Twisted Fates

Forgivness is key

The flight back to New York was stifling. Noah and I didn't exchange a single word the entire trip. He sat in the aisle seat, headphones on, staring blankly at the screen in front of him. I stayed glued to the window, letting the city below disappear beneath the clouds as I tried to ignore the weight of his presence next to me.

When we landed, Noah wordlessly called a car for me. We didn't even say goodbye. It was just another reminder of how fractured things had become between us.

I took a deep breath as I stepped into my apartment, the familiar scent bringing a small wave of comfort—until I saw her.

Athena.

She was sitting on my couch, her expression unsure as she glanced up at me. My heart sank.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Sofia," she began, standing up.

"No," I cut her off, throwing my bags to the side. "I don't want to hear it. Get out. Now."

"Sofia, please," she said, her voice breaking. "Just give me a chance to explain."

I crossed my arms, glaring at her. "Explain what? How you betrayed me? How you slept with someone you knew I cared about?"

Tears filled her eyes, but I didn't let it soften me.

"I don't want to talk to you," I snapped, my voice trembling.

Athena took a tentative step forward. "You're my best friend, Sofia. I made a mistake—a horrible, stupid mistake—but I can't lose you over this. Please, just hear me out."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Part of me wanted to kick her out and never look back. But another part—the part that had grown up with her, laughed with her, shared every secret with her—hesitated.

"Five minutes," I said coldly, sitting on the couch.

Athena exhaled shakily and sat down beside me, keeping her distance. "I didn't mean for it to happen," she started. "I wasn't thinking. Ethan was upset about something, and we were talking, and... I don't even know how it escalated. But it did. And I regret it, Sof. Every single second of it."

I stared at the floor, my chest tightening. "You didn't just betray me—you broke my trust. You knew what he meant to me, and you still..." My voice cracked, and I shook my head.

Athena reached for my hand, but I pulled away. "I was selfish. I won't deny that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I miss you. I miss us. Please, Sofia, give me another chance."

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Finally, I looked at her, tears streaming down my face. "You hurt me, Athena. I don't know if I'll ever be able to forget that."

"But can you forgive me?" she asked, her own tears falling freely now.

After a long moment, I nodded. "It's going to take time. But... you're still my best friend."

We sat there, crying and hugging like we used to when we were kids. For the first time in weeks, I felt a sliver of relief.

Athena stayed with me for the next couple of weeks, helping me get back on my feet. When she left for New York, it was bittersweet, but we promised to rebuild what we'd lost, no matter how long it took.

The same week Athena left, I ran into Ethan outside the coffee shop near campus.

"Sofia, wait," he called, jogging after me.

I didn't stop walking.

"Sofia, please!"

Finally, I turned, glaring at him. "What do you want, Ethan?"

He looked nervous, running a hand through his hair. "I just... I need to explain."

"I think you've said enough," I said flatly.

He sighed. "That night... it wasn't what you think. I was upset, and Athena was there, and things got out of hand. It didn't mean anything. I didn't mean to hurt you."

I shook my head, my stomach churning. "You always have an excuse, Ethan. But the truth is, you knew what you were doing. And you didn't care."

His face fell. "That's not true. I care about you, Sofia."

"Well, I don't care about you anymore," I said, my voice cold. "It's best if we go our separate ways."

I walked away before he could say anything else, my heart aching but resolute.

Noah and I still hadn't talked since returning to New York. The silence between us felt heavier with each passing day, a constant reminder of the unresolved tension lingering between us.

One night, after weeks of avoidance, I found myself standing outside his dorm. Before I could second-guess myself, I knocked.

When he opened the door, his expression shifted from surprise to guarded indifference. "Sofia."

"Can I come in?" I asked hesitantly.

He stepped aside, closing the door behind me.

"I wanted to apologize," I said, fidgeting with my hands. "For that night in New York. For everything, really."

Noah crossed his arms, leaning against the desk. "Why now?"

"Because I miss you," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "And because you were right—I've been running away. From you, from my feelings... from everything."

His gaze softened, and after a long pause, he said, "I never stopped caring about you, Sofia. Even when I pushed you away, I—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "I didn't know how to handle what I was feeling. I still don't."

I took a step closer, my heart pounding. "I care about you too, Noah. More than I want to admit."

The silence between us was heavy, charged with unspoken words. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers brushing against mine.

And then he kissed me.

It was slow at first, tentative, as if we were both afraid to break the moment. But then it deepened, all the tension and anger and longing spilling over.

Things escalated quickly, but just as they did, I pulled back, my breathing ragged. "Noah, wait," I whispered, placing a hand on his chest.

He froze, his dark eyes searching mine. "What's wrong?"

"I just... I don't want to ruin this," I said, my voice trembling.

"You won't," he said softly, his thumb brushing against my cheek.

But I couldn't shake the fear. "I need time."

Noah nodded, stepping back. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time in a long time, I believed him.