"Indie?" I heard Bella's voice, interrupting me from the embarrassing way that I was watching Chase and whoever that girl was.

"Hm?" I turned towards her, trying to pretend I wasn't just doing exactly what I, in fact, had been doing.

My not so subtle attempts didn't seem to work, however, Bella seemed to know exactly what was going through my mind. She only looked at my face for a second, before her eyes travelled past me, taking in the sight of Chase and the way he was so clearly flirting.

"Is that the reason for the face?" She asked me, her lips pursed together.

"What? What face? There's no face," I hurried out, my mind becoming ultra-aware of the way my facial muscles were set. I tried to rearrange them, but I wasn't sure I succeeded.

"You know you could just tell him," she hummed out, placing her arm across my shoulder.

"There's nothing to tell," I reminded her, though I don't know why I bothered. She always knew when I was lying.

"So, there's no face and there's nothing to tell? Since when did you become such a liar, Indie?" Bella teased me.

See?

My face turned even more sour, I'm sure, as I watched the way the girl laid her hand against his chest. She did it effortlessly, in a way I'm sure she's perfected. Even from here, I could see the way her lashes fluttered and the way her eyes twinkled beneath them. She was gorgeous. Who could blame him?

"Can we just go?" I asked her, not wanting to be here anymore. "Please?"

The moment the words left my mouth, Chase seemed to catch sight of me from his peripheral vision. His face turned slightly, and I could see the say his eyes widened and the way his mouth opened slightly. I could be imaging it, but I think he said my name. The two syllables slipping out like the way sand slips through your fingers.

Of course, he was across the crowded hall, so I couldn't be sure. Besides, why would he say my name?

Embarrassment rushed through me, knowing that Chase had seen me watching him. I grabbed Bella's hand, pulling her away from the scene before us. She didn't hesitate to follow me, the way I knew she wouldn't. Bella's always been right behind me. She simply tightened the connection our hands were making. She didn't talk, she didn't ask the questions I'm sure she wanted to ask. That was Bella, though. She knew me.

Though, she was still Bella, so the questions didn't remain hidden for long.

"So," she started, as soon as we were in the safety of my car.

There were no curious glances here, no prying eyes, no whispered comments while we walked by, as if we couldn't notice their annoying behaviour. They acted as if Bella and I were in our own world, surrounded by thick, bulletproof glance. We weren't though, we were every bit in this reality as they were.

Though, sometimes I wish we weren't.

"Just leave it," I told her, not wanting to talk about it. There wasn't even much to say, was there? There was nothing between Chase and I, besides what I had created in my own mind.

"Do you think that's her? Do you think that's the girl he's been crushing on for so long?" Bella asked me, repeating the very thoughts that were rushing through my own head. "I tried to ask Asher about it, but he wouldn't budge. Of course, this was all before, you know... everything happened."

"Probably. She's pretty, isn't she?" I mumbled, the question was both rhetorical and deliberate. I didn't need the answer, I didn't even want to hear it. Though, I was still seeking the confirmation for some reason.

"Yeah, she is," Bella confirmed needlessly. Anyone with eyes could see she was.

I sighed as I pulled my car into the road, driving towards our neighbourhood. The silence in the car was deafening. My mind was fighting with itself, the irrational jealousy and disappointment arguing with the logic. I knew there was a girl he liked, one that wasn't me... why was I surprised?

"I really thought he was crushing on you," Bella let out, and it sounded like she was talking to herself more than she was talking to me. "I mean, I really, really thought he was. The way he acts around you, he seemed straight up love struck."

"No, he doesn't," I argued. "Chase is just like that, he's just nice."

"Indie, you don't see it because you're not paying attention. From day one, Chase has looked at you like you're the sun," Bella replied, her voice matter of fact.

"The sun?" I questioned her, not understanding what she meant.

"Yeah, the sun," she said simply, before explaining. "Like every day rises and sets with you."

I was stunned by her words, trying to think back on the way Chase acted around me. Though, I didn't get very far. Those were memories that were too painful to look through. Those memories were filled with Isla, and they were the farthest ones from being healed. They were still an open wound.

Bella didn't press the issue, as I continued driving towards my house. It wasn't until I turned on to my street did she speak again.

"Indie," she let out, her voice vastly different than the voice she had just been speaking in.

"What?" I asked her, glancing sideways towards her. She had a frown on her face as she looked at me, her eyes were sad again.

"I have to go home, remember?" Bella told me, causing my stomach to sink.

I felt my face fall as I pulled a U turn, heading back in the direction of Bella's house. I had forgotten that we were supposed to be spending time apart. Grieving separately, healing ourselves before we healed each other, re-establishing boundaries. All phrases from our therapists mouth, none of which made any sense to me.

"How long do they expect us to do this?" Bella asked me, when we finally pulled into her driveway.

"I don't know, Bells. Hopefully not for long," I told her, knowing that the decision completely belonged to her parents. Hell, my parents probably didn't even know what the therapist recommended.

"I'll FaceTime you, okay?" Bella told me, as she opened the door. "We'll talk all night. It's gonna be okay, Indie. We're going to be okay."

I looked at her, hearing the faint optimism in her voice. "Do you really believe that?"

"I don't know," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I love you."

"I love you too, Bella," I told her, watching as she walked towards her door.

I waited for her to enter her house, before driving to my own. I sat in my car for a moment once I arrived, knowing exactly what I was going to be walking into.

And, I was right. The emptiness was abrupt. There was nothing here. There was no light, there was no warmth. It was just me, all alone, in this house that was way too big to be alone in.

I went directly to my bed, collapsing into the familiar sheets. I pulled out my phone, playing some soft music in hopes that it would calm me. It didn't. I tried to watch Gossip Girl, but even the never ending drama between the characters couldn't distract me. I even tried to read, digging my favourite book out of my backpack.

But, I couldn't get over the loneliness.

I was no stranger to being alone. I've been alone for so long, it feels, that it's second nature to me. I've become accustomed to my parents being thousands of miles away, and I've become familiar with knowing that I couldn't rely on them.

Yet, the loneliness has never been this haunting, and I knew why. I knew Isla and Bella were only a phone call away, or a text. I knew they'd always be there. I knew I always had a place to go, I knew I always had a bed to sleep in that wasn't mine. If I ever needed it, and more often then not, I didn't need it. I didn't need it because they were already with me, inseparably.

And even when Isla was gone, I knew I had Bella. I  knew every night when I fell asleep, that she would be beside me. Even when we spent hours together in silence, where neither of us said a single thing, she was there with me.

And, now I'm alone, and I'm alone for real.

Bella did call me, and we propped our phones against our pillows while we chatting absent-mindedly. It helped, until the silence lasted for too long, and I looked over to find Bella asleep in her own bed. I frowned as I ended the call, and as much as I was glad she found rest, I was bitter that I hadn't.

When the sun finally set, and the darkness filled my room, I welcomed it gladly. Knowing that sleep was the fastest way to avoid my reality, I closed my eyes. Though, sleep didn't find me. My bed felt too big, the covers felt too large. Every turn I tossed where I didn't find Bella beside me brought me back to the reality I was trying to escape.

I sat up in my bed, my hands running through the hair that was loose around my shoulders. I pulled at it slightly in frustration, glancing over at the clock on my nightstand. 2:34 am. I was tired, I could feel it. My head was heavy, like it was filled with liquid. My eyes were aching, the beginning of a migraine forming behind them.

But, I couldn't sleep.

I crossed my legs, sinking my head into my hands. People said they were here for me... but did they mean it? I remembered the times I had heard it today, the times those three words were said. Did they mean them? Or were they just words to say because you're supposed to say them.

I mean it, Indie.

Did he?

I bit down on my lip, knowing my thoughts weren't exactly sane. Though, maybe my sanity was slipping lately. It's to be expected, right? How can sanity remain intact when my very soul was ripped apart?

I jumped out of bed, throwing a sweater over my pyjamas, and shoes on my feet. I locked the door behind me as I made my way to my car.

Have you ever driven down the roads at a time when it feels like you're the only one awake? Down the twisted suburban maze I drove, the lights of the houses that flanked me on each side turned out completely. I knew I was crazy as I pulled into his driveway. But... did he mean it? Was he really here for me?

I turned my car off, pulling out my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen, before they tapped across the letters, forming a question I was scared to ask.

Are you awake?

I sighed out as I sent it, shaking my head at my own senseless actions. Of course he wasn't awake. It was 3 in the morning.

Surprisingly, it only took a few minutes before my phone dinged with his response.

I am now. What's wrong?

I typed back quickly.

I'm outside.

I sent it, knowing that if he didn't think I was completely crazy before, he would now.

I waited for an answer, but it didn't come. I took a deep breath, wondering if I had my answer. Maybe they were just words he felt like he had to say.

I was about to turn my car back on, when a sudden flicker of light pulled my attention. I looked up at his house, seeing the trail of lights turn on as someone seemingly moved through the house. The front door opened, and he jogged towards my car. A confused expression on his face, though it was mixed with concern.

When he made it to my car, he didn't hesitate a second before pulling on the handle to the driver's side door, opening it completely.

"Indie?" Brock asked me, tilting his head. "What are you doing here?"