Before and Now (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 15

« How do you want me to do that? » Bella replied « I love you Gracie but this... » she gestured between me and Colleen and then around « This is...this....Arghhh... » she grabbed her hair in frustration « I don't know anymore ».

She sat back on her chair, looking conflicted and in that moment I thought I had broken her. She was staring straight ahead, lost in her thoughts but I could see the internal battle happening inside her head.

« Gracie don't deserve to suffer any more than she already did » I turned my head toward Colleen who had stood up from her spot on the floor. She seemed to have gained some sort of new confidence « She almost died. She doesn't deserve to have her private life exposed any more than it already did. Neither does she deserve to be judge or hate for it. You're her friend. » she finished in a calm voice.

Bella slowly rose up and came closer to Colleen, an unreadable expression on her face. My heart was pounding in my chest. She stood in front of Colleen, looking like a child due to their height difference. Colleen was dominating her by a good head but it was Bella who had the upper hand. She had the power to destroy us both.

« Do you love her? Really love her? » She simply asked, looking into Colleen's eyes with firmness.

Colleen seemed a bit taken aback by that question but wasted no time to answer without breaking eye contact.

« Yes...I do...with all I have »

My heart did something in my chest that I couldn't comprehend and the warm feeling in my stomach came back. I inhaled deeply trying to control this feeling and to not let it be apparent.

I looked up at the girl who made me feel this way, it was the first time since I got to know her again that I saw Colleen being so confident and I got to say it kind of surprised me. It was so different from her usual self and yet it suited her well.

The two stayed staring at each other for a moment, Bella assessing Colleen and her true intentions, and Colleen trying to prove she wasn't the person Bella had in mind.

I didn't dare break the silence, I was so scared. My heart threatened to rip out of my chest at every beat. I was holding on, on the edge.

Finally, Bella broke their staring battle and came toward me. She kneeled in front of me, delicately taking my hands. Her eyes looked into mine, all the anger in it earlier was gone, her eyes were sparkling as she seemed somehow sorry.

« You loved her too, didn't you? »

I nodded, unable to speak due to the lump that had formed in my throat. A sudden tear rolled down her face, taking me aback. « I'm so sorry » she muttered before putting her hands over her face, crying. I didn't know what was happening. Why did she react like that? I looked up at Colleen who was just as confused as I was. So I did the only thing I could think of; I hugged her tightly in my arms. « It's ok » I whispered.

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After comforting Bella, I realized how late it was. So I texted my mom that I'll be late and Bella proposed to go back home with me to be my alibi. Bella swore to not say a word and she wanted to be kept in the loop.

Colleen was staying behind at the treehouse to clean up the mess but I knew it wasn't the only reason. She wanted to let Bella and I talk on the way home without being an obstacle for Bella to express herself. Also, she was kind of scared of Bella, which was really funny to me but I reminded myself that Colleen saw Bella as one of the people who hang around the people who bullied her.

« So you still don't remember anything? » Bella inquired, walking alongside me, her arm wrapped around mine. I was glad she wasn't mad anymore. It didn't suit her, she was better as the innocent baby of the group.