School had never felt this loud.
Not because people were talking because Aria felt like she was walking through noise that didn't belong to her anymore. Laughter echoed down the hallways, lockers slammed, shoes squeaked against polished floors. Everything felt normal. Too normal. And that made it worse.
She moved through the corridors like a shadow, her backpack hanging loosely on one shoulder, her steps slower than usual. Her body was there, but her mind wasn't. It felt like she'd left parts of herself behind in places she couldn't name anymore.
Chloe noticed.
She always did.
From across the hallway, Chloe watched Aria stop at her locker and just… stand there. Not opening it. Not fixing her hair. Not scrolling on her phone. Just staring at the metal door like it held answers.
Chloe walked toward her, heels clicking sharply against the floor. This time, she didn't soften her steps. Didn't slow herself down. Didn't prepare a gentle smile.
"Enough."
Aria flinched slightly, turning her head.
Chloe stood in front of her, arms crossed, eyes sharp. There was no warmth in her expression. No careful wording waiting to be delivered. Just truth raw and tired.
"You think I don't see it?" Chloe said. "You think I haven't been watching you disappear?"
Aria swallowed. "Chloe"
"No," Chloe cut in. "Don't do that thing where you pretend everything's fine just because you don't feel like explaining it."
Students passed by them, some glancing over, curious. Chloe didn't care.
"You barely talk anymore," Chloe continued, her voice low but firm. "You don't eat. You don't laugh. You don't even argue with me, and that's how I know something's wrong."
Aria looked away, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.
"You're shrinking," Chloe said. "And I don't recognize you."
That hurt more than Aria expected.
"I'm okay," Aria said quietly, the words sounding hollow even to her own ears.
Chloe let out a short, humorless laugh. "You're lying."
Silence stretched between them.
"Is this about Liam?" Chloe asked.
Aria didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Chloe sighed, running a hand through her hair. "He's isolating you, Aria. You don't sit with anyone anymore. You stopped answering texts. You stopped coming around unless it's with him."
Aria's voice was barely audible. "He just… worries."
"That's not worry," Chloe said sharply. "That's control."
Aria finally looked at her. There was exhaustion in her eyes. The kind that sleep couldn't fix.
"I don't have the strength for this today," Aria whispered.
Chloe's expression softened for half a second then hardened again.
"You don't get stronger by pretending," she said. "And if you keep choosing silence, one day you're going to wake up and realize you lost yourself completely."
The bell rang, loud and unforgiving.
Chloe stepped back. "I'm done watching," she added. "Whether you want help or not."
She turned and walked away.
Aria stood there long after the hallway emptied.
She went home earlier than planned.
The apartment was quiet when she arrived. Too quiet. She packed a small bag just a few changes of clothes, nothing more. She didn't look at herself in the mirror. She didn't want to see how thin her face had become, how her collarbones pressed sharply against her skin.
She showered quickly, letting the water wash over her like it could rinse away confusion, guilt, fear. It didn't.
Sleep came fast and heavy.
When she woke up, it was already late.
She dressed simply a thin top, faded jeans. No makeup. No effort. Just enough to look presentable.
When she stepped outside her apartment, the private driver was already waiting.
"Hi," she said softly.
He didn't reply.
She didn't care.
The car ride was silent, the city lights blurring past the window. Aria stared out, phone in hand, dialing Liam again. And again.
No answer.
Her chest tightened.
By the time they arrived, she'd already stopped calling.
She stepped inside his place, the familiar smell greeting her but something felt off. The lights were dimmer than usual. The air heavier.
"Liam?" she called.
No response.
Her heart began to race as she walked down the hallway.
His bedroom door was slightly open.
She pushed it.
And froze.
Liam lay on the bed, pale, eyes half-closed. Pills and drug packets were scattered across the mattress and floor like evidence of a war no one had stopped. Bottles tipped over. Some empty. Some not.
Her bag slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.
She rushed to his side.
"Oh my God," she breathed. "Liam… how long have you been like this?"
He groaned, turning his head slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Before he could respond, his phone rang.
The screen lit up.
Babe (with a heart shaped emoji)
Aria frowned.
Her heart skipped not in excitement, but dread.
She checked her own phone.
She wasn't calling him.
The ringing continued.
"Who's that?" Aria asked quietly.
Liam didn't answer.
"Liam," she said again, more firmly. "Who is that?"
His eyes opened fully now, irritation flashing across his face.
"It doesn't matter," he snapped.
"It matters to me," Aria said. "Why are you someone else babe?"
He pushed himself up slightly, wincing.
"She's not important right now," he said harshly. "Can't you see I'm sick? Why are you making this about you?"
Aria stared at him.
"That's not what I"
"You always do this," Liam interrupted, his voice rising. "You question everything. You act like I owe you explanations every second of the day."
"I was worried about you," Aria said, tears threatening to spill. "I came all this way"
"So?" he snapped. "I didn't ask you to."
The words hit her like a slap.
"You think you're the only one dealing with things?" he continued. "You think I don't have my own life? My own problems? I don't have the energy for your insecurities right now."
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Liam swung his legs off the bed and stood up, unsteady but angry.
"I need air," he muttered before walking out of the room.
The door closed behind him.
Aria stayed frozen, her mind replaying everything the pills, the name on the screen, his tone, his eyes.
This wasn't the man she met.
This wasn't the Liam who laughed softly, who listened, who made her feel chosen.
Minutes passed before he came back.
He didn't look at her.
"Look," he said flatly. "I don't have anything to say to you. Just leave."
The words pierced straight through her.
"It's eleven," she said slowly. "You want me to leave? Now?"
He finally looked at her.
"Yes."
Her voice trembled. "Are you serious about this?"