Chapter 82: Just One Word
The drive over was Celestia’s idea, of course. She hadn’t even given me a chance to suggest otherwise. "We’re going to Marina’s," she’d announced with that certainty that made arguing feel like trying to fight gravity. And somehow, before I knew it, we were pulling up the long driveway to the Godfreys’ villa.
It had been years since I’d been there. The place hadn’t changed much, though. The same sprawling front garden, the same ornate iron gates, the same house that looked like it belonged in a glossy magazine. If anything, it felt even bigger now, like stepping back into a part of my childhood I hadn’t realized I’d left behind.
Celestia leaned forward in her seat, lips pursed as she scanned the place. "So this is Marina’s?" she asked, tone light but her eyes sharp, like she was cataloguing every detail.
"Yeah," I said, pulling the car into the roundabout driveway. "Hasn’t changed since middle school."
"It screams money," she said bluntly. "Like, loud money."
I glanced at her. "Says the girl whose house has a fountain taller than me."
"That’s tasteful money," she shot back, flashing me a grin.
We climbed out, and before I could even knock, the door swung open. Mrs. Godfrey stood there, perfectly put together as always, even though it was the middle of the afternoon. Her silk blouse, pearl earrings, and the faint scent of expensive perfume were all so... her.
"Kai?" she gasped, her face breaking into surprise and then a warm smile. "Oh, my goodness—look at you. It’s been so long."
"Hi, Mrs. Godfrey," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah, it’s been a while."
She stepped aside to usher us in, her eyes darting curiously to Celestia. "And who’s this?"
Celestia extended her hand with effortless grace. "Celestia Valentina Moreau. Kai’s wife."
I choked on air. "Girlfriend," I corrected quickly, already bracing myself.
Mrs. Godfrey blinked at Celestia, startled—then laughed, the sound light and amused. "Wife?"
Celestia grinned, not the least bit embarrassed. "Same thing."
Mrs. Godfrey shook her head, still smiling, and took her hand. "Ah, Moreau. Of course. I should’ve guessed. Well, it’s lovely to finally meet you. I’ve heard plenty of the Moreaus, though not nearly enough of the daughter. You carry yourself like your mother."
Celestia’s lips curved politely. "Thank you. And it’s lovely to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you as well—from Kai, actually."
I almost choked. Total lie. I’d never once told her anything about Mrs. Godfrey, but she delivered it so smoothly I almost believed it myself.
Mrs. Godfrey’s eyebrows lifted, clearly delighted. "Have you now?"
I cleared my throat before this got more embarrassing. "Uh, Mrs. Godfrey, is Marina—"
I didn’t even finish before the sound of footsteps on the stairs cut through. Heavy, dragging ones.
And then she appeared.
Marina.
Except not like the Marina I knew—the one with glossy hair, perfect posture, and a sharp tongue. No, this Marina looked like she’d been attacked by raccoons and maybe lost the fight. Her hair was a mess, sticking out in wild tangles, her eyes red-rimmed and shadowed, and she wore a hoodie that looked three sizes too big.
"Marina," her mom scolded, shocked. "What on earth—?"
But Marina froze halfway down the stairs, her wide eyes locking on me. Then on Celestia. And the faintest sound slipped out of her throat, like she hadn’t expected us to be real.
"Uh," I started carefully, "hey, Marina."
Her lips pressed together, and she finished her descent slowly, every step deliberate. "What are you doing here?" Her voice cracked, just slightly.
Celestia’s brows arched, and she leaned lightly against me, casual in that way that wasn’t casual at all. "We came to check on you," she said. "Since someone"—she nodded at me—"noticed you’ve been MIA."
Marina’s eyes flicked to Celestia, narrowing for a second before shifting back to me. "I’m fine," she muttered.
"You don’t look fine," Celestia said smoothly, crossing her arms. "You look like you’ve been mugged by wildlife."
"Val," I hissed, elbowing her lightly.
"What?" She blinked up at me innocently. "I’m just being honest."
Mrs. Godfrey sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Girls. Please." She turned to Marina. "I’ll leave you three to... talk. But, Kai, it’s so nice to see you again. Don’t be a stranger."
"Of course, Mrs. Godfrey," I said quickly.
Once she was gone, silence stretched between us. Marina stood there, looking both defensive and embarrassed. Celestia, meanwhile, wore that faint grin she always did when she knew she was about to win a fight before it even started.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Marina, seriously. What’s going on?"
Her eyes flicked between us, then dropped, shoulders tight.
Celestia leaned forward a little, her voice gentler than mine. "Marina, you don’t have to dodge. Just say it."
That got her to let out a shaky breath. "You two are impossible, you know that?"
"Yeah," I admitted with a half-smile. "But we’re here. And we’re not leaving until you tell us what’s going on."
---
We ended up in the living room, the three of us scattered across couches like the tension itself had assigned our seats. Marina slouched into one corner, arms crossed, hood pulled low. Celestia sat forward on the edge of hers, all sharp eyes and steady focus. And me? I stayed somewhere between referee and bystander, perched uncomfortably, watching them like I’d stumbled into a storm without an umbrella.
"So," Celestia began, her tone deceptively light, almost conversational. "You skipped school and didn’t pick up your phone, which is so very not like you."
Marina gave a humorless laugh. "You don’t know me well enough to say what’s like me or not."
Celestia tilted her head. "Please. We’ve had more morning girl-talks than I’ve had patience for. I know when something’s up. And something is definitely up."
Marina looked down at her lap. "Drop it."
"Mm, no." Celestia stretched out the word like taffy, a faint smile tugging at her mouth. "See, that’s the problem. You think you can dodge me. But you can’t. So let’s make it easy. You said no to Trent, right?"
The way Marina stiffened was answer enough.
Celestia pounced. "Thought so. Why?"
"Because," Marina muttered.
> "Because what?"
Marina’s jaw worked, but no words came out. She shot a look at me, like I might save her, but I just raised my hands. "Don’t look at me. If anyone’s prying the truth out of you, it’s her."
Marina groaned, dragging the hood lower. "I don’t owe you an explanation."
"You don’t," Celestia agreed cheerfully. "But you’re going to give me one anyway."
For a moment, Marina looked like she might actually bolt upstairs and slam a door. But she stayed, teeth sinking into her bottom lip. The silence stretched too long, so Celestia leaned forward, voice softening.
> "Marina. You like him. You’ve liked him for a while. So why not say yes?"
That hit something, because Marina’s eyes flashed, her shoulders tightening. "Because it’s not that simple."
Celestia didn’t flinch. "It’s always that simple. You like someone, you try. Unless..." Her voice trailed off, and her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Unless there’s someone else."
Marina’s throat bobbed.
"Is there?" Celestia pressed.
That was Val’s thing. She didn’t dig. She excavated. And no matter how much someone tried to bury something, she’d keep going until she hit it.
Marina’s voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "Yes."
Celestia’s lips curved, but not in victory. More like she already knew. "Thought so. Who?"
Marina’s head snapped up, eyes wide. "No."
Celestia didn’t blink. "Who?"
} "I can’t—"
> "Marina."
Her voice was firm this time, no wiggle room, no escape hatch.
And that’s when Marina broke. She pushed both hands into her hair, fingers tugging at the tangled strands, frustration spilling out. "Why do you always do this? Why can’t you just let me keep one thing to myself?"
"Because you’re my friend," Celestia shot back instantly. "And friends don’t let friends sit around looking like raccoons without answers."
Marina laughed bitterly. "You won’t like the answer."
Celestia tilted her head, eyes narrowing just slightly, like she was solving a puzzle no one else had the pieces for. A beat of silence stretched, then her lips parted.
> "Oh."
Just that—quiet, sharp, knowing. No question. No denial. Just a single syllable that made the room colder.
The air shifted instantly. Tense. Unforgiving.
Marina froze. "Val—"
Marina’s words tumbled out, desperate to explain, desperate to fix what couldn’t be fixed. "It’s not—don’t look at me like that. I never said anything because—because I knew. I knew you loved him more than I ever could. I see it every time you look at him, Val. You’d burn the whole world for him. I’d never win against that, so I didn’t even try."
Celestia didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. She just leaned back in her chair, arms folding, eyes unreadable. Not angry. Not soft. Just absolute. The kind of silence that said more than words ever could.
Marina’s hands twisted in her lap, her eyes glassy. She looked at Celestia like she was waiting for the verdict. Like she already knew what it would be.
And me? I just sat there, stunned, caught between two girls who meant more to me than I knew how to explain, wishing—for once—that life didn’t twist ordinary days into knots like this.
---
To be continued...