Chapter 27: Slipping Away
The days passed, but the weight in Erica's chest didn't.
She had always thought time healed everything, that one day she would wake up and Nicole wouldn't be the first thing on her mind. That she wouldn't look for her in the hallways or feel a pang of jealousy whenever Cloud made her laugh.
But she was wrong.
The pain hadn't faded—it had just been buried, waiting for the right moment to resurface. And now that it had, Erica didn't know how to handle it.
Her grades started slipping.
She skipped assignments, barely paid attention in class, and when teachers called on her, she shrugged off their concerns with a smile. It wasn't like she was failing yet, but she was getting close. And the worst part? She didn't care.
"Erica, what's going on with you?" Angel asked one afternoon.
They were sitting under the big oak tree near the school gates, a place they used to go as kids. The wind blew gently through Angel's hair, but Erica barely noticed.
"What do you mean?" Erica replied, forcing a smirk.
Angel gave her a look. "You're different. You've been distant, your grades are tanking, and I don't know… you don't seem like yourself."
"I'm fine," Erica said, too quickly.
Angel studied her for a moment, then sighed. "You don't have to pretend with me, you know."
Erica looked away, staring at the cracks in the pavement.
"I know," she murmured.
But pretending was all she had left.