Aria noticed the change before Chloe ever said anything.
It wasn't dramatic. There were no slammed doors or raised voices at first. Just absences. Delays. The way Chloe stopped saving her a seat in class. The way her texts went unanswered for hours, then returned with clipped replies that felt nothing like the Chloe Aria had known for years.
At first, Aria told herself she was imagining it.
Chloe had always been intense. Protective. The kind of friend who loved deeply but guarded fiercely. She'd seen Chloe pull away before when she felt unheard, when something threatened the balance of her world. Aria hoped this was just another phase.
But phases didn't feel like this.
One afternoon, Aria spotted Chloe across the quad laughing with two girls she barely tolerated before. Chloe caught Aria's eye, held it for a second, then looked away without waving. The dismissal hit harder than Aria expected.
That night, Aria lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her phone glowing faintly in her hand. She typed and erased the same message three times.
Did I do something wrong?
Are you okay?
We need to talk.
She sent the last one.
The reply came an hour later.
Sure. Tomorrow.
No emoji. No warmth.
The next day felt heavier than it should have. Even the air between classes seemed tense, thick with unspoken words. Liam walked beside her as usual, quiet but attentive. He didn't ask what was wrong, didn't push. He just matched her pace, his presence steady.
"You're distracted," he said gently as they reached the steps of the library.
She nodded. "Chloe."
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Do you want me to"
"No," Aria said quickly. "This is something I need to handle."
Liam studied her face for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be nearby."
That was his way. Always close. Never intrusive.
Chloe chose the student lounge for their conversation public enough to keep her composed, but private enough to make it uncomfortable. She sat stiffly on the couch, arms crossed, eyes already sharp when Aria approached.
"So," Chloe said, not looking up from her phone. "You wanted to talk."
Aria took a breath and sat across from her. "Yeah. I feel like something's wrong between us."
Chloe laughed softly, humorless. "Do you?"
"Yes," Aria said. "And I don't want it to stay like this."
Chloe finally looked up. Her eyes were cool, calculating. "Funny. You didn't seem too concerned before."
Aria frowned. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Chloe said slowly, "you've been busy."
"With school?" Aria asked.
"With Liam."
The name landed between them like a dropped glass.
Aria stiffened. "That's what this is about?"
Chloe leaned forward. "Don't act surprised."
"I'm not acting," Aria said. "I just don't understand why this bothers you so much."
Chloe's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because you're changing."
Aria shook her head. "That's not fair."
"It is," Chloe snapped. "You used to tell me everything. Now I hear about your life from other people."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?" Chloe's voice rose slightly. "People are talking, Aria. Everyone sees it. You and Liam, always together. Laughing. Touching. Like it's nothing."
Aria's chest tightened. "We're friends."
Chloe scoffed. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes," Aria said firmly. "Because it's the truth."
Chloe stood abruptly, pacing in front of her. "You have a boyfriend, Aria."
Aria swallowed. "I know."
"Then why does it look like you're auditioning for another one?"
The words stung.
"That's unfair," Aria said quietly. "You don't get to decide my intentions."
Chloe turned on her. "I get to worry about my best friend."
Aria stood too, emotion rising. "Then why does this feel less like concern and more like control?"
Chloe froze.
There it was.
The silence stretched, heavy and brittle.
"You think I'm controlling?" Chloe asked slowly.
"I think," Aria said carefully, "that you don't trust me. And that hurts."
Chloe laughed again, sharp and bitter. "Trust? Aria, I know you. I know how you get when someone makes you feel seen."
Aria's hands curled at her sides. "That doesn't mean I'm doing anything wrong."
"Maybe not yet," Chloe said. "But you're standing on the edge."
Aria felt anger flare. "You don't know what's in my heart."
"I know you're playing with fire," Chloe shot back. "And you're dragging everyone with you."
Something inside Aria snapped.
"I'm not playing with anything," she said, voice shaking. "I'm trying to live my life without feeling like I need permission."
Chloe stared at her, stunned.
"So now I'm the villain," she said softly.
"That's not what I said."
"It's what you meant."
"No," Aria insisted. "What I meant is that you don't get to guilt me for connections I didn't ask for."
Chloe's eyes flashed. "You asked for it the moment you let him get close."
Aria took a step back, breath uneven. "You're projecting."
"Oh really?" Chloe said. "Then explain why you light up around him."
Aria opened her mouth, then closed it.
That hesitation was all Chloe needed.
"There it is," Chloe whispered. "You don't even deny it."
Aria felt tears prick her eyes, anger and frustration tangling in her chest. "I don't deny that he matters. That doesn't mean I've betrayed anyone."
Chloe shook her head slowly. "You're lying to yourself."
"Stop," Aria said. "You don't get to rewrite my story."
Chloe's voice dropped. "Then whose story is this? Yours or his?"
The words cut deep.
Across the room, Aria caught sight of Liam standing near the vending machines, his posture rigid, eyes fixed on them. He wasn't intruding. Just watching. Waiting.
The sight steadied her.
"This isn't about Liam," Aria said firmly. "This is about us."
Chloe's expression hardened. "Then why does it feel like I'm losing you?"
Aria's anger softened, just slightly. "Because you're pushing me away."
Chloe scoffed. "I'm protecting you."
"From what?" Aria asked. "From growing?"
Chloe didn't answer.
The silence returned, heavier than before.
Finally, Chloe grabbed her bag. "I can't do this," she said. "Not while you're pretending this is harmless."
Aria's chest ached. "I wish you'd trust me."
Chloe paused at the door. "I wish you'd be honest with yourself."
And then she was gone.
Aria stood there, stunned, the fight replaying in her mind like a broken record. Her hands trembled as she sat back down, breath shallow.
Liam approached slowly.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded, though it wasn't true. "I will be."
He didn't touch her. Didn't offer platitudes. He just sat beside her, close enough to feel solid, far enough to respect the moment.
"She's scared," he said gently.
Aria exhaled shakily. "So am I."
He glanced at her. "That doesn't make you wrong."
That night, Aria lay awake longer than usual. Chloe's words echoed in her head. So did Julian's absence his steady presence suddenly felt distant, like a lighthouse she could see but wasn't reaching for.
And Liam… Liam was becoming impossible to ignore.
The fight hadn't resolved anything.
It had cracked something open.
And Aria knew, deep down, that nothing would be the same again.