"Mira," Bella said gently. "What was that about?"
Mira pushed her glasses up her nose, her fingers trembling. "He's my friend. He's just... protective."
"Protective?"
"He thinks someone is taking advantage of me." Mira's voice was quiet. "But he's wrong. She's my friend. She's just... intense."
Bella's eyes narrowed. "She?"
Mira shook her head. "It's nothing. Really."
Bella wanted to push, wanted to ask more, but Mira's face was closed off, her walls up.
"If you ever need to talk," Bella said softly, "I'm here."
Mira looked at her, something flickering in her eyes. "Thank you, Isabella."
"Bella," she corrected. "My friends call me Bella."
Mira smiled, small but genuine. "Bella."
They stood together in the morning light, the campus humming around them, and Bella made a mental note to find out more about this mysterious "she" who was hurting Mira. But for now, she let it go.
She had a class to get to.
