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Red crept through the open window, her heart thumping loudly in her chest, as if the night itself could hear her every step. The room was still, save for the soft rustle of the sheets as Chloe shifted in her bed. She landed lightly on the floor, her feet making barely a sound. Yet, Red could feel the familiar weight of Chloe’s gaze before she even turned to look at her.
Chloe blinked sleepily, her disoriented gaze slowly focusing on the figure standing near the window. The pale light of the moon filtered in, casting faint shadows across the room, and Red could see the confusion in Chloe’s eyes as she sat up, her blanket tangled around her legs.
Red’s jacket was slung over one shoulder, her messy hair framing a face that carried the familiar exhaustion of too many late nights. She froze when she realized Chloe was awake. “Sorry,” she whispered, guilt lacing her voice.
Chloe sighed, pushing herself up on one elbow. “You know the front door exists, right?” Her voice was soft but edged with annoyance.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” Red replied, offering a sheepish smile.
“Well, too late for that,” Chloe muttered, rolling onto her side and facing the wall. It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either. Just...
distant
. Chloe’s tone, dismissive yet not entirely angry, stung more than Red had expected.
The room fell quiet again, thick with the tension that still lingered between them. Red perched herself on the windowsill, staring out into the darkness. Her fingers found the rubber band around her wrist, the familiar motion a way to ground herself, to stop her thoughts from spiraling. She snapped it against her skin, the sound sharp in the silence. Once, it had been a sound Chloe had found soothing, a reminder that Red was there, present. But now, it only served to remind Red of how far they had drifted.
Red’s eyes wandered to Chloe’s desk. Amid the scattered books and pens, a folded T-shirt caught her attention—a faded crimson one Red had given to the princess months ago. She thought Chloe would’ve thrown it out by now, but there it was, still neatly kept.
The sight tugged at something deep within her, pulling her back to a memory she’d tried to bury. She could still see Chloe wearing that shirt one lazy summer afternoon, sprawled across the floor and laughing at one of Red’s dumb jokes. The sound of Chloe’s laugh had been her favorite thing—full of life, unguarded, and utterly infectious. Now, the memory only left a hollow ache in its place.
“You’re coming back later each night,” Chloe whispered into the quiet room. “You’re going to get caught.”
Red's breath caught in her throat at the sound of Chloe’s voice breaking the silence. It was tired, like everything else that had once been between them. Tired and resigned, as if Chloe had said it a hundred times already, as if she had accepted that Red’s late-night sneak-ins were just...a part of their new, broken routine.
Red glanced over her shoulder, but Chloe had already turned her back, facing the wall once more. The space between them seemed vast, even though they were only a few feet apart. Red felt the distance like a physical weight, pressing down on her chest.
“I don’t care,” Chloe added, her voice softer now. “I just...I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
Red’s heart twisted at the words. She had broken them,
shattered
whatever they had left, but Chloe still cared. It stung in a way that was worse than any anger, any confrontation. The quiet hope in Chloe’s voice was like a wound Red couldn’t heal.
“I’m fine,” Red murmured, but even she could hear the lie in her voice.
She wasn’t fine. She hadn’t been fine for months. Not since that night when she had walked away, scared and unsure, leaving Chloe to deal with the aftermath. Leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions.
The rubber band snapped again, the sharp sound echoing through the room, a reminder that Red still had these little rituals—these small, meaningless things—that had once helped her feel like herself. But now, even they felt hollow.
Her eyes drifted back to the red shirt. It was so simple, yet so...significant. She remembered the day Chloe had worn it—how Red had pulled her into a lazy afternoon, one of those rare moments when they both forgot about everything else. Chloe had laughed at something ridiculous Red had said, her head tilted back, her smile so wide that it had lit up the whole room.
Red closed her eyes, the memory slipping away as quickly as it had come. She couldn’t hold onto it, not anymore. She had let go of so much already. But there was one thing she couldn’t seem to shake.
“Why are you still wearing it?” Red whispered to herself, more to the shirt than to Chloe, but the words felt like a question that had been buried in her chest for too long.
It didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter that Chloe still had her things, still held onto the pieces of their past. It didn’t matter that Red had no idea how to fix what she had broken. It didn’t matter, because Chloe had moved on, hadn’t she?
The thought was bitter, sharper than she wanted to admit. She snapped the rubber band again, harder this time, almost as if punishing herself for thinking it.
Red was shaken from her thoughts by Chloe’s voice again, quieter now, though still laced with an edge of sadness. “You never answered me, you know,” she said, her back still turned. “About...us.”
Red froze, the air in the room suddenly feeling much heavier. Her fingers stilled on the rubber band, and her heart seemed to skip a beat. She had hoped Chloe would let it go, would stop asking her about it. But of course, Chloe hadn’t.
“I—” Red started, but the words stuck in her throat. She didn’t know what to say. How could she explain what she had done? What she
hadn’t
done? How could she make Chloe understand the storm that had been inside her when she’d ended it?
“I wasn’t ready,” Red finally said, the words coming out in a rush, like a confession she had never dared say aloud. “I couldn’t be what you needed, Chloe. And I...I didn’t know how to fix it. So I ran.”
She wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince Chloe or herself. The guilt in her chest felt like a weight she couldn’t shake, no matter how hard she tried.
There was a long pause before Chloe spoke again, and when she did, it was so quiet, so soft, that Red almost didn’t hear it. “I didn’t need you to
fix it
, Red. I just needed you to stay.”
Red squeezed her eyes shut, her chest tightening as the weight of them sank in. The ache was unbearable, more painful than she had ever expected. She had been so scared, so unsure, and in the end, all Chloe had wanted was for her to stay.
“I know,” Red whispered, her voice raw. “I’m sorry.”
Chloe didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. Red could feel the finality in the silence between them, the unspoken understanding that things could never go back to the way they were. Maybe they shouldn’t.
But Red couldn’t help herself. She stood up from the windowsill and moved toward Chloe’s bed. She didn’t know what she was looking for—comfort, maybe, or just a sign that this wasn’t the end. But Chloe didn’t look at her. Didn’t move.
Red sat down on the edge of the bed, a careful distance between them. She didn’t touch Chloe. She couldn’t.
“I wish I could’ve been enough for you,” Red said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Chloe finally shifted, just slightly, enough to face Red, her eyes barely open. “You were always enough, Red,” she said softly, the sadness in her voice unmistakable. “You just didn’t think so.”
There was nothing left to say. The past was gone, and with it, so was their chance for something that could’ve been. But maybe, it was time for them both to move forward.
Separate. Heal.
Red stood up again, a lump in her throat.
“Goodnight, Chloe,” Red said quietly, her voice thick with unshed tears.
Chloe didn’t answer, but Red didn’t need her to. She changed into her pajamas and slid into her own bed, the emptiness of it still unfamiliar to her.
Red snapped the rubber band one last time, the faint red mark on her wrist mirroring the invisible ones on her heart. She closed her eyes, willing herself to believe that the rubber band—this habit, this
pain
—was enough to hold her together, even if she couldn’t hold onto Chloe anymore.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Chloe awoke to the familiar sound of the alarm, but today, the world felt different. The air in the room was thicker, more suffocating. She lay still for a moment, trying to breathe through the tension that had wrapped itself around her chest.
Red was already up, her bed vacant. She'd been avoiding her more and more recently, even though Chloe hated it. The silence between them had grown unbearable, and she wasn't sure if Red was pretending for her benefit or for her own. Either way, it didn’t make the quiet between them any easier to handle.
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could go back to sleep, back to a time when things felt normal between them. But the reality of the situation hit her like a punch to the gut. The space between them wasn’t just physical—it was
emotional
, too. It felt like an ocean had formed between them, one neither of them was brave enough to cross.
As she lay there, staring at the ceiling, she remembered. Her birthday was coming up in a few days, and the thought of it made her chest tighten. It wasn’t supposed to feel this way. It had always been a day filled with laughter, silly surprises, and Red’s odd little birthday rituals. She could almost hear Red's voice—playful, lighthearted—telling her she was impossible to shop for, as if that was the biggest problem in the world.
Her last birthday had felt so different. Red had planned everything down to the smallest detail, like she always did. It wasn’t just a birthday party—it was an adventure, a celebration of
them
. Red had taken her back to Cinderellasburg, a surprise trip that Chloe had never seen coming. Her friends, family, and even some familiar faces from the kingdom had gathered in the grand hall of her childhood home for a celebration. It had been perfect.
Chloe could still remember the way Red had grinned as she handed Chloe the small, wrapped box—the one that held a necklace, simple but meaningful. The night had ended with laughter, with Red making fun of Chloe for being an easy target during the "roast the birthday girl" game. And when the candles were blown out, Red had whispered in her ear, "What’d you wish for?"
As if she didn’t know that Chloe already had everything she wanted.
That memory should’ve been a happy one, but now, it felt like an aching reminder of everything she had lost. That version of them—
the way they made everything feel easy
—seemed so far away now. Chloe hadn't realized how much she depended on Red, how much she’d relied on her presence until it was gone. And now, all Chloe had were the remnants of their love, things she couldn’t touch, but
felt
deeply.
The thought of Red not being a part of it—
really a part of it
—hurt more than she wanted to admit.
Chloe sat up in bed, the blanket slipping off her shoulders as she ran a hand through her tangled hair. She should get up, she had Swords and Shields practice. The thought of focusing on something physical, something
productive
, was the only thing that kept her going through days like these. At least on the practice field, there was a clear goal. A clear purpose. There, the silence between her and Red wouldn't matter, because she couldn’t hear anything besides clashing metal.
“Come on, Captain,” Chloe groaned to herself, “Get your shit together.”
She slipped into her practice gear before moving over to the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, tired eyes and a forced smile. She didn’t know how long she could keep pretending that everything was fine. Every morning felt like a struggle, but every time she stepped into the arena, she felt like she could breathe again.
Just keep going. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about
her
.
She grabbed her sword from the corner of the room, testing the weight of the steel in her hand, “We’ve got a long day ahead of us, Thiago.” The familiar grip gave her a strange sense of comfort. At least with this, she could control something.
Her body, the movements, the practice—those were hers. No one could take them away.
The day would start, and she’d slip into her role—the quiet, determined athlete who could handle everything, no matter what was happening inside.
But even as she steeled herself, she knew something was missing. There was a gap, a hole that even her sword couldn’t fill.
Her birthday was coming, but it felt like it had already passed her by.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Chloe wiped the sweat from her brow as she stripped off her Swords and Shields gear, the aftertaste of a hard practice still lingering in the air. Her arms ached, but it was the kind of exhaustion she could handle. The kind that was physical, not emotional.
At least here, on the practice floor, she didn’t have to think about everything else. The tangled mess of her feelings for Red, her birthday coming up, and the persistent ache in her chest.
As Chloe stowed her shield and sword away in her locker, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her. She turned, half-expecting one of her teammates to ask her about her form or make jokes, but instead, she found Dizzy standing there, leaning against the doorframe with an exaggerated grin on her face.
“Hey, you’re not supposed to be in here,” Chloe teased, raising an eyebrow. “You know the rules.”
Dizzy shot her a mischievous look, “Psh, I paid some schmuck to keep lookout. He’s all set up at the entrance, in case your Coach decides to do a random locker room check.”
Chloe couldn’t help but laugh at her cousin’s antics. Dizzy always knew how to sneak around and get what she wanted. It was one of the things Chloe admired most about her cousin—her confidence and no-nonsense attitude. But what came next wiped the smile off Chloe’s face in an instant.
“So, I overheard some stuff...” Dizzy started, her voice lowered like she was sharing a secret. Dizzy was always on top of the gossip at school, something her and Red had in common. “I hear Ruby, Rapunzel’s daughter, has a bit of a thing for you. Or maybe more than a
bit
. She’s been asking about you.”
Chloe froze mid-motion, her hand still on the locker door.
Ruby?
She’d never really thought about her that way, not even for a second. Ruby had always been a kind of distant acquaintance in school—one of those students who was always there but never really on her radar. She was pretty, sure, just not like Red.
Then again, there were very few things that could compare to Red’s looks.
“What?” Chloe managed, her voice tinged with surprise. “Ruby? Really?”
Dizzy gave a casual shrug. “Yup. You know, she’s always talking about you in class. She’s definitely got some feelings. Rumor has it she’s been asking around about your interests. You know—what kind of things you like, stuff like that.”
Chloe couldn’t shake the knot that formed in her stomach. She hadn’t been expecting this, and honestly, she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. A part of her felt flattered, but another part of her—one that she wasn’t ready to confront—still ached for Red.
“I don’t know, Diz,” Chloe murmured, her voice trailing off. “I don’t even know if I’m ready for something like that after...well, you know.” She didn’t need to finish the sentence. The breakup with Red was still too fresh.
Too raw
. She couldn’t just jump into something new. It didn’t feel right.
Dizzy tilted her head, her expression softening with understanding. “Look, I get it. You’re still... tangled up in everything with Red. But seriously, you need to move on. It’s been months! This might be the best way to do it. Take a chance. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”
Chloe opened her mouth to protest but stopped herself. Dizzy had a point. Maybe it was time to take a step forward. To stop clinging to something that wasn’t coming back. But then, another thought crept into her mind.
“Yeah, but, you know…” Chloe hesitated, rubbing her hand over her face. “Chad had a thing with Ruby’s older sister, Anxelin. It’s just...weird. I don’t think I could date her knowing that.” She shook her head, as if trying to clear the thought from her mind. It was an excuse, a weak one, at that. “It feels too messy.”
Dizzy shrugged again, nonchalant. “Who
cares?
Ruby’s a whole different person. And besides, they never officially dated. You never know, Chloe. It could be fun, maybe a distraction from all your sulking.”
Before Chloe could respond, Dizzy’s best friend, Celia, walked in, grinning from ear to ear. Chloe groaned, “Do rules mean
nothing
to you two?”
“Did I hear the word
Ruby?
” Celia chimed in, clearly eavesdropping on their conversation. She walked over to them, looking directly at Chloe with a playful gleam in her eyes.
The blue haired girl frowned, “You surely didn’t, not from me, at least.”
“Look, I’m not saying you need to jump into a relationship, but have you considered taking a chance on her? You don’t have to go all in right away. Just...see what happens,” Celia grinned.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement crossing her face despite herself. Celia had this way of pushing her into things, always trying to get her to take risks. She was a lot like her cousin, which made sense they’d be friends. Her and Red were nothing alike, maybe the signs were there all along.
“I don’t know,” Chloe said, her voice low. “I’m just not sure if I’m ready to do anything with anyone. Red’s not...she’s not out of my head yet.”
“I get it,” Celia said, her tone softening. “But think of it this way—if you don’t give someone else a chance, you’ll never know if you’re missing out on something great. And you deserve that, Chloe. You really do.”
Chloe stared at both of them, Dizzy’s laid-back attitude and Celia’s encouragement settling into her chest like a weight. They were right, in a way. She had been holding onto the past for so long, and maybe it was time to let go. Maybe she could at least
try
to move forward.
Taking a deep breath, Chloe glanced between the two of them. “Okay. I’ll
think
about it. But that’s all you’re getting. Don’t think I’m about to go out there and ask her out.”
Dizzy flashed a grin. “No need, I already did on your behalf.”
“You
what?!
”
“Hey, we’re just trying to help,” Celia teased, nudging her playfully. “It’s your turn now, Chloe. Don’t overthink it. You never know where it could lead.”
Chloe looked between them again. Maybe this was the right moment to take a chance—on someone else, on herself. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let someone else in.
She sighed, standing up and grabbing her bag. “Fine, one date. No promises beyond that.”
Dizzy high-fived Celia. “That’s all we’re asking for.”
Chloe chuckled, but as she walked out of the locker room with them, her mind buzzed with a flurry of thoughts. Could she really move on from Red? Could she take a chance with Ruby? The answer wasn’t clear, but for the first time in a while, Chloe felt like she had the freedom to choose. And that, in itself, felt like progress.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Red sat in the back of class, her eyes unfocused as they wandered over the familiar rows of desks and classmates. The lecture on
History of Magical Politics
was droning on, but the words didn’t register. Instead, her gaze kept drifting to Chloe, sitting near the front with her group of friends.
Chloe was giggling at something Ruby,
that blonde airhead
, had just said, her eyes sparkling in a way that Red hadn’t seen in weeks. It hit her hard, that small but unmistakable sign of Chloe being...happy. Without her.
Chloe’s laughter echoed in Red’s ears, even as her mind felt heavy, pulling her deeper into thoughts she wasn’t ready to face. The sharp snap of the rubber band on Red's wrist was the only thing that kept her grounded, a momentary distraction from the gnawing ache in her chest.
Stop thinking about her,
Red ordered herself, but it was pointless. Chloe was everywhere. In the way her smile seemed brighter with someone else, in the way her hair looked when the sun hit it just right, in the rhythm of her laugh that used to be so familiar.
Red’s eyes lingered on Chloe, watching her talk to Ruby again, the two of them sharing some private joke that only they understood. For a moment, Chloe's gaze flickered around the room, and Red quickly looked down, as if trying to avoid being caught in something she wasn’t supposed to see. But it was too late—the damage was done. The familiar weight of Chloe’s absence, her distance, hit Red like a wave.
“Red?” The teacher’s voice snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts. She looked up, blinking, feeling the weight of the entire class’s eyes on her.
“Uh...yes?” she said, her voice rougher than she intended.
“Can you explain the historical significance of the Peace Accords between the Enchanted Isles and the Isle of the Lost?” the teacher asked, the question hanging in the air. Red stared at her, feeling the pressure build in her chest. Her mind was blank, too clouded with thoughts of Chloe to focus on anything else.
“I…I’m not sure,” she muttered, already feeling the flush of embarrassment rising in her cheeks.
The class was quiet for a beat, the air thick with expectation. Red could feel every pair of eyes on her, even though the majority of them weren’t even looking at her anymore. Her mind raced, scrambling to find the right words, but all she could do was stare at the desk in front of her.
Then, across the room, Chloe’s eyes met hers.
For a brief moment, their gazes locked, and Red’s heart stuttered in her chest. She couldn’t read the look on Chloe’s face—
was it pity? Was she embarrassed for Red? Or was it something else entirely?
Chloe's lips parted, as if she might say something, but then, with a soft sigh, Chloe looked at the teacher and raised her hand.
“I think the Peace Accords were significant because they established long-term diplomatic relations between the Isles,” Chloe said, her voice steady and confident, the words flowing easily as she answered the question.
Red didn’t know what made Chloe speak up—whether it was the lingering look they had shared or just the fact that she
did
know the answer, and Red was struggling—but there was something in that moment that tugged at Red’s heart. She couldn’t tell if Chloe had answered because she felt bad for her or if she genuinely knew the answer, but either way, it was too much.
Then, a soft nudge against her elbow.
“Hey,” Chester whispered, his grin wide but his tone laced with something like quiet concern. He leaned over to her, passing her a note that read:
The Peace Accords are a big deal, but not as big as you ignoring me, Red.
Red raised an eyebrow, unsure if she should laugh or sigh. She could feel the burn of frustration bubbling up from within, the mix of stress from her class, the ache of seeing Chloe with someone else, and the general weight of everything she'd been avoiding.
“Not in mood,” she said shortly, without looking at him. Her hand gripped the rubber band again, snapping it too hard. Her heart raced.
“Whoa, hey, chill,” Chester said, his voice a little softer now. He backed off slightly, holding up his hands in mock surrender.
Chester blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Red's voice. His usual easy going demeanor faltered for a moment, and Red immediately regretted her tone. She didn’t want to snap at him, but everything felt so off, so out of control.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered quickly, her voice much quieter now. “I’m just…I’m not having a good day.”
Chester studied her for a moment, his brow furrowed in concern. Then, his eyes flickered to Chloe, still chatting animatedly with Ruby across the room, her laughter still hanging in the air.
"I get it," Chester said softly, his voice more serious now. “Your case of the blues coming back strong?”
Red didn’t answer immediately, but the way her heart stuttered in her chest said everything. She hadn’t realized how obvious it had become, but maybe it was.
Chester gave a sympathetic nod. “Look, I know it’s hard, but you have to let her go. You know that, right? You’re...you’re just torturing yourself holding on like this. I mean, she’s moved on, Red. And so should you.”
Red’s breath caught.
Moved on.
The words struck like a thousand needles. How could she let go of Chloe when everything about her still felt so...right? When the thought of Chloe laughing with someone else twisted like a knife in her chest?
Chester glanced at her again, then looked back over at Chloe. This time, he watched Chloe and Ruby’s interaction with a knowing look. Ruby had a playful glint in her eye, and Chloe seemed so carefree, so happy.
It was just a joke,
Red reminded herself,
nothing more than that.
Chester gave her an understanding look. “I’m just saying, maybe it’s time to stop holding onto what was. You said it yourself, you weren’t ready and she wanted something serious.”
Red clenched her fists under the desk, trying to suppress the lump rising in her throat. Chester’s words were blunt, but not unkind. He was right—she had pushed Chloe away. She had been scared. But now? Now, she was left with nothing but regret, a hollow ache in her chest, and the uncomfortable silence between them.
"I know," Red said quietly, her voice small and hollow. She hated how weak it sounded, but there was no denying it.
Chester didn’t say anything for a moment. He just looked at her with that same knowing look, the kind he always had when he could see through her defenses. It was a strange mix of pity and concern, like he was watching someone trying to hold themselves together while everything slowly fell apart.
"She's not waiting around for you, Red," Chester said, his tone gentle but firm. "You’ve gotta let her go."
Red’s chest tightened, the pressure building with every word. She knew it, of course. She knew Chloe had a right to move on, to find someone who was ready for her. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. The thought of Chloe with someone else—laughing, loving, living without her—made Red want to tear her heart out and throw it away.
She’s happy,
she reminded herself.
You want that for her. You have to want that for her.
But the truth was, she wasn’t sure she did. Not really. How could she? How could she let go of the one person who had ever made her feel truly at home?
"I can't just...forget her, Chester." The words slipped out before she could stop them. "I can't just
move on
like it’s nothing."
Chester's eyes softened, and for a moment, she saw something beyond the teasing and the tough-guy exterior. It was empathy. And maybe even a little sadness. He sighed, shifting in his seat, clearly wrestling with how to make her understand.
"Red," he said carefully, his voice lower now. "It’s not about forgetting her. It’s about accepting that it’s over. You have to stop torturing yourself by holding onto something that isn’t there anymore."
Red stared at the desk in front of her, her thoughts swirling. He was right, she knew that. She’d been clinging to memories, to
what could have been
, and every time she saw Chloe laughing with someone else, it felt like the past was slipping further away from her grasp.
But letting go? Letting Chloe go? That felt like a betrayal.
Before she could respond, she caught sight of Chloe again, still chatting with Ruby. They were laughing now, both of them leaning in closer, their conversation animated. The sound of Chloe’s laughter felt like a knife to Red’s chest. Not because Chloe didn’t deserve to be happy—it was just that Red couldn’t shake the feeling that she should have been the one to make her laugh like that.
"She’s better off without me," Red muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Chester.
Chester raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Do you really believe that?”
Red didn’t answer. Instead, she looked down at her wrist, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the rubber band. She snapped it once, twice. The sharp sting grounded her, but it didn’t make the pain in her chest go away.
Chester let out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “I’m just saying, you’ve gotta stop playing the ‘what if’ game. It’s eating you up inside.”
Red nodded slowly, though she didn’t feel convinced. She didn’t want to admit it, but she knew he was right. If she kept holding on to Chloe, to the memory of what they had, she’d never get past this. But
letting go
felt impossible.
She glanced at Chloe once more, her heart aching. “She’s everywhere, it’s not like I can avoid her.”
Chester gave her a half-hearted smile. "Then focus on being her friend again, but don’t go chasing things that no longer exist."
Red didn’t respond. She couldn’t. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore, and the more she tried to focus on something else, the more she was drawn back to Chloe. It felt impossible to think about anything,
anyone
, else.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Red gathered her things quickly, avoiding Chester’s eyes. She wasn’t ready to talk about moving on. She wasn’t ready to leave behind something that had felt so real, so
right
.
But she was starting to realize maybe she had no choice.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Chloe opted to go to the library for a bit after school, not ready to face Red in their room just yet. Chloe sat in a chair, her notebook open in front of her, her pen poised but unmoving. She wasn’t focused on the page. Her mind kept drifting back to a certain redhead, as it always does. Chloe won’t admit that she was laughing extra loudly at Ruby’s jokes just to see how Red would react. She
should
have been listening in class, but instead, all she wanted was Red to show some sort of sign that she
cared
.
Nothing.
Chloe let out a soft sigh and flipped to a random page in her notebook, desperate for something to occupy her thoughts. As she turned the corner of the page, something fell out—thin, almost delicate.
A folded piece of paper.
Chloe picked it up, frowning, and unfolded it with careful hands. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw what was drawn on the page.
It was of Red—
them
, to be precise. The sketch was rough, but there was something incredibly intimate about it. Red’s messy hair, the way she held her pencil with a sense of quiet concentration, her eyes focused, and yet, the way she was looking up at Chloe in the drawing... as if they were the only two people in the room. There was a simplicity to the picture that made Chloe’s heart ache.
It was a moment frozen in time, a moment that didn’t feel so long ago, yet felt like a lifetime. She remembered the day vividly—the warmth of the sun streaming through the window of their dorm, the sound of soft music playing in the background, the smell of their favorite homemade cupcakes lingering in the air. Bridget had taught Red to make the most incredible “Red velvet” (as Dizzy would call it) cupcakes, and she’d make them for Chloe whenever she was having a bad day.
Today was a bad day.
Chloe’s fingers brushed over the paper, over the outline of Red’s face, and the memory flooded back to her. She could almost hear Red’s voice in her head, teasing her about her hair, or maybe it had been something about how Chloe was always “too serious” when it came to their projects.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to push back the swell of emotions that followed. It was like a tidal wave, pulling her under, threatening to drown her.
Why did this hurt so much?
Why couldn’t she just let go, like everyone kept telling her to?
Chloe bit her lip, her eyes staying on the drawing as she traced the lines of it once more.
Move on, let her go
—the words echoed in her mind. But how could she? How could she just erase the person who had been her everything, who had made her feel seen and loved, and now...who barely looked her way?
She tucked the sketch back into her notebook, but it didn’t make the ache go away. It was there now, in her chest, thick and suffocating. Chloe pulled her phone out and called her brother. The library was empty, so she didn’t mind being on the phone.
Chloe stared at her phone, the familiar sound of Chad’s voice echoing in her ears. She wasn’t sure why she’d called him—maybe it was just the urge to hear someone’s voice, someone who might be able to make her feel less alone in all this mess.
“Squirt, what’s up?” Chad’s voice rang in her ears, loud and upbeat, like always.
"Hey," Chloe murmured, trying to steady herself before she spoke. "Can I ask you something?"
“Of course. What’s on your mind?”
Chloe hesitated for a second, her fingers idly playing with the edge of her notebook. Finally, she blurted it out. “Has she—have you two talked much? Since...you know.”
There was a slight pause before Chad responded, and Chloe could hear the faint sound of him shifting in his seat. “Not really. Haven’t spoken to her much. Especially not after she broke my sister’s heart.”
Chloe winced at his words, the sting still fresh, but Chad continued without missing a beat.
“I’m not saying I’m holding a grudge, but come on. No one breaks my sister’s heart without consequences,” he added, a mock-serious tone creeping into his voice. “She’d better hope I never bump into her in a dark alley. I’d probably just
have
to talk to her about how much she messed up, you know?”
Chloe let out a small laugh, despite herself. It was just the kind of brotherly nonsense she needed to hear right now. The way Chad always managed to lighten her mood with his empty threats made her feel a little bit lighter.
She could almost imagine him pacing around the dorm room, cracking his knuckles as if he were about to have a “serious conversation” with Red. It was absurd, but it was also comforting.
It was
Chad
.
“Thanks, I guess,” Chloe said, still smiling faintly. “It’s just...things have been really weird, you know?”
“I get it,” Chad replied, his tone softening. “But, hey, listen. You deserve better than someone who isn’t giving you what you need. You’ve gotta let her go, Chlo. Holding on to this...it’s not gonna get you anywhere.”
Chloe closed her eyes, the weight of his words sinking in. But it wasn’t that simple, was it? How could she just let go of Red, when every part of her still
wanted
to hold on?
She had loved her. She still loved her, even if she didn’t know what to do with that love anymore.
“I know,” she whispered, barely above a breath. “I just...it’s hard.”
“I know, kiddo,” Chad said, his voice warmer now. “But, it gets easier.”
There was a short pause before he added, “And hey, have you eaten yet? You can’t survive on sadness alone. You need food.”
Chloe chuckled at his usual way of making everything feel less heavy. “No, I haven’t really been hungry if I’m being honest.”
“Well, that’s dumb. You should eat something. I can’t have you risking your champion title cause you’re passing out on the field.”
Chloe shook her head, even though Chad couldn’t see her. “The kitchen’s closed off right now, remember? There’s no food until the morning.”
Chad snorted. “I’m sure they’ll make an exception for you. Come on, I’ll talk to someone. Go get a snack. You’re welcome, by the way.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Sure, ‘
talk to someone.’
”
“Yeah, yeah. Trust me, go to the kitchen, and I’ll make sure you don’t starve. Just go.”
Chloe let out a long, exasperated sigh, but there was something in his voice—something that made her consider it. She almost gave in, almost stood up and walked to the kitchen. But she stopped herself.
“Thanks, Chad,” Chloe said, finally, letting the thought drift away. “But I think I’ll just head back to the dorm.”
“Whatever, your call. Just don’t complain to me later when you’re starving, alright?” Chad teased.
“I won’t,” Chloe said quietly, and hung up before she could say more.
For a moment, she stared at her phone in her hand, before standing up from her chair and making her way back to the dorm. Her mind was still swirling—about Red, about their strange silence, and the weight of the unspoken words that hung in the air every time they crossed paths.
When she opened the door, the room was still and quiet, save for the hum of the lights above. Red’s bed was empty, and Chloe’s chest tightened. She had hoped, for a second, that maybe Red would be there, but the room felt the same as it always did now—empty, almost foreign.
But then Chloe’s eyes landed on something on her desk. She blinked, unsure if she was seeing things. It was simple, but it was enough to make her heart ache.
A red velvet cupcake, sitting there neatly beside a bottle of water.
Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest as she stared at it.
Red had left it for her.
Chloe stood there for a long moment, her thoughts swirling, before she slowly walked over to the desk and picked up the cupcake. There was no note, no words, just the cupcake.
Her fingers traced the soft frosting, and the memories came rushing back—sitting together, Red teasing her about how she was too serious, always analyzing everything. The times when Red would just hand her a cupcake and say,
“Here, this’ll make you feel better,”
like that was all it took to fix everything.
But nothing was simple anymore.
Chloe sat down at her desk, staring at the cupcake as if it were a riddle she couldn’t solve. The soft frosting, the rich red hue—it was unmistakably Red’s touch. It was the kind of gesture that used to make her heart flutter. But now?
Now, it just made everything hurt.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her thoughts. The weight of her emotions pressed down on her chest. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that Red could still have this effect on her.
That a simple
cupcake
could send her spiraling like this.
“You make it so hard to hate you,” Chloe whispered to herself, her fingers brushing over the frosting again. She wasn’t sure why she was talking to the cupcake, or maybe it was just a way to voice everything she couldn’t say out loud.
She set the cupcake back down and leaned back in her chair, her eyes going to Red’s empty bed. A dull ache settled in her chest as she thought about the way Red had pulled away. The way Red had been avoiding her more and more. Chloe still didn’t understand why it had ended so suddenly. She didn’t understand why Red had seemed to shut down the moment their relationship became too real.
And maybe, that was the hardest part: not knowing.
But the thing that hurt the most was that Chloe didn’t want to
let go
. She didn’t want to give up on Red, even though it seemed like Red had already given up on them.
With a heavy sigh, Chloe got up from the chair and moved to her bed, trying to quiet her mind. She needed some peace. The cupcake would still be there when she opened her eyes again, she couldn’t say the same for Red.
One last glance over to Red’s empty bed, uncharacteristically neat from hardly being slept in for the past few weeks. She wanted to reach out to Red, to somehow fix the rift that had formed between them. But every time she tried to move closer, Red seemed to pull further away.
And Chloe wasn’t sure how much more she could take before she snapped.