Ava smiled faintly at the sound of her name — a name she had chosen for herself back when she wanted to forget Bella. She turned, the smile on her face freezing when her gaze met Isabella's. The hallway went silent — no footsteps, no air conditioning hum — just the echo of something sharp cracking open inside every one of them.
Becca, oblivious, grinned wide. "Hi, doctor! How's Bella's mum doing?" She only wanted to start a conversation. Still, something in her chest twisted — jealousy — seeing how Ava and Dolly held hands so comfortably.
"My shift just started," Ava replied softly. "I'll check up on her soon. I'm sure she's doing fine."
Becca stopped when she noticed the tension. Isabella's expression had changed — calm but unreadable, like she was holding something volcanic behind her silence. Luna stood beside her, eyes flicking between Ava and Bella, reading every unsaid emotion like it was written in light.
Ava's fingers twitched in Dolly's. Dolly looked confused, then wary, her hand tightening protectively around Ava's. She didn't understand what was happening, but she felt the change — the strange energy passing between the woman in front of them and the one she loved.
Ava avoided Bella's eyes, her thumb brushing over Dolly's hand. She wanted to disappear. She didn't want Dolly to realize the truth — that this woman standing in front of them was the ex she'd told her about long ago. Ava knew what would happen if Dolly found out. She knew the storm it would cause.
Dolly sensed it anyway — the pull, the tension, the way Ava seemed smaller, nervous. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly, almost possessively.
Ava nodded quickly. "Yeah. Let's just go," she murmured, trying to step past them. But Isabella moved — not much, just half a step forward — and that was enough.
"You're not even going to say hi?" Isabella's voice was soft, controlled, but trembling. "After everything?"
Ava froze, her hand tightening around Dolly's. "This isn't the place, Bella."
"Maybe not," Luna said before Isabella could respond, her tone sharp enough to draw every eye. "But running's still your favorite thing, isn't it?"
Ava's head snapped up, eyes flashing. "You don't know what you're talking about. Who are you to talk like that?"
Luna took a step closer, her jaw tightening. "Don't I?"
Bella quickly caught her arm and pulled her back. "Luna, stop it."
Ava's voice cracked slightly. "No, let her. You think you know why I left?"
Dolly tugged on Ava's hand. "Ava, let's just go," she said quietly.
But Isabella's voice came again — softer this time, trembling. "Luna, stop."
Luna turned, startled. Bella's eyes were glassy, her voice barely a whisper. "You're not helping."
The hallway fell silent.
Luna hesitated. The ache in Isabella's voice was enough to silence her. Becca, still standing off to the side, looked completely lost. She didn't understand half of what was happening — all she knew was that the "Lily" she'd liked had suddenly become the ghost from Isabella's past.
Dolly watched the exchange, confusion turning to discomfort. She could feel she didn't belong in this moment, that whatever connected Ava and the woman in front of her was deeper — painfully deeper.
The last time Dolly had seen Isabella was in Ava's office. Back then, Ava had introduced her simply as "a friend." Now, looking at them, Dolly wasn't so sure. She could see the history in their eyes, the way one glance spoke a thousand words.
Luna noticed too — the electricity between them, the quiet ache that even time hadn't managed to kill.
So she moved closer, deliberately. She reached out and gently, but firmly, took Isabella's arm. "Let's go," she said, her voice calm but carrying a sharp edge that made Ava look up. Then, without waiting, she slid her arm through Bella's and rested her head lightly on her shoulder.
The move was small, but the message wasn't.
Ava froze, her stomach twisting at the sight — Bella stiff under Luna's touch, Luna's soft smirk daring her to say something. Dolly glanced between them, sensing the storm beneath the surface.
Becca blinked. "Wait — Luna, you and Bella are…?"
Luna smiled faintly. "Close," she said simply.
Ava's throat went dry. She forced a small, shaky smile for Dolly's sake. "Come on," she whispered, pulling her toward the corridor.
As they walked past, the tension was thick enough to choke on. Bella and Ava's eyes met for a single, electric second — one filled with everything they couldn't say.
Ava looked terrified — not of Bella, but of what she still felt. And Bella? She just stood there, watching the girl she'd once promised forever to now walking away hand in hand with someone else.
When Ava and Dolly turned the corner, Becca finally exhaled. "Okay," she said weakly, forcing a laugh. "Someone explain what just happened before I lose my mind."
Luna didn't answer. She kept her head resting on Bella's shoulder, eyes closed like she was hiding something deeper than jealousy — a secret she wasn't ready to tell.
Becca's eyes darted between them, confusion deepening. "Bella, do you know Lily? And how didn't I know you and Luna are together?"
"Maybe you should open—"
"Stop it, Luna. Enough," Bella cut in sharply. Her voice broke halfway through the word. She turned, walking away fast — shoulders stiff, eyes bright with tears she didn't want anyone to see.
Luna watched her go, her chest tightening. Becca looked between them, uncertain, whispering, "Luna… what did you do?"
Luna didn't reply. She just stared at the spot where Ava had disappeared with Dolly, her jaw tightening.
"I'm not losing her again," she murmured, almost to herself.
And for a brief second, Becca saw it — the storm behind Luna's calm eyes. The kind that could destroy or save. But she was still confused about everything and had too many questions. She knew Luna had been in love with Bella for a long time… but what she couldn't understand was how Luna and Bella already knew Lily.
The rain had softened into a mist, leaving the hospital parking lot damp and gleaming beneath the yellow streetlights. Isabella sat quietly in the car, her fingers tapping restlessly on the steering wheel. The windshield wipers moved in a slow, steady rhythm, but inside, the air was heavy and still.
Her reflection stared back at her from the glass—tired eyes, faint smudges of makeup beneath them. She didn't even know what to feel anymore. Seeing Ava again had torn open old wounds. She'd been excited to finally find her… but seeing her hand-in-hand with someone else?
That hurt more than she was ready to admit.
"Becca, come on," she murmured to herself, glancing at the hospital doors.
Moments later, Becca appeared, jogging through the drizzle toward the car. She opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, cheeks flushed and hair slightly damp.
"Sorry," Becca breathed, shaking off raindrops from her jacket. "I had to grab my bag."
Isabella just nodded and started the car without a word.
Silence settled between them—thick, uneasy. The hum of the engine filled the space as they pulled out of the lot and into the quiet streets.
Becca kept stealing glances at her. She wanted to say something—anything—but Bella's face was unreadable.
Finally, as they neared Bella's mansion, Becca spoke softly.
"Are you dating Luna now?"
Bella didn't answer.
Becca hesitated, then added, "Was she right?"
"No, we're not," Bella said sharply, her voice cutting through the quiet. "Luna has always been like that."
Becca blinked. "Okay, if you say so."
The rest of the drive passed in silence.