Chapter 6

daniela didn’t sleep a wink. the quiet of the night had been filled with thoughts she couldn’t untangle, feelings she hadn’t expected, and the subtle, persistent awareness of megan just a few inches away on the bed. every time she had closed her eyes, megan’s calm, soft features had floated into her mind, making her heart thrum in a way she wasn’t used to.

by the time the first light of morning crept through the curtains, daniela was wide awake, staring at the ceiling, tension coiling in her shoulders. she hadn’t moved all night, not because she’d been comfortable, but because every movement felt like it would shatter some fragile balance she didn’t understand yet.

megan stirred slightly beside her, murmuring softly in her sleep. daniela’s chest tightened, and she almost cursed herself for the lump forming there, the strange mix of protectiveness and longing she couldn’t name. she had always thought she knew herself—always thought she was in control—but last night had thrown everything into chaos.

the sun rose higher, spilling light across the room, and daniela finally shifted, stretching carefully so as not to wake megan. her mind was still racing, replaying the night, dissecting every glance, every movement, every quiet thought she’d had.

she knew one thing clearly: nothing would ever be the same between them.

daniela practically flew down the hallway, thoughts still spinning from the night, and knocked on manon and sophia’s room.

manon flopped onto the bed, smirk wide, one eyebrow raised. “whoa, someone looks like they just wrestled a tornado. spill, dani.”

sophia stood by the desk, arms crossed, glaring just enough to make daniela flinch. “no vague dramatics. what’s going on? now.”

daniela sank onto the edge of the bed, burying her face in her hands. “it’s… complicated. everything’s complicated. megan… i don’t know what to do with it.”

manon leaned forward, eyes glinting, grinning. “ohhh… the megan problem. dangerous territory. you know you’re in for it when she’s involved, right?”

sophia’s tone was sharp, commanding. “dani. stop overthinking. tell us exactly what’s happening. you’re not helping yourself by hiding it.”

daniela groaned. “i’ve never felt like this before. i’ve never… wanted someone like this. and i’m supposed to be straight. i… i can’t deal.”

manon laughed, loud and chaotic, leaning back with her arms behind her head. “straight? pfft. who cares? megan messes with everyone. you’re not alone, trust me.”

sophia’s voice softened slightly, still bossy but grounded. “you don’t have to label it right now. just… acknowledge it and deal with it. stop panicking.”

daniela exhaled, shaking her head. “i just… needed to get out of my room. i needed someone to… talk to without losing my mind.”

manon smirked, nudging daniela with her shoulder. “well, lucky for you, that’s what we’re here for. chaos management 101. step one: breathe. step two: stop overthinking.”

sophia tapped her foot, arms still crossed. “step three: figure out what’s actually happening before it drives you insane. you’re smart enough to handle this.”

daniela let out a shaky laugh, feeling a little of the tension ease. she wasn’t ready to face megan yet, not after last night—but with manon’s teasing energy and sophia’s bossy guidance keeping her grounded, she felt a fraction less trapped by her feelings.

“i’m gonna go get yoonchae and lara,” manon announced dramatically. “thank me later when lara brings food.”

sophia cracked a smile as the door shut behind manon. “dani, manon can get… intense sometimes when it comes to things like this. she’ll probably crack like five wrong jokes, make fun of five wrong things, you know how she is. that’s her way of trying.”

“so,” she clapped her hands. “step one: breathe.”

dani inhaled deeply, sophia’s hand on her shoulder rooting her to the present. ‘i am daniela andrea avanzini llorente. i will be okay,’ dani thought to herself before exhaling again.

sophia nodded sharply. “step two: stop overthinking. don’t think of megan right now. what matters is you.”

shutting her eyes, daniela mentally went back to cuba. her mother was standing at the counter, grilling a salmon. then, she found herself on the america’s got talent audition stage. inhaling again, dani found herself performing-

“wassup bitches!” manon hollered. dani screamed. sophia strode towards manon. lara and yoonchae were doing the macarena with lollipops in their mouths.

“manon bannerman. what do you think you-” sophia started.

manon pressed her lips against sophia’s. “mph!”

yoonchae screamed, “i’m still a minor, keep it pg guys,” then made her cute sad face. “also, where’s megan?”

sophia tore away from manon. “that’s exactly the point yoonie, thanks for asking!”

manon snorted. “yea, dani’s having a bit of a crisis here about megs.”

to which lara replied, “noo, really? who would’ve thought?”

dani’s face was redder than manon’s pajamas.

someone’s phone rang. “oh shit, megan’s calling,” manon shrieked.

uh oh.. meg’s calling

also idk why i made sophia call yoonchae yoonie it felt right ig haha

word count: 786

-drqstclii