The soft knock echoed like a warning bell.
"Ellie? Can we talk later?" Sophia's voice carried through her door. Steady, polite, but edged with something unreadable.
I froze, my heart hammering in my chest, as I turned to Tristan. His expression didn't give away that something was bothering him. His eyes, however, sharpened, as if calculating every angle of what might come next.
"She wants to talk," I whispered, even though it was clear. My voice sounded small, like I'd been caught doing something wrong.
Tristan slowly rose from his crouch, his shadow cast over me. "You should," he finally said, but there was tension in his voice. "Better to face it now than let her imagination cause the damage."
I swallowed hard. He was right. But part of me wished I could stay here forever, with him between me and the truth.
When I stood up, Tristan's hand nearly reached out.
I know he only wants to help me steady myself, but then he pulled his hand back. When I noticed his small hesitation and that hand pausing before reaching me, it left me aching in a way I couldn't explain.
"Ellie," he said more gently. "No matter what occurs, remember you don't need to feel ashamed of your feelings."
The words stuck with me as I forced myself up the stairs and into Sophia's room.
The atmosphere inside was unusual. She sat cross-legged on her bed, her dark hair in a messy bun, calm in her expression, yet her eyes scanned me, filled with unspoken questions.
"Please close the door, Ellie," she said gently.
I obeyed, my palms damp against the doorknob.
We remained silent for a while, then Sophia inclined her head. "You and Tristan, there's definitely something, isn't there?"
Her bluntness left me speechless. "Soph…" I began, but my voice cracked, and that was enough of an answer.
She sighed, hugging a pillow to her chest. When I saw her face, I knew she wasn't angry. She was just watching me with her deep eyes, like she was trying to understand something. Then I heard her voice: "Why didn't you tell me, Ellie?"
I can feel the tears prickling my eyes. "It's because I am not ready to lose you, the only person who understands me, in this whole wide world, Sophia," I admitted. "Because it's complicated, and I didn't even know how to explain it to myself, let alone you."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, yet her eyes softened. "Ellie, you're my best friend. I can handle complicated, but what I can't handle is being shut out."
I nodded quickly, relief washing over me as guilt tangled with it. "I'll tell you everything. I promise."
Sophia leaned back, thoughtful, but a shadow lingered behind her smile. "Then I'll listen."
When I left her room, with my heart lighter but nerves still raw, I found Tristan waiting in the hallway. His arms were crossed, his jaw tight, and his gaze fixed on Sophia's closed door.
"Well?" he inquired, his voice quiet.
"She knows," I murmured. "But she's... attempting to understand."
His eyes narrowed, a protective fire flickering there. "If she turns this against you, against us, I won't let it stand."
And suddenly, I realized I wasn't just balancing between Sophia and Tristan; I was standing on a fault line that could tear everything apart.
Tristan's words stay with her, making Ellie wonder if she has to choose; would Tristan fight for her even if it means going against his sister?