It was just 3:00 a.m. when Ellie's eyes fluttered open, her arm aching slightly beneath the weight of someone else's body. She found herself once again tangled in Angel's arms—warm, bare, and fast asleep.
The early morning light barely touched the edges of the room, casting everything in soft greys. Yet to Ellie, it all felt overwhelmingly vivid. Her breath caught. There was something surreal about seeing Kyla's sleeping face this close—beautiful, peaceful, lips slightly parted. Her chest rose and fell in rhythm, and the warmth of her skin melted against Ellie's, as if they'd never been apart.
"Kyla, do you know that you're so pretty..." Ellie whispered unconsciously, smiling faintly to herself.
Then her eyes widened.
"Oh no... What am I doing?" she muttered, gently shaking her head as if trying to wake from a spell. "You idiot, Ellie. You both made each other a mistress last night."
She carefully pulled her arm out from beneath Kyla and tiptoed to the mirror. Her eyes widened at her own reflection—messy hair, flushed skin, and very, very naked.
"I can't believe you stole my virginity, Kyla," she whispered dramatically. "Oh, wait... you already did that ten years ago." She rolled her eyes. "Damn it, Kyla."
As the clock edged toward 4:00 a.m. and the sky began to lighten, Ellie rushed to the bathroom, muttering to herself in a stream of panicked thoughts.
"This was a mistake. No—maybe. Ugh, I don't even know what I want anymore!"
Just as she reached for the faucet, the bathroom door opened—Kyla stepped in, completely unclothed, nonchalant as ever.
"AHHHH!" Ellie screamed. "What are you doing!?"
Kyla blinked. "I'm taking a shower. I have work."
"Without clothes?! And no knocking?!"
Kyla smirked, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Please, Ellie. You know I don't need to knock. And besides…" Her gaze dropped, unapologetically eyeing Ellie from head to toe. "I know you want me to."
"Excuse me!?" Ellie grabbed the nearest towel and wrapped herself like a burrito, cheeks flaming. "Go. Out."
Kyla stepped closer instead, voice low and teasing. "You're even sexier now. Honestly, I didn't expect you to be this hot."
"Don't— I know those eyes! Stop it!" Ellie backed up until she hit the cold tile wall. But Angel was already leaning in.
"Why are you so nervous?" Kyla whispered.
"I'm not!" Ellie snapped—but her shaky voice betrayed her.
Suddenly, Ellie pulled Kyla in and kissed her, catching her by surprise. But as Kyla moaned her name, Ellie abruptly stopped, flushed and breathing hard.
"Nope. I'm out of here."
She shoved past Kyla, grabbed her clothes, and ran out.
Kyla called after her, laughing softly. "You still love me, Ellie. I know you do."
Ellie slammed the car door, heart pounding.
"What the hell was I thinking?" she muttered to herself. "I don't want to be a damn mistress!"
She floored the gas, her car racing through the early morning streets. Minutes later, she pulled into the hospital parking lot and hurried to Claude's room.
"Claude, please wake up," she whispered, clutching his hand. "I need you. I need someone who's not insane." Her voice cracked. "Astrid's waiting for you, you know? She loves you, Claude. So wake up already."
She stayed for a while, just sitting there. Then she stood, wiped her eyes, and walked to Astrid's room.
To her shock, the entire group was there.
And they were all staring at her.
"Oh, crap," Ellie muttered.
Just when she thought they were about to scold her, they all burst out laughing.
"Okay, what's going on?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Cassandra nudged Tisha. "Tisha, what's it like having a one-night stand?"
Tisha giggled. "Why don't we ask Ellie?"
"What?" Ellie blinked. "What are you talking about?"
But the teasing didn't stop. The group cackled louder as Ellie blinked in confusion.
Until—
"Ellie," Kyla said flatly, "they're teasing you because they know you slept with Kyla last night."
Everyone froze.
All eyes turned to Astrid.
"Anastasia," Tisha groaned, "we know you're still in love with Ellie, but come on—don't ruin the vibe."
"Yeah, don't be jealous," Cassandra added, massaging Astrid's shoulders like a mocking therapist.
"If you still like Ellie," Anastasia chimed in dramatically, "what's going to happen to poor Claude?"
"Ohh, Astrid," Irene said, feigning sadness. "How could you pick a one-night-stander like Ellie?"
Ellie shot a death glare at Veilah. "You better not say anything."
Veilah raised her hands. "I got nothing."
"Good."
"But..." Veilah added, "I do admire Ellie for having the guts to do a one-night stand. Like, wow. Girlboss energy."
"VEILAH!" Ellie cried, slapping her forehead as everyone died laughing.
She froze. Wait. She never told anyone.
"Wait—how the hell do you guys even know I slept with Kyla!?"
Veilah rolled her eyes. "Did you seriously just realize that now?"
Astrid muttered under her breath, "Why don't you ask the girl you slept with last night?"
"Don't mind her," Irene whispered. "She's just severely jealous."
Tisha held up her phone and grinned. "The evidence speaks for itself."
A photo. Of Ellie. In bed.
Sent by... KYLA.
"KYLA, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Ellie screamed.
Despite the chaos, the room slowly calmed into laughter and warmth. It was one of the few times in the past year that Astrid had joined them like this. Only two were missing now—Claude, still in a coma, and Kyla, who had left for work.
Cassandra flopped onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. "Guys... I miss this. The teasing, the weirdness, just being us."
Steph hooked her arm around Risha's shoulders. "Don't be so dramatic, Cassandra. But... yeah. Me too."
Silence fell. Not awkward, but understood. Their eyes met, no words needed. Just friendship. The kind that survived everything.
"I'm hungry," Veilah blurted out.
"Same," Tisha groaned. "I think my stomach's eating itself."
"I'll buy us lunch," Ellie volunteered, standing up.
"My hero," Irene said with a grin. "Is it your treat?"
Ellie just smiled and ran off before anyone could object.
At the convenience store, while juggling snacks and drinks, Ellie accidentally dropped her notebook—the one she had been writing in for weeks.
"Miss, let me help you with that."
She froze at the voice. She looked up—
Axel.
Kyla's husband.
Her heart dropped.
"I—uh, thanks," she mumbled, grabbing the notebook from his hand.
"You okay?" Axel asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Ellie said quickly, backing away. "Thank you." Before he could say another word, she turned and ran, heart thundering in her chest.
She bolted around a corner—only to crash into someone.
"I'm so sorry," she said, breathless.
Then she looked up—and her breath caught.
"Mia?"
[2011 – Westwood High]
"Mia," Ellie whispered.
"You haven't even touched your food," Mia said, nudging her tray. "That's your favorite chicken katsu."
Ellie poked it with her fork. "I'm not hungry."
Mia frowned. "You're thinking about her, aren't you?"
Ellie's eyes wandered to Astrid, laughing across the cafeteria.
"I want to hate her," Ellie whispered. "But when she looks at me like that... everything I tried to bury comes back."
"Do you still love her?" Mia asked softly.
Ellie didn't speak. But when Nicole looked back—just for a second—Ellie knew the answer.
"Yeah," she said. "I think I do."
Mia nodded. "I get it."
"You do?"
"I dated someone who cheated on me—twice. I still gave them chances. Because... hearts are idiots."
Ellie chuckled bitterly. "I wish love had a reset button."
Mia grinned. "You'd still get a glitchy cutscene."
They laughed, letting the heaviness go for just a second.
[2025 – Hospital]
"Long time no see, Miss Writer."
"Mia..." Ellie hugged her tightly, tears slipping down her cheek.
"You haven't changed, Ellie your still a big crybaby," Mia teased.
"And you're still dramatic." Ellie flicked her forehead.
"What are you doing here?" Mia asked.
"Astrid and Claude. They were in a car accident."
Mia's face sobered. "And Astrid... are you two back together?"
"NO!" Ellie blurted.
But her silence after said more than words ever could.