. She kept her distance, but I could feel her eyes on me, watching from across the cafeteria, from the other side of the hallway, as if she was waiting for a signal that I was ready to talk. But I wasn't sure I ever would be. Until the note arrived. It slipped into my locker sometime after second period, a folded piece of notebook paper with my name scribbled across the front. I almost ignored it, but curiosity got the better of me. I unfolded it slowly, my hands trembling slightly as I read the words inside. "We need to talk. Please. Meet me at the park after school. Mia." I stood there for a long time, staring at the note, the words blurring together in my mind. A part of me wanted to tear it up, toss it in the trash and forget it ever existed. But another part of me missed her, despite everything I wanted to go. To hear her out. To finally get some answers. By the time school let out, I had made my decision. The park was empty, except for a few kids playing on the swings in the distance. Mia was sitting on our usual bench, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she waited. I walked toward her slowly, each step heavy with hesitation. When she saw me, she stood up, her eyes wide with surprise and relief. I didn't say anything as I sat down beside her, the silence between us thick with all the things we hadn't said. "Thanks for coming," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. I nodded but didn't look at her. "You wanted to talk. So, talk." She took a deep breath, her hands wringing together nervously. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you, and I don't blame you for being mad. But I need you to understand why I did what I did." I finally looked at her, my heart pounding. "Then explain it to me, Mia. Why? Why lie to me? Why not just tell me the truth?" Her eyes filled with tears, and she quickly wiped them away before they could fall. "Because I was scared. Scared of losing you. Scared that if you knew the truth, you'd never look at me the same way again. And I couldn't bear that." I frowned, confusion mixing with the anger that still simmered beneath the surface. "But you lost me anyway. Doesn't that make it worse?" She nodded, her voice breaking. "It does. And I regret it every single day." I stared at her, the girl who had once been my closest friend, the one I had trusted with everything. And now, here we were, sitting on the edge of a broken friendship, both of us unsure of how to put the pieces back together. "What was the truth, then?" I asked, my voice quieter than I expected. "What were you so afraid to tell me?" Mia hesitated, biting her lip. "I didn't tell you because I knew it would hurt you... but I had feelings for him. For Jake." I felt my stomach drop. Jake—my ex. The one person I had confided in her about for months, pouring out my heartbreak and anger after our messy breakup. "You what?" "I didn't mean for it to happen," she said quickly. "I didn't plan it. I swear. But after you and he broke up, we started talking. He was there for me when I needed someone, and I... I fell for him. But I didn't want to tell you, because I knew how much he meant to you. I didn't want to lose you, so I lied." The truth hit me like a punch to the gut. Of all the things I had imagined, this wasn't it. "So you went behind my back," I whispered, my voice shaking. "After everything I told you... all those times I cried to you about him. You " "I know," she said, tears streaming down her face now. "I know I hurt you, and I'm so, so sorry. I never meant to betray you like that. But I didn't know how to tell you the truth without losing you." I stood up, the weight of her words pressing down on me. The betrayal felt even sharper now, knowing it wasn't just a lie it was a betrayal of trust, of everything our friendship was built on. "I need time," I said, my voice barely audible. "I can't do this right now." Mia nodded, wiping her tears. "I understand. I just wanted you to know the truth." Without another word, I turned and walked away, my heart heavy with the pain of what I had just learned. The distance between us had grown wider than ever, and I wasn't sure if we could ever bridge it again.