The hum of the coffee machine fills the otherwise quiet living room as I lounge on Camila's couch, the late morning sun casting a warm glow through the window. Camila's house is a bit quieter than usual, and I'm finding comfort in the calm, despite all the things running through my mind—especially when it comes to Alex.
"Have you guys, like, talked about it yet?" Camila asks casually, dropping onto the couch next to me, her legs tucked under her as she pulls her phone out of her pocket. She glances at me over the top of her phone, like she knows exactly what I'm thinking.
"Talked about... what?" I ask, pretending not to know exactly where she's going with this.
She raises an eyebrow. "Come on, you know what I mean." She grins, leaning back into the cushions. "I'm talking about the relationship, Nick."
I feel my heart skip a beat. I swear, it's like she has a radar for these things. "Oh, uh… Well, yeah. We've talked a bit."
Camila gives me a skeptical look, tapping her phone against her leg. "Nick, you're in deep, aren't you? Don't play me like this."
I wince, running a hand through my hair. "I guess so… I don't really know what I'm doing, though. I mean, everything's kinda been fast, and midterm break is almost over. We still haven't really—y'know—talked about things in the long run."
Camila looks at me for a beat longer, then says, "Midterm break, huh? Gotta admit, the timing's a bit crazy. School's on pause, but your head's definitely not." She leans back and shrugs. "Don't worry, though. You'll figure it out. You're smart. But I'm also not gonna let you get stuck in your own head."
I laugh a little, the tension in my shoulders easing at her words. "Yeah, but I'm not even sure I'm ready for all the things that come next, you know?"
Camila smirks, her lips curling upward. "Oh, trust me. I know. But I think you're more ready than you realize."
I stare at her, unsure of what she means. "What makes you say that?"
She shrugs, her eyes soft. "Because, you're you. You wouldn't be worried if you didn't care. And when you care… well, it's not about being ready—it's about wanting to be ready, you know?"
Her words hit harder than I expected, and for a second, I just sit there processing it. Camila's right—if I didn't care about Alex, I wouldn't be sitting here overthinking everything. "Yeah… I guess you're right," I mutter.
She grins, triumphant. "Damn right I'm right."
I laugh again, shaking my head. Camila's always been like this—just blunt and honest, even when she knows it'll make me squirm a little. She doesn't hold back, and I'm starting to realize that's exactly what I need.
"So," she says, her voice shifting a little as she picks at the edge of her sleeve. "What about school, though? Midterms are over, right? You feeling ready for whatever's coming next?"
I pause, glancing around the room. "Honestly? I'm kind of just hoping midterm break lasts forever. School's… it's been a lot. Honestly, I feel like I'm juggling too much—studying, relationships, trying to figure out life."
Camila snorts. "Oh, we all get that way, trust me. Just don't let it consume you. I mean, what's the point of all this if you're not enjoying it? Midterm break's almost over. After that, you're back to the grind. And when you're not dealing with school stuff, you've got Alex, so… balance, right?"
I nod slowly, considering her words. "Balance... yeah. It's just been hard to focus on everything. And with Alex, I don't want to mess things up, you know?"
"You won't," Camila assures me, giving me a gentle nudge. "But you have to be honest. You're in a relationship now. There's no escaping that, even when midterms or school come back around." She winks. "And trust me, no amount of cramming will save you from that."
I chuckle, relieved. Camila's way of cutting through my stress is exactly what I need right now. I'm starting to realize that maybe not having everything figured out isn't the end of the world. Maybe I can handle school, relationships, and life, one day at a time.
Just then, footsteps echo from down the hallway, and Camila's older sister, Isabella, strolls into the living room with a glass of water in one hand, her dark curls bouncing with every step. Her confident vibe is both intimidating and comforting.
"Camila, did you leave my hairbrush in your room again?" Isabella asks, her tone teasing, but her eyes fall on me and soften a little.
I shift a bit on the couch, feeling the weight of her gaze. "Uh, I'm not sure. I think it's in the bathroom?"
Isabella tilts her head and sets the glass down on the coffee table. "I think you both need a serious talk, don't you?" she says, sitting down across from us, her expression amused but sharp.
Camila snorts. "I tried. Nick's just overthinking it, like usual."
I roll my eyes, feeling my face flush. "I'm not overthinking!"
Isabella raises an eyebrow. "Mmm. You sure about that?"
Before I can retort, she leans forward, her voice steady but gentle. "Nick, relationships are a lot like school, in a way. You'll face all kinds of tests—midterms, breakups, stressful situations. But the key is learning how to juggle it all. You can't just hope it works out without putting in the effort."
"Great," I mutter, jokingly. "School and relationships, all in one lesson."
She chuckles. "Hey, they're both about growth. You'll get there. Don't worry about taking the next step right away. Just be present with Alex, and when you're ready, you'll both figure out the rest."
I feel a sense of relief wash over me again. It's like all of this is slowly coming together. School, Alex, everything.
"Thanks, Isabella," I say quietly. "I guess I really needed to hear that."
She gives me a knowing smile. "Anytime. And don't forget, midterms are coming back, so you better really start studying."
I groan and slump back against the couch, realizing I've barely thought about anything other than Alex and school break lately. "Ugh. You're right. I'm so not prepared."
"That's what midterm breaks are for," Camila says, poking me in the side. "Relax, Nick. You've got this."
I nod, trying to focus on the balancing act ahead. School, relationships, everything. But at least now, I feel like I'm not totally alone in figuring it all out.