The Space Between

chapter 3: Between the lies

New Year's Day

The house was packed with people laughter, music, and the low hum of conversation filling every room. The smell of marijuana smoke lingered in the air, and holiday lights draped across the walls blinked lazily, casting warm pools of color over the crowded space.

Melanie stood near the kitchen, half-hidden behind a red plastic cup, watching Dominic talk animatedly with Leo. His hands flew through the air as he mimicked some story she wasn't paying attention to. Leo roared with laughter, clapping Dominic on the back, and for a moment, Dom's face lit up pure, unfiltered joy. It was a rare expression, one that used to belong to her once.

Leo's house was always buzzing with life. A worn leather couch, posters of old bands, and a collection of mismatched chairs crowded the living room. Everything about this place felt lived-in, easy, and chaotic in the best way. Leo thrived in that chaos. And beside him, always, was Nova his wild, magnetic wife.

Melanie had known Leo almost as long as she'd known Dominic. He was the one who gave Dom a place to crash when he was down and out, back before things got serious between her and Dom. The two of them were inseparable, more like brothers than friends, bonded since the day they met on the playground at five years old. Leo had a big heart, loyal to almost too loyal, Melanie thought bitterly.

The one thing she couldn't get past with Leo was the way he turned a blind eye to Dominic's anger. He'd seen it firsthand. He'd watched Dom lash out, throw things, explode toward her yet he never stepped in. Never asked if she was okay. Just laughed it off, like it was nothing. Like Dom's temper was a bad habit, not a threat.

Melanie shifted her weight uncomfortably, tapping her nails against her cup. She wasn't even sure why she had come tonight. She usually blew off Nova's invitations with a polite laugh and an excuse "Oh, I'd love to, but I've got an appointment " or "Maybe next time." But Nova was relentless, always trying to pull Melanie out of her shell. And tonight, she'd finally given in, hoping maybe the party would offer a brief reprieve from the heaviness that clung to her.

"Mel! There you are!"

Nova appeared out of nowhere, as if conjured by thought alone. Her bright smile sparkled under the dim party lights, her honey-colored curls bouncing as she practically skipped over. Nova was the kind of person who didn't just walk she floated, danced, twirled through life without a care in the world. Her energy was infectious, almost exhausting.

"C'mon, no more hiding! You've gotta dance with me," Nova grinned, grabbing Melanie's hand without waiting for an answer.

Before Melanie could protest, Nova's favorite song came on, the bassline thrumming through the speakers. "That's it! This is the one!" Nova's eyes lit up like a kid's on Christmas morning.

"Nova, no, really—" Melanie started, laughing nervously, but Nova was already pulling her toward the makeshift dance floor in the middle of the living room.

"Too late, you're mine now!" Nova shouted playfully, dragging Melanie into the swirl of bodies. The music thumped through Melanie's chest as Nova spun her in dizzy circles, twirling her under outstretched arms and dipping her dramatically.

"Twirl! Twist! Spin!" Nova called out between laughs, her movements wild and unpredictable. Melanie couldn't help it—her laughter bubbled up and spilled over, full and uncontrollable. She felt light for the first time in ages, her feet barely touching the ground as Nova spun her around and around, until she was gasping for air, holding her stomach from laughing too hard.

"Okay, okay, I surrender!" Melanie gasped, pulling away, her cheeks flushed. She pressed a hand to her chest, catching her breath.

Nova grinned, triumphant. "See? I told you you needed this."

Melanie's laughter slowed, but the smile lingered. For a fleeting moment, she felt envious of Nova—how easy it all seemed for her. Nova was confident, free-spirited, the kind of woman who lived life without fear. She never let Leo tell her what to do, never let anyone make her feel small. She was fearless and self-assured, and it showed in the way she moved, the way she laughed without restraint.

Melanie's gaze drifted toward Dominic across the room. He stood next to Leo, a beer in his hand, deep in conversation. He hadn't even noticed her dancing, hadn't noticed her at all. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like to be Nova—to live without apology, to move through the world with the kind of freedom she'd forgotten how to dream about.

Nova bumped her shoulder gently. "Hey, you okay?"

Melanie blinked, startled by the question. "Yeah... yeah, I'm good."

But even as the music swelled around them and laughter echoed through the room, she couldn't shake the heavy weight in her chest. For a brief, beautiful second, she'd felt free. But like a firework that fizzles too soon, the feeling had already slipped through her fingers.

Just like that melanie sank into the background if she were just a part of the wall. She wished that moment with nova had lasted all night or maybe didn't end at all.