Zara pov:
The kitchen had been a disaster zone. I'd barely touched anything, and somehow that little fire had left my nerves frayed and my stomach twisting. I hadn't bothered cooking after the chaos. Instead, I had cleaned up the mess, locked myself in my room, and let my thoughts spiral like a hurricane.
I couldn't stop replaying the moment he had appeared behind me, his shadow looming over me. I didn't think about the fire or the palm oil—my mind kept circling back to him holding me against the wall. The way his presence pressed against mine. The way his hands had felt. The absurd part? I… didn't hate it.
My chest tightened as the memory lingered, and I had to shake my head to force the thought away. I wasn't supposed to feel that way. I wasn't supposed to even think about it.
I was lost in the haze of my own mind when I heard the front door open. Voices floated through the hall, carrying laughter and chatter. I froze. Isa and Juniper. I recognized the way they spoke immediately—Juniper's energetic gush and Isa's gentle, slightly teasing tone.
I stayed perfectly still on my bed, pressing my back against the wall and pulling my knees up. I wanted to eavesdrop, even if only a little.
"he was… a bit off today," Isa was saying, her voice calm. "One minute he's brooding, the next they're… almost pleasant. I don't know what's going on with him."
Juniper responded, clearly less patient. "Honestly, I don't get it. He's always like this."
Isa's sigh carried a faint smile, though I couldn't see her. "It's hard, sometimes. We should be awarded, dealing with them isnt should'nt be free labour?"
I leaned closer to the door, curiosity prickling my chest. Who were they talking about? I had no idea, but the tension in Isa's voice made me want to know.
I stayed like that for a few more seconds before realizing I hadn't eaten all day. My stomach growled indignantly. That reminded me of something else. Isa and Juniper hadn't come for gossip—they'd come for me, hadn't they?
Moments later, Isa's soft knock on my door broke through my frozen state.
"Hi, Zara," she said cheerfully, stepping in without waiting for an answer. She carried a small bag in her hand. "I wasn't sure if you'd eaten, so I grabbed you something. Fish and chips. I hope that's okay."
I blinked, caught off guard. "You… brought me food?" I asked, my voice small.
Isa shrugged lightly, giving a small, encouraging smile. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I went with something simple. Better than leaving you hungry."
I felt my chest tighten. I wasn't used to anyone thinking about me. Not like this. Not voluntarily. Not even for something as trivial as food. My lips parted, but no words came out. Finally, I croaked, "Thanks."
Isa placed the bag gently on my desk. "You're welcome." She glanced at me, her gaze kind but assessing. "Do you want me to stay?"
I hesitated. People didn't usually offer that. Not sincerely. Not without expecting something in return. But Isa… she didn't look like she expected anything. She looked like she just wanted to make sure I was okay.
"…You don't have to," I whispered.
"That's not what I asked," she said firmly, but her tone was gentle.
I looked down at my hands. My fingers tightened around the edge of the bed. People didn't care about me, and if they did, it always ended badly. But for some reason, with Isa… I wanted to say yes.
"…You can stay," I finally murmured.
Her smile widened, soft and warm. She settled onto the chair at my desk, just close enough to feel like company but far enough that I didn't feel crowded.
The smell of the fish and chips filled my room. My stomach reminded me how empty it was. I took a bite, slowly at first, then another, more confident. The warm, greasy food grounded me. The room didn't feel so small anymore. Not with Isa there.
We didn't talk much at first. She let me eat in peace. But eventually, her curiosity got the better of her.
"You looked… shaken earlier," she said quietly.
I froze mid-bite, but she didn't push. She didn't ask for details. She simply let the statement linger in the air, leaving me the choice to respond.
"I… I'm fine," I muttered, finally swallowing.
Isa hummed. "Alright. Just know you don't have to pretend with me. Not here, not now."
I nodded silently, the weight of her words sinking in.
After a few more moments of quiet, Isa stood up and stretched, glancing around my room like she was taking it in. Then she turned to me. "I was going to give you a tour later, but you can decide when. For now, just… settle in. Eat. Relax. Take a deep breath."
I managed a small smile. "Thanks."
She gave me a nod and lingered for a second longer, just enough to make me feel like maybe… someone cared, someone actually wanted me to be okay.
Then, as gently as she had entered, she left, closing the door quietly behind her.
I exhaled, finally allowing myself to sink back into my bed. The food smelled heavenly, my stomach was finally starting to calm down, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself feel… a little normal.
Even if just for tonight.