Previously:
Bella glared, but the tips of her ears were pink. She turned away, trying to change quickly, but she could feel Ellie's presence like a warm shadow.
"You're blushing," Ellie teased softly, peeking at her.
"Shut up," Bella muttered, fumbling with her buttons.
Ellie chuckled but stayed quiet, leaning on the doorframe with a soft smile. She loved seeing Bella like this—tough on the outside, but so easily flustered when someone got too close.
Bella's fingers fumbled with the buttons of her blouse, her back still turned toward Ellie. She could feel Ellie's gaze on her like a warm weight pressing against her skin.
"Done staring?" Bella muttered, slipping into her blouse.
Ellie's laugh was low and lazy. "Not even close."
Bella spun around, glaring, though her cheeks betrayed her. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," Ellie said, leaning casually against the doorframe, grin smug. "But you're beautiful when you're mad."
Her stomach flipped. Bella grabbed her bag and brushed past her.
Ellie noticed she didn't even glance at the kitchen. "You're not eating?"
"No time. I'm going to work. Don't follow me," Bella muttered, slipping on her shoes.
"Let me drive you," Ellie offered.
"I don't need. I can take the bus," Bella shot back.
"You'll be late," Ellie said, already pulling on her jacket.
Bella glared but didn't argue when Ellie added, firm and casual, "Let's go.
The drive to school was quieter than usual. Morning sunlight spilled across the dashboard, and a soft song played from the radio. Bella kept her eyes on the road, gripping her bag, trying not to notice the way Ellie tapped along to the beat.
When the school gates appeared, Bella's chest tightened. Students lingered near the entrance, chatting.
"You can stop me here!"
Ellie didn't slow. She rolled the car right up to the front.
"Ellie!" Bella hissed, face heating.
"What? Something wrong?" Ellie said, smirking.Bella hurried out, leaned back into the open window, and whispered sharply, "Go home. Don't hang around here."
"Why? Embarrassed of me?" Ellie teased.
Bella's glare was sharp enough to cut. "Just go."
Ellie only tilted her head. "When's your lunch break?"
"Why?" Bella muttered.
"So I can bring you food."
"I don't need—"
"You didn't eat this morning."
Bella froze, then quickly shut the door before Ellie could say more. She walked inside without looking back, but her ears were burning.
By noon, Bella's stomach twisted so bad she nearly gave up on standing duty at the hallway. She told herself she could survive until dinner—until she spotted a familiar figure by the gate.
Ellie.
Holding a paper bag.
Grinning like she had all the patience in the world.
Bella's heart sank. "You didn't."
Ellie lifted the bag. "I did. Breakfast turned into lunch."
Students were whispering nearby. Bella panicked, rushing over. "Ellie, I told you not to come."
Ellie only shrugged. "And I told you—you need to eat." She pushed the bag toward her.
Bella snatched it, hiding it behind her back like it was contraband. "You're impossible," she muttered, brushing past, her cheeks burning.
Later, in the empty staffroom, Bella opened the warm box quietly. The first bite made her chest tighten—tasting like comfort, tasting like Ellie.
Her phone buzzed.
One name lit up the screen.
Alice.
Bella froze. She opened the message:
Are you okay? I miss you.
Her chest tightened. She stared at the words, thumb hovering over the keyboard.
She typed, deleted, typed again. Finally, she wrote:
I'm okay. How are you feeling?
The reply came quickly:
Better… I guess. I just keep thinking about you.
Bella's stomach twisted. She wanted to answer, to reassure, but part of her hesitated. She didn't want Alice to think she was opening the door again.