The room was quiet, heavy with unspoken emotions. Both girls lay side by side on the bed, the silence stretching between them like a fragile thread. The only sounds were their slow breaths and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
Isabella's hand slipped toward the bedside table. She picked up her phone and, without hesitation, dialed Ruth's number. Her voice came out soft but urgent.
Isabella: "Please… stay in Ava's bed tonight and cover up. Pretend to be her as much as you can."
On the other side of the line, Ruth's voice was hesitant but loyal. She gave a quiet nod even though Isabella couldn't see her. The line went dead almost immediately after.
Ava, lying so close, turned her head slowly. At the very same moment, Isabella turned too. Their eyes locked in the dim light, the air between them tightening.
Ava: "What are you doing?"
Her voice carried confusion—half suspicion, half nervousness.
Isabella's lips curled into the smallest smile.
"I was expecting you here. I don't want anyone looking for you. I want to spend some time with you."
The words made Ava freeze. Her heart thudded. Was this all planned? Had Isabella known she would come? The realization left her stunned, unable to form a clear thought.
Isabella shifted closer, slowly bridging the gap. The warmth of her body neared until their faces were only an inch apart. Ava's breath caught.
"What… what are you doing, Bella?"Ava asked, still in shock, voice barely a whisper.
Isabella bit down gently on her lower lip, her eyes lingering on Ava's.
"Nothing… just giving you a goodnight kiss. Is that okay?"
Ava's chest rose and fell quickly. She gave a small, shaky nod.
Isabella leaned in, closing the last bit of distance. Her lips brushed softly against Ava's—tender, fleeting, yet enough to send a shiver racing down Ava's spine. The kiss lingered just a heartbeat longer before she pulled back, her eyes never leaving Ava's.
Meanwhile, down the hallway, Ava's mother carefully opened her daughter's bedroom door. The light from the corridor spilled inside faintly. She peeked in, wanting only to be sure Ava was sleeping well.
She saw a figure lying on the bed, curled under the covers, breathing steady. Believing her daughter was sound asleep, she smiled faintly and closed the door as silently as she had opened it.
Ruth remained still under the covers, keeping her promise, pretending to be Ava.
Back in Isabella's room, the atmosphere had changed. It was warmer now, heavier with intimacy. Isabella's voice came soft, almost shy.
"Can I hug you to sleep?"
Ava, still caught up in a storm of feelings she didn't understand, only nodded. Isabella slipped her arms around her, drawing her close until Ava's head rested against her chest.
The warmth of the embrace spread instantly. Ava felt wrapped in something she couldn't name—safe, protected, yet dangerously overwhelming. Isabella's hold was strong, her heartbeat steady under Ava's ear.
"What are you going to do about your dad?"Ava asked in a soft, worried tone.
Isabella inhaled sharply, the breath shaky. She pressed her nose against Ava's hair, taking in the faint, sweet scent. A sniff escaped her as her grip tightened.
She hugged Ava so tightly that for a moment, Ava thought she might suffocate—but she didn't resist. Instead, she let herself be held, feeling Isabella's desperation seep through every touch.
Ava shifted slightly in Isabella's arms, her cheek brushing against Bella's collarbone. The warmth of her skin was oddly calming, though her mind refused to settle.
"Bella… aren't you scared? What if someone finds out I'm not in my room?"Ava said softly, almost whispering
"I don't care. Tonight, I just need to be here with you. If anyone finds out, I'll take the blame."Isabella said, tightening her hold, voice low
Ava's heart skipped. The seriousness in Bella's tone frightened and comforted her all at once. She turned her head slightly, their foreheads now touching.
"You always act so brave. But… What about tomorrow? What about your father?" Ava asked
Isabella exhaled, her breath warm against Ava's face "Tomorrow scares me. He'll never understand me, Ava. He never even tries. That's why being here with you matters so much… you make me forget the fear, even if just for a moment."
Ava felt Isabella's chest rise and fall quickly, almost trembling. She hesitated, then slowly slid her hand over Isabella's, interlacing their fingers under the blanket. Her voice was quiet, uncertain.
"I don't want you to suffer, Bella… and I don't know how to help."
Isabella squeezes her hand, a tear escaping as she hides her face against Ava's hair "Just don't leave me. That's all I ask. Promise me you won't leave."
Ava's throat tightened. She didn't understand why the thought of leaving hurt so much—but it did. She pressed closer, whispering back.
"I promise."
For a long moment, silence filled the room except for their breathing. Isabella's arms tightened protectively around Ava's small frame, while Ava's heartbeat raced against her chest.
Ava breaking the silence softly "Bella… Do you think you will ever be free? To just… live without hiding or pretending?"
Isabella closes her eyes, voice husky "I dream of it every night. But tonight… this is enough. You're here. That's all I need."
Ava swallowed hard, unsure what to do with the rush of emotions swirling inside her. She didn't know if it was friendship, love, or something in between—but it was powerful. She buried her face in Isabella's chest, whispering so faintly it was almost lost in the night.
"Then tonight… I'm yours."
Isabella froze at the words, her eyes burning with unshed tears, before holding Ava even tighter—like she was the only thing keeping her alive.
The room grew quieter with only the sound of their breathing, two hearts beating much too fast for sleep. Bella's arm was draped around Ava, pulling her close, her chin resting lightly against Ava's hair.
Ava softly, almost whispering "Bella… Why are you holding me like this?"
Bella tightened her embrace, her voice calm but thick with unspoken emotions.
"Because it feels right. Because I've wanted to for a long time."
Ava's breath caught in her throat. Her mind screamed confusion, but her body melted in the warmth. She wanted to move, but she didn't. Instead, she found herself tracing small circles on Bella's wrist without realizing it.
Ava hesitant "But… What are we to each other? Friends don't… they don't do this."
Bella pulled back slightly, just enough to see Ava's face in the dim light. Her eyes glimmered, serious yet soft.
Bella whispered "What do you want me to be to you?"
Ava's lips parted, but no words came out. She opened her mouth, closed it again, then hid her face in Bella's chest, as if escaping the question. Her heart raced with an answer she couldn't voice.
Bella brushed her hand down Ava's hair slowly, soothing her.
"It doesn't matter if you can't say it now. Whatever you want me to be… I'll be. Just for you."
The words sank deep into Ava's chest, shaking her. It was too much—too close, too raw. She wanted to push Bella away, yet she wanted her nearer.
Ava muffled against Bella's shirt "Why me? You could have anyone, Bella."
Bella smiled sadly, kissing the top of her head.
"Because you're the only one I want. I don't need anyone else."
Silence wrapped them for a moment, heavy and fragile. Ava's confusion battled her comfort—yet in Bella's arms, the world outside didn't matter.
"I'm scared… of what this means."Ava said barely audible
Bella stroking her cheek "Then don't think about what it means. Just let yourself feel it, even if it's only for tonight."
Ava looked up at her, wide-eyed, searching Bella's face for reassurance. The closeness made her cheeks burn, but Bella only smiled, patient, waiting.
Finally, Ava sighed and gave in, curling closer into Bella's embrace. Her guard slipped for just a moment.
"If… if I fall asleep like this, promise you won't let go."
Bella's voice was firm, steady, the promise unwavering.
"I'll never let go."
They lay together in the stillness of the night. Ava closed her eyes, her mind still confused but her body comforted. Bella held her protectively, whispering little things Ava barely caught—dreams, hopes, pieces of a love Ava wasn't ready to define.
Ava drifted slowly into sleep, tangled between fear and longing, confusion and comfort. And Bella, certain of her own heart, simply watched her until her eyes grew heavy, whispering one last time before she too surrendered to sleep.
Bella said softly against Ava's hair "Whatever you need me to be… I'll be. But you are entirely mine."
And in that fragile night, they both finally slept—together, yet each carrying a different storm inside.