Chapter 13
We pull up to my house, still not talking.
I look at him with sad eyes, “I love you Liam, and I know you don’t like confrontation, but I need you to fight for this, for me, for us”. I kissed him and got out of the car.
“Why are you home so early, honey?” my mom asks, looking up from her magazine.
“Mom, it’s Liv,” I called over my shoulder, already running up the stairs to grab my bag. I can’t slow down-not now. Not when she’s hurting. I don’t even pause to explain, my chest tight and racing, adrenaline pushing me forward.
By the time I reach my room, I’ve thrown clothes and essentials into my bag, fumbling with zippers as my thoughts spiral. This isn’t just a weekend anymore-it’s a race to be there for my best friend before she completely unravels.
“Bella, wait-what’s going on?” my mom shouts, but I’m already halfway down the stairs, my shoes barely tied.
“No time, Mom! I have to go!” I yell, my voice cracking with urgency.
“Noah? What now?” I snap, my patience long gone from the chaos of the day.
“Bella, you need to come-now,” he says, his voice tight with concern. “I’ve never seen her like this.”
“I’m on my way,” I say, cutting him off before hanging up.
I get to Olivia’s house in five minutes. I don’t even knock, I just walk in.
“Thank god you’re here,” her mom said, hugging me.
“In her room?” looking at everybody. They all look like they got very little sleep, just like me.
I walk into the kitchen to get a bowl of pickles, Olivia’s comfort food.
“Isabel,” Noah leans over the counter, his voice low and urgent. “What I’m about to tell you… you cannot tell her.”
My stomach tightens. “What is it?” I ask, bracing myself. How much worse could today possibly get?
“We can’t find Brad,” he whispers, eyes wide with panic. “When he left here, he never got home. Nobody knows where he is. His mom just called me and she’s hysterical.”
I feel a cold pit form in my stomach as I take in the terror etched across his face.
“Okay. Here’s what’s going to happen,” I say, keeping my voice low but razor-sharp. “I’m calling Liam and Oliver. You’re going to meet them at my house and you’re going to go find him.”
Noah opens his mouth, but I don’t let him speak.
“You are leaving now. You’re going to talk to my parents, call my brother, get over your shit with Liam and Oliver, and you are going to find Brad,” I whisper-shout. “You take him to my house and you wait there until I get back.”
I step closer, my eyes locking onto his. “And you’re going to keep me updated the entire time. Every move. Every lead. Do you understand me?”
He nods, stunned.
“Good,” I say. “Go. Now.”
I turn to walk away, then pause just long enough to add, “Oh-and Noah? Liam’s telling Cori.”
I don’t wait for his reaction.
“He’s what?” Noah explodes behind me. “You can’t just say that and walk away! This is going to affect my whole life!”
I stop, turn slowly, and meet his eyes, calm, unreadable.
“Good,” I say evenly. “Because your lies affected mine.”
Then I walk away, leaving him standing there, finally forced to face the consequences he’s been dodging
“Bella, what do you need me to do?” Her mom asked.
“Just be here. She’s going to need you, I hope they work it out, but until I know what happened I can’t promise anything. I’m sorry I need to make two quick calls before I go upstairs” I say beforeI dial Liam, pacing on the porch.
“Baby, I’m so sorry,” he says as soon as he answers.
“Now is not the time. I need you, Liam. It’s an emergency,” I plead, my voice shaking.
I step outside, hoping Olivia won’t overhear.
“Brad is missing. He never made it home last night. I need you to go to my house, meet my family, Noah, and Oliver and find him. Please,” I beg.
“Noah and Oliver?” His tone sharpens, annoyed.
“Yes, please! And call Sydney too. Noah is… not doing good,” I add, my voice cracking under the weight of dread.
There’s silence on the other end, and I can hear Liam’s sharp inhale. I know he feels the gravity, even if he won’t admit it yet.
“Okay,” he finally says, voice tight. “I’m on it. Don’t move, Bella. I’ve got this.”
“Thank you. I will text you whenever I can. Please keep me updated. I love you, Liam”.
“I love you too, Isabel,” he replies before hanging up.
“Hello?” His voice is groggy, clearly half-asleep.
“Ollie, I need you.”
“Okay… Isabel, what’s going on? Where do you need me?”
“Go to my house. Meet up with Liam, Noah, and my family. Brad is missing. We need to find him.”
There’s a pause.
“Aren’t you with Liam?” His tone sharpens, confused.
“I’m sure Noah will fill you in. Please, Ollie. Just get there as fast as you can.”
Another pause, longer this time, and I can hear him moving.
“Okay… okay, I’m going. I’ll let you know when I’m with everyone,” he says, urgency finally creeping into his voice.
“Thank you,” I whisper, already feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest.
“I’m already on the way. Anything for you Bella”.
“Please be nice. And Ollie, thank you. I owe you one” I added before hanging up.
“No promises”.
Okay, now that is out of the way, time to tackle the real task at hand, Olivia. I open her bedroom door gently and I crawl into bed behind her and wrap my arms around her, without a word and just hug my best friend. I know she needs it, but little does she know I need it too.
She instantly bursts into tears, and I just hold her.
“ What am I going to do Bella? He was supposed to be the one” she asks between sobs.
“You take it day by day, honey,” I say softly, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. “You can cry as much as you need today. Let it out. But tomorrow, tomorrow we get up, take a shower, and get some air. We keep moving, even if it hurts.”
“How… how do I live without him?” she whispers, her voice breaking. She turns toward me, eyes red and wide with heartbreak.
I freeze, my chest tightening. That look - so raw, so desperate - reminds me of myself just a few months ago. Only then, I had been the one shattered, the one who thought the world had ended with Noah. My heart aches for her, because I know this pain all too well.
“You… you survive,” I manage to whisper, my own voice shaking. “One moment at a time. You’ll breathe again, I promise. And I’ll be right here with you.”
She leans into me, and for a moment, it’s like the universe pauses, letting us hold each other’s broken pieces.
Just then my phone rings.
“Give me two seconds, I really need to take this” seeing Noah’s name appear.
“Noah?” I whisper as I step into the hallway.