𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐎𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓 the embodiment of sunshine, always with a bright smile and an easy laugh. She was the one everyone turned to, the friend who never faltered, always radiating positivity. But behind that cheerful exterior, how much darkne...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
We were all avoiding each other. It's what we did best when shit hit the fan. The silence between us felt suffocating, like the air had thickened, and every word was a risk. But we were better when we were there for each other. When we could laugh, fight, and make up in the same breath. Now, it felt like we were spiraling apart, each of us running in different directions with our own problems, too afraid to face the one that truly mattered.
Chloe, especially, had become a ghost in this mess. I'd catch glimpses of her between classes, her posture slouched and her eyes distant, and then she'd slip away before I could reach her. She'd mutter some excuse, something like "I'm fine, Jayden," but I knew better. I could see it in her eyes. She was anything but fine.
But I couldn't break through. Every time I tried to get close, she pulled away. Every time I asked if she was okay, she just shut me out more. The distance between us grew every time I tried, like I was chasing something that would always slip out of my grasp.
I didn't know the gravity of the situation between Travis and Bella, but I didn't want to know. I had enough on my plate with Chloe. She was the one I was worried about. I had to know that she was going to be okay. She needed to be, for all of our sakes. Without her, it felt like the entire group was falling apart. She was the glue that held us together, and watching her crumble was harder than I'd ever imagined.
The guilt clawed at me, too. I had a front-row seat to everything that was happening between her and Bella, but I couldn't fix it. It wasn't my place to intervene. But hell, Chloe had always been the one to hold us up, to keep the peace, and now, when it was her turn to break, we were all just standing around, watching.
I ran my hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up. Every corner I turned, every room I stepped into, I felt like I was chasing a shadow.
"Jayden," I heard someone call, and I turned to see Winter standing by the door of the cafeteria. She'd been watching me for a while now, probably worried about my own state of mind, but I didn't have the energy to deal with her questions. Not right now.
"She's avoiding me," I muttered, barely making eye contact with her. "I don't know what to do anymore."
Winter took a few steps toward me, her gaze softening. "You know Chloe. She's always the one trying to fix everything, trying to be the strong one. But sometimes, Jayden... even she needs someone to lean on."
I didn't respond. My mind kept drifting back to Chloe, her quiet sadness weighing on my chest like a stone. I was supposed to be the one to fix this. I was supposed to be the one who could make her feel better, but I couldn't reach her. She was slipping further away, and I was helpless to stop it.
"I'll talk to her," Winter added softly, her voice breaking the silence. "But you need to be there too. Don't give up on her. She's not giving up on you."
I nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. I knew Winter was right. I couldn't give up on Chloe. Not when she needed me the most. I just didn't know how to reach her anymore.
