The Quiet Voice | Complete

Chapter 11

Chelsea could barely believe that she was nearly finished with her studies. The years had flown by so quickly. Her, Jonathan and Mila having the best of times together. Could this really be the last year that the three of them would be together? She thought of that first year, when she and Mila shared a room. How carefree they've been. Since second year they've each had their own room in the dorm, which Chelsea is now sad to hand over to another student. Since day one Chelsea and Mila proved quite popular with students and lecturers alike, were selected to serve on countless house committees and helped out with university projects. It's been a magical time, a time whereby Chelsea could come out of her shell, and find her passion of helping people. However, she would always put Jonathan first...

"What are we doing? It will kill Chelsea if she ever finds out and she will never forgive us," whispered Mila to Jonathan. They had secretly been seeing each other ever since their first kiss, each time falling deeper and deeper in love. "Chelsea's my best friend. I can't go on deceiving her like this."

"I know, Sweetie," agreed Jonathan with his arms wrapped tightly around Mila's waist, as he gently kissed her neck. "It's killing me too, but I just don't feel about her like I feel about you. What we have is special and I don't want to give it up."

Mila couldn't fight her feelings for Jonathan, but she knew that he owned Chelsea's heart and was the one that Chelsea was saving herself for. It saddened her to think that she had already given herself freely to Jonathan and that her body might be the only reason why he loved being with her.

"I'm going for a walk," said Mila pushing away from Jonathan. "I need some time to think."

Chelsea had just finished a gym class when she ran into Mila at Bliss.

"Hi Mila!" waved Chelsea excitedly as she spotted Mila sitting alone in one of the far corner booths and walked over to join her. "Why are you hiding all the way in the back of the café? We never sit in this area."

Mila was surprised to see Chelsea, as she had been trying hard to avoid her. "Oh no reason at all," lied Mila. "Our usual table was taken when I arrived so I opted to switch it up a bit and try this table out for a change."

"I'm actually so glad that I ran into you today," confessed Chelsea as she sat down in the chair opposite Mila. "I haven't really seen you at all these last few weeks and I was beginning to think that you're angry with me or purposefully avoiding me."

"Me? Angry?" asked Mila, praying so hard that Chelsea couldn't read her mind and see the guilt written all over her face. "I have nothing to be angry about, I'm just really busy at the moment and I'm dealing with some personal issues at home. Nothing that you need to worry about."

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Is there anything that I can help with?" offered Chelsea as she reached across the table for her friend's hand, her heart aching that her friend was in so much pain.

Mila feeling guilty for what happened between her and Jonathan, nearly knocked her milkshake over. "No! I'm fine, just please leave me alone. All that I need right now is space. Can't you take a hint?!"

"Oh, of course... so sorry," Chelsea stumbled over her words because of the way Mila had reacted. "Yes, of course my friend. I completely understand. I didn't mean to bother you or pry into your private life. I just wanted to be there for you." Chelsea didn't understand what was going on with Mila, but she knew that she had to respect her wishes and grant her some space to sort things out. "I won't ask again, I'm sorry. Please just know that I'm here for you if you need someone to talk to."

Mila couldn't look her in the eyes when she heard Chelsea's chair scrape on the floor as she stood to leave. What had she done? Was Jonathan really worth losing Chelsea's friendship over?