Fragile Strength
★★★
The early morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting soft rays across Zoey Williams' bedroom. The once vibrant walls now felt suffocating, burdened with the weight of unspoken thoughts and hidden scars. It was a Saturday, and while most of her classmates were out enjoying the weekend, she lay curled up in bed, battling a storm of emotions.
Chris Struniolo, her best friend and Matt's triplet brother, had planned to hang out, but Zoey wasn't ready for company. She had pushed him away with half-hearted excuses, but deep down, she knew Chris was becoming more suspicious of her. With each passing day, it felt like she was wearing a mask that was beginning to crack.
---
As she lay in bed, her phone buzzed insistently on her nightstand. The familiar ringtone jolted her from her thoughts. It was Chris.
"Hey, What's up?" he chirped, his voice bright and cheerful.
"Hey, Chris," she replied, trying to keep her tone light. "Not much. Just... relaxing."
There was a brief pause on the other end, and Zoey could almost hear Chris's thoughts churning. "You sure? You didn't come to school yesterday, Is Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. Just needed some time to myself, you know?" Zoey felt a pang of guilt. Chris was always there for her, and yet she felt like she was pushing him away.
"Alright, but you know I'm here if you need anything. Want me to come over? We can watch a movie or something," he offered, genuine concern lacing his words.
Zoey's heart twisted. She wanted nothing more than to accept his offer, but the thought of having him see her like this felt unbearable. "I'm good, really. I just need some space."
"Okay, but don't shut me out, Zoey. Promise?"
"Promise," she replied, but even as she said the word, she felt the weight of her untruth. She could see the worry in Chris's eyes, and it felt like he was staring right through her, sensing the turmoil beneath her calm facade.
---
After hanging up, Zoey stared at the wall, her mind racing. The silence was deafening. She had spent so much time building walls around her heart, but Chris's persistent kindness made her feel exposed. He was beginning to suspect that there was more going on beneath the surface, and she didn't know how to explain the chaos in her head.
As the day wore on, memories from her family life began to seep back in—her father's angry outbursts, the feeling of inadequacy, and the loneliness that came from being unable to express her pain. It was too much to bear, and the darker thoughts began to creep back in.
She wandered into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, examining the faint scars on her arms. Each one told a story of a moment when the emotional pain had become too intense to handle. She sighed, a mix of frustration and despair flooding her senses.
Why can't I just be normal? she thought bitterly.
---
As the afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, Zoey decided to distract herself with a book. She was lost in the pages when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"Zoey, it's me," came Emely's voice, bright and cheerful. "Can I come in?"
Zoey hesitated. She loved Emely; her best friend always knew how to make her smile, but today she felt fragile. "Uh, just a minute!" she called, quickly pulling down her sleeves to hide her scars.
When Emely entered, she was a burst of sunshine in Zoey's dim room. "I brought snacks!" she announced, holding a colorful bag of chips and a soda.
"Thanks," Zoey replied, forcing a smile. She tried to shift the conversation, "How's Chris?"
Emely sat down on the edge of the bed, her expression shifting to concern. "He's worried about you. He told me you've been acting different."
"I'm fine, really," Zoey insisted, but the words felt hollow.
"Zoey," Emely said gently, "you don't have to pretend with me. I'm your best friend. If something's wrong, I'm here for you."
The weight of Emely's words pressed down on Zoey. She opened her mouth to respond, but no sound came out. Instead, tears pricked her eyes. "I don't want to be a burden," she finally admitted, her voice trembling.
"You could never be a burden to me," Emely said softly. "But shutting us out won't help. Let us in, please."
---
As the evening wore on, Zoey found herself confiding in Emely more than she had anticipated. They talked about everything—her family issues, her struggles with self-harming, and the suffocating feelings that clung to her like a heavy blanket.
"I just... I don't know how to deal with it all. I feel like I'm losing control," Zoey admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emely reached out, taking Zoey's hand in hers. "You're not alone. You can lean on me, and Chris, nick even Matt if you want. It's okay to ask for help."
At the mention of Matt, Zoey felt a strange mix of emotions. The cold boy who irritated her the most was also the one she felt drawn to. How could she let him see her like this?
"I just don't want them to see how broken I really am," she confessed.
"You're not broken. You're human, and it's okay to feel this way," Emely reassured her. "We all have our battles."
But as the night deepened, Zoey could feel the old habit of pushing people away creeping back. She wanted to hold onto Emely's words, but a part of her still felt the urge to retreat into her shell, afraid of the vulnerability that came with opening up.
---
Meanwhile, across town, Chris sat on his bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with Zoey. He had noticed the subtle changes—the way she avoided eye contact, the forced smiles, and the moments when she seemed to be somewhere far away.
He shared his concerns with Matt later that night. "I'm really worried about Zoey, man. I think she's going through something more than she's letting on."
Matt shrugged, his usual cold demeanor masking any concern he felt. "She'll talk when she's ready. People have their own ways of dealing with things."
Chris wasn't convinced. "It's more than just wanting space. I think she's pushing us away for a reason. She's hiding something, and I'm scared it's serious."
"Just give her time," Matt said, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—an understanding that perhaps he too was familiar with the need to hide one's struggles.
---
As Zoey lay in bed that night, she felt a mix of gratitude and sadness. Emely had tried to reach her, but the feeling of wanting to isolate herself was still strong. The more people cared, the more pressure she felt to be okay.
In that moment, the phone buzzed again, and she saw a message from
Chris: "Remember, you're not alone. We love you. Please talk to us when you're ready."
She stared at the screen, the warmth of his words clashing with the coldness in her heart.
But what if they can't handle the truth?
As the darkness enveloped her, Zoey realized she was at a crossroads. She could either continue to push everyone away or take a leap of faith and let them in—something that felt terrifying but also strangely liberating.
★★★
YOU ARE READING
Beneath His Cold Charm
Fanfiction"He Stole My Peace, Then My Heart" "The Boy I Never Wanted to Love" "Hating Him Was Easier, Until It Wasn't" "He Was Cold, but He Warmed My Heart" Zoey Williams never expected to fall for the cold, egoistic, Tough Matt Struniolo. They've hated each...
