Kelly and Ali made their way up the creaky wooden stairs to the cabin’s porch, the evening air still, but thick with tension. The sound of their boots hitting the planks echoed eerily, emphasizing the strange energy that surrounded them. Lua stood at the doorway, her eyes distant, staring out into the trees as if seeing something they couldn’t. Her body seemed present, but her mind was far away.
“What’s going on?” Kelly asked, her voice cutting through the quiet, eyes flicking between Lua and Ali.
Before Lua could respond, Alinda stormed up behind Kelly, her face flushed with frustration. “Why won’t you just admit you’re hiding something?” she blurted out, crossing her arms. “I mean, really, how long are you going to keep denying it?”
Kelly groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “For the last time, there’s no secret!” Her eyes flashed with anger as she turned towards Lua, looking for backup, only to find her friend completely disengaged, lost in her thoughts.
“Ali was spying on me earlier,” Kelly spat, turning back to Alinda, her voice rising. “She was literally spying on me when I was doing something private. It wasn’t related to our work!” Her words came out sharper than intended, slicing through the thick air.
Ali glared at Kelly, stepping forward, her tone equally heated. “I wasn’t spying! I was just—”
“I’m done!” Lua’s voice sliced through the chaos, surprising them both. She shook her head, eyes heavy with exhaustion. “I can’t listen to this anymore. Whatever you’re arguing about, I don’t care. I’m going to bed.” With that, she turned sharply and disappeared into the cabin, leaving Kelly and Ali frozen, still locked in their heated argument.
The kitchen light flickered, casting strange shadows as the two girls stood in the aftermath of Lua’s departure. Kelly’s chest heaved as she tried to rein in her emotions.
“Okay, fine,” Kelly said, breaking the silence first. “That guy you saw me with.” She paused, her voice trembling as she lowered it. “He’s my dad.” Ali’s face twisted in shock, her mouth dropping open.
“Your dad?” Ali repeated, confused. “Oh my God, Kell, your dad is identical to that BrightStar guy!”
Kelly gave a weak laugh, shaking her head. “No, Ali. He *is* the BrightStar guy.”
Ali gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, her wide eyes filled with shock. “Why would you lie about something like that?”
Kelly’s laugh dissolved into tears. “Because I don’t want to be associated with him, Ali. I hate it. I hate that people know how much money my family has. It messes with everything. People treat you differently, like you’re not even human.” Her voice broke, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve.
Ali stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Kelly. “I had no idea, Kell. I’m sorry,” she murmured softly, the tension between them melting away. “I get it now. I just had no idea my bestie was the BrightStar princess!”
They held each other for a few moments longer before pulling apart with a soft laugh. “You know what I mean, right?” Kelly asked, wiping her eyes again.
Ali smiled warmly. “I do.”
Meanwhile, Lua lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind swirling with thoughts of Peter. The kiss they had shared earlier that evening kept replaying in her head, overwhelming her senses. Her lips still tingled from the memory, her heart still racing. They had been interrupted by the sound of Kelly’s car pulling up to the cabin, and Peter had slipped out the back door before anyone could see him. But now, alone in her room, the feelings she had tried so hard to suppress were rising like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the argument in the kitchen dying down. The house was quiet again. Maybe she could sneak into the kitchen for a cup of tea to settle her nerves.
As she made her way out of her room, she overheard Ali and Kelly talking quietly in the kitchen slurping on instant ramen. Ali’s voice was soft but surprised. “..and so I thought that was the guy you’d told me about the other day. The one you said you were really falling for…?”
Kelly hesitated for a moment before replying, “Well, since I’m opening up…” She paused and took a deep breath. “Ali, that guy I was talking about before… He… Well, that guy is actually… Peter.”
The name sent a shockwave through Lua’s body, her heart sinking into her stomach. She stopped dead in her tracks, her hand hovering over the railing. Peter? she thought, feeling a mix of disbelief and heartache. She hadn’t known Kelly had feelings for Peter, let alone that they were seeing each other.
Great, Lua thought bitterly, retreating back into her room, the weight of this revelation pressing down on her chest.
The next morning, a crisp breeze swept through the small town as Detectives Scott and Ferguson sipped their coffee outside the police station. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows on the street. Scott leaned against the hood of their unmarked car, taking a long sip from his cup.
“I think we might have a break in the case,” Scott said, his tone casual, but his eyes sharp with focus.
Ferguson straightened, setting his cup down. “What’ve we got?”
Scott nodded toward the station. “One of the neighbors from the dean’s mansion called in. Their security camera picked up a car parked out front at the time of the murder. Could be something.”
Ferguson’s face lit up with excitement, his mind already racing through the possibilities. “Let’s get inside and start working on it.”
Scott smiled, watching his partner rush inside. But before he could follow, he saw Lua walking towards them, her face pale and drawn. He held up a hand to Ferguson. “I’ll be right behind you.”
As Lua approached, Scott’s smile faded. “What are you doing here so early?” he asked, concerned.
“I just needed to talk,” she replied, her voice small and fragile. “Can we talk later at the cabin? I just… I need to clear my head.”
Scott nodded, his usual lightheartedness gone, replaced with quiet understanding. “Sure,” he said, squeezing her shoulder gently. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
As Lua walked away, Scott’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Glancing at the screen, he saw a message from Ferguson: *Get in here NOW. You’re going to want to see this.*
Inside, Detectives Fergusson and Scott huddled around the small screen, the tension in the room palpable as the security footage from the neighbor’s camera played out before them. The grainy night-vision image showed a sleek black car pulling up to the dean’s mansion at the precise time of the murder. Scott squinted at the license plate, the numbers coming into focus.
“There it is,” he muttered, pointing at the screen. Fergusson leaned in, his eyes narrowing as the plate became clear.
“That’s him,” Scott confirmed, a chill of certainty running through him.
Fergusson, unable to contain his excitement, slammed his hand on the desk. “We got him,” he said, a grin spreading across his face as the weight of weeks of investigation seemed to lift. The car belonged to someone who had been hovering on the suspect list for too long. Now, they had concrete evidence.
The detectives shared a look, Scott’s face sober as he turned to Fergusson. “I never in a million years would have thought he’d be capable of something like this.”
Later that evening, Ryder’s usual confident swagger was nowhere to be found as he made his way to the cabin. The sunlight was fading, casting long shadows over the familiar path, but instead of its usual calming effect, the walk felt heavy. Something was off, and his heart seemed to know it before his mind did.
When Lua opened the door, her face was drawn, eyes tired, and lips pressed into a thin line. Ryder’s stomach dropped—this wasn’t the Lua he knew. This wasn’t the easy smile, the playful energy that drew him in every time. The air between them was thick with unspoken words.
He stepped inside, and Lua turned away from him, walking over to the window. She took a deep breath before finally speaking. “Ryder… we need to talk.”
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He knew where this was going. “Lua, what’s wrong?” he asked softly, though his voice trembled with the fear of knowing the answer.
“I… I need to be honest with you,” she began, her voice shaky. “Peter came by last night.”
Ryder’s heart hammered in his chest as the name left her lips. He didn’t interrupt, though every fiber of his being wanted to.
“We talked for a while, and then… we kissed,” Lua confessed, her words like knives slicing through the air. She turned to face him, her eyes filled with regret and sorrow. “I don’t know what’s happening between us, Ryder. I don’t know what this thing is with Peter, but I can’t lie to you anymore.”
Ryder’s world seemed to crumble around him. His throat tightened, his voice barely a whisper as he said, “You kissed him?” He blinked, trying to make sense of it, but his mind refused to accept it.
“I’m sorry,” Lua said, her voice cracking. “I didn’t plan it, I swear. It just… happened.”
Ryder swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. “I love you, Lua,” he said, his voice breaking as the words left him. “I don’t want to lose you. We can fix this. I’m willing to forgive you, if you’re willing to try.”
Tears welled in Lua’s eyes as she shook her head. “I can’t, Ryder. I can’t keep going like this. My feelings for Peter—whatever they are—are too strong. I don’t want to hurt you more than I already have.”
He stepped closer, desperate to hold onto her, to find a way to make it right. “Are you going to be with him? Is that what this is about?”
Lua looked away, her voice quiet but firm. “No. I’m not going to be with Peter. There’s no chance. But it doesn’t change how I feel. I’m… I’m too confused, and I can’t be with you when my heart is somewhere else.”
Ryder felt the final blow land. He took a step back, the weight of her words crashing over him. “So, you’re ending this? You’re ending us?”
“I am,” she whispered, tears now flowing freely. “I’m so sorry, Ryder.”
The silence that followed was suffocating. Ryder stared at her, his heart shattered, but there was nothing left to say. With one last, aching look, he turned and walked out of the cabin, leaving Lua alone with the storm she had created.
But the arrival of spring was unavoidable.
The air was warmer, the trees started to bud, and the sun lingered in the sky a little longer each day. Despite the pleasant shift in weather, Lua found herself struggling to shake off the remnants of her recent heartbreak. She buried her emotions deep inside, determined not to dwell on Ryder or Peter. That part of her life, she convinced herself, was over. Instead, she focused on the one constant that remained: her work and partnership with Kelly and Alinda.
The three women spent nearly every waking moment together at the cabin, pouring their hearts and energy into CURA. For Lua, the work was also a distraction, something to keep her mind occupied, and something solid she could count on. She knew this friendship and CURA were the best thing in her life right now, and she was determined that nothing – or no one – would take that away from her.
The famous Gallanti University Spring Picnic was fast approaching, and Gael and Lua were working harder than ever on the CURA garden. They spent countless hours tending to the garden and harvesting fresh produce they would use in products they planned to sell at the event. The picnic was not just an event to showcase their products, but a chance for her to feel connected to the community once again.
On the organizational front, Tori was busy with preparations. Known for her impeccable attention to detail, she took charge, coordinating the event with military precision. She enlisted the help of her friends, asking them to volunteer their time and talents to make the picnic memorable.
One morning, as Lua was walking through GallU campus with Mrs. Lynx before a meeting with Tori about the picnic, they ran into Virginia. The sight of her stopped Mrs. Lynx in her tracks. Lua noticed the tension immediately. “Oh. Ginny,” Mrs. Lynx muttered, her voice tight.
“Ginny?” Lua echoed, confused.
Virginia’s eyes widened, as if caught off guard. “Stella?” she said, incredulous.
“Stella?!” Lua repeated, looking at Mrs. Lynx in shock. They know each other?
“What are you doing here?” Virginia asked, her voice trembling slightly. “I haven’t seen you since…”
“We have to go,” Mrs. Lynx cut her off, her tone firm but rushed. “Sorry, it was nice seeing you,” she added quickly, before pulling Lua away from the situation.
They walked briskly towards the administration office where they were supposed to meet with Tori. No questions were asked, no explanations given. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but Mrs. Lynx remained tight-lipped. When they finally reached the office, Tori was waiting, her usual polite greetings leaving no room for the awkwardness Lua felt from the encounter.
The meeting, however, was productive. They discussed how to make the most of selling Whispers’ products at the picnic. Mrs. Lynx’s booth had been the biggest hit at the Love Market, and they brainstormed ways to create something even more impressive this time around. Ideas flowed freely, and by the end, they left feeling optimistic about the upcoming event.
After the meeting, the two women were leaving Tori’s office when the bumped into Abigail coming in. It was the first time Lua saw her after Abigail’s threatened to reveal truths about her past to her friends. The two exchanged a brief look, but Lua quickly moved out of her way and onto the hallway, pushing the subject out of her mind completely, once again.
Lua couldn’t shake the strange interaction with Virginia from her mind. She felt like she had stumbled upon something important, something Mrs. Lynx was keeping from her. But now was not the time to push for answers.
As they exited the building, Abigail stayed behind with Tori. The sisters exchanged a knowing look. “So I overheard Peter talking to Arthur Martin on the phone last night,” Abigail said casually. “I don’t know, It sounded like he could be interested in sponsoring the picnic. You should give him a call.”
Tori raised her eyebrows. “Really? Arthur Martin? Are you sure?”
Abigail nodded. “He’s got deep pockets and connections that could really help. I don’t know, just an idea.” Then she changed the subject. “Hey, so I’ve been meaning to ask you about Lua. How well do you know her? I know you guys hang out and all, but do you really really know anything substantial about this woman? Did she ever tell you anything about her past?”
Tori was surprised by her sister’s sudden interest in Lua. “Well there’s a bunch I told you already about her. But besides that, I don’t know that much. Gael and Lua have gotten closer since he started working with her and he says nothing but good things about her, always.” She looked at Abigail and added “Why do you ask? Do you happen to know something I should?
“Oh God, no. Not at all. I’m way to busy with my own stuff, babe.” And looked at her watch. “I should run! Text you later, ok?
As soon as Abigail left, Tori decided to take her sister’s advice about contacting Arthur Martin, after all. She called him later that afternoon, and sure enough, he was more than happy to support the event. They spoke at length, and Tori couldn’t help but feel flattered by his compliments. By the time they hung up, she felt like she had made a valuable ally.
She immediately texted Gael, with a selfie, “See baby, I told you not to worry and everything would be fine. The picnic will be a huge success and everything will work out for us.”
Meanwhile, Lua returned to the cabin and sat down in the garden with Gael. They were chatting about the plans to build a small greenhouse for flowers when his phone buzzed with Tori’s text. He opened up the big bright smile he was known for.
“I’m gonna guess it’s from Tori?” Lua asked, teasing him.
“Ah, yeah. I’m happy to see her so excited and motivated.” He replied. “I wanted to ask you something, Lua, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable saying no. I consider you a very close friend at this point, and hope you feel free to be honest with me, no matter what.”
“Come on! What is it?” She pressured him, with a friendly smile.
“You know the empty room there in the back of the cabin?” He pointed at the little construction Lua never paid much attention to. “Would you rent it for me maybe, as room for me to stay in?” Gael asked, clearly uncomfortable.
“Oh, wow, I did not see that coming.” Lua said, surprised. “I guess. I mean, you can obviously stay there, you don’t need to pay me. I’m not paying anything to stay here either.” Both chuckled.
“What’s in there anyway? He squinted trying to imagine what could be inside.
“I honestly have no idea. But I guess it’s time to find out.”
Thoughts on this chapter?