Ella gives her a thin smile and nods. “I mean, I hope. Every time Brooke picks a fight, it really gets to Val. I’m sure they’re talking it out, though.”
“She’s not physically abusive, right?” Camila hates to pry like this into Valeria’s personal life, but she needs the reassurance.
Ella shakes her head. “No, not that we’re aware of. Val’s only ever talked to us about their verbal fights.”
Camila lets out a soft sigh. “Good. That’s good.”
“I’m sorry you had to deal with her. She’s an unfortunate side effect ofhanging out with Valeria.”
“Yeah, I’m gathering that.” Camila laughs, but it’s more of a sigh.
“Be patient with Val. She’s got so much heart, and unfortunately for us all, she seems intent on sharing it with Brooke.”
“I don’t know how much of a friendship I can have with Valeria if Brooke explodes any time she sees me. I’m worried I’m making things worse for her.”
Ella laughs. “I think Brooke has that reaction around every single one of us. It won’t affect your friendship with Val. I can almost guarantee it.”
“Well, that’s reassuring. I like Valeria, and it would suck if we had to stop being friends.”
“Mm-hm,” Ella says, eyeing her suspiciously again. “Do youlikeher?”
“What?” Camila coughs out, almost choking on her spit. She’d forgotten how direct Ella could be.
“You heard me,” Ella says, her eyebrow arched, waiting for an answer.
Camila’s mouth drops open, and for a few seconds she stares at Ella, her mind working out what to say, but she doesn’t know the answer herself.
Is Valeria attractive? Absolutely. Does Camila enjoy hanging out with Valeria? Also yes. Does she get this weird little flutter when Valeria looks at her? Sometimes, but that’s nothing. She’d classify it as more of a crush, nowhere nearlike, where real feelings definitely live. Sure, she worries over her more than is probably normal, but that’s because she understands that kind of hurt, and that’s the truth she settles on.
“Uh—No. No, definitely not,” she says, which would’ve been convincing if her voice hadn’t jumped half an octave and she wasn’t questioning it herself.
Ella hums, unconvinced.
Camila crosses her arms, then uncrosses them, before she shoves her hands in her pockets. “She’s just a friend,” she insists, though she can hear the wobble in that.
“It’s fine if you do. I won’t be running to tell Brooke.”
“Oh God, do you think Brooke thinks that?” Camila’s mouth suddenly goes dry, a knot of anxiety forming as she realizes it’s probably why Brooke keeps picking fights with Valeria whenever she’s with her.
“Probably,” Ella answers with a shrug. “But Brooke thinks that of everyone, which is probably why you’re the first new friend Valeria has been able to make in the last six years.”
Six years? That number sounds impossible to Camila. Valeria seems like the type of person who’d make friends left and right—bubbly, sweet, effortlessly warm. Thinking of all the people who missed out on Valeria’s friendship because of Brooke makes Camila’s heart ache for them and Valeria. Camila hates the thought of Brooke isolating her.
“I’ve been in her shoes before. I know how alienating it can be, and I want to be there for her.”
Ella nods. “I’m sorry you’ve been through that, but I’m glad Val has you. The girls and I do our best to understand and support her, but we all lose patience with her sometimes. We don’t mean to,” Ella adds quickly. “But we don’t entirely understand the bond she and Brooke have.”
“Hey, I get it. My best friend Belen was the same way.”
Ella nods, tension Camila hadn’t realized was in her shoulders unwinding. “Word of advice? Even though youdon’tlike Valeria.” Ella winks, and Camila’s cheeks grow warm. “Stick by her. I can feel this thing between them coming to an end, and I know she’ll need us all.”
Camila nods. Leaving Valeria had never crossed her mind.
When she makes it home that night, her house is eerily quiet. Miso isn’t in her usual spot by the door.
“Miso?” Camila shouts into her dark house, turning on the lights as she goes, trying to keep her mind from spiraling out of control.
“Miso!” Camila calls again, and this time, a tiny gag comes from somewhere in the house. Camila looks around until she spots Miso in a corner, gagging. A few seconds later, it’s as if nothing happened. Miso licks her lips and walks away.
