Chapter 11

Chapter 2:

It started with silence.

Not the good kind. Not the peaceful kind. The kind that felt off.

Daniela hadn’t shown up to anything in two days.

No Kai house.

No group chat replies.

No random comments from Mia saying “she’s probably just busy” followed by Mia immediately knowing that wasn’t true.

Nevaeh told herself she didn’t care.

She was doing a decent job at it too.

At least for the first day.

On the second day, Amanni mentioned it casually while they were walking.

“Daniela’s not answering anyone.”

Nevaeh shrugged. “Okay.”

Amanni looked at her. “That’s it?”

“Yes.”

Amanni didn’t respond right away. Then she said, “Kai said she’s sick.”

Nevaeh slowed slightly. “Sick?”

“Yeah. Like actually sick. Not ‘I don’t feel like socializing’ sick.”

Nevaeh kept walking. “Oh.”

That was the end of the conversation.

At least on the surface.

But the word stuck.

Sick.

She didn’t know why it bothered her.

It shouldn’t have.

Daniela was annoying. Loud. Dramatic. Always had something to say.

If she was sick, she was probably just resting.

It had nothing to do with Nevaeh.

Still, that night, Nevaeh checked her phone more than once.

No messages.

Not that she expected any.

Still didn’t stop her from checking.

On the third day, Kai finally sent something.

KAI: She’s not coming out. Fever. Doctor said rest.

Nevaeh stared at the message longer than she needed to.

Then she typed:

NEVAEH: ok

That was it.

She set the phone down.

Then picked it back up five minutes later.

By the fourth day, it was annoying her in a different way.

Not Daniela’s absence.

The fact that she kept thinking about it.

She told herself it was just curiosity.

Nothing more.

But curiosity didn’t usually make her check the group chat twice before going to sleep.

Amanni noticed.

Of course she did.

“You’re thinking about it.”

Nevaeh didn’t look up. “About what.”

Amanni raised an eyebrow.

Nevaeh sighed. “She’s fine.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Kai said she has a fever.”

“And?”

“And that means she’s sick, not dying.”

Amanni hummed. “That’s not what I meant.”

Nevaeh finally looked at her. “Then what did you mean?”

Amanni didn’t answer right away.

Then she said, “You’ve been quiet since she stopped showing up.”

Nevaeh scoffed. “I’m always quiet.”

“Not like this.”

That landed a little too well.

Nevaeh stood up. “I have work.”

Amanni watched her. “Sure.”

Nevaeh left before the conversation could go further.

The next day, she found herself outside Daniela’s house without fully deciding to be there.

That bothered her almost as much as the reason she was there.

She stood for a moment, then knocked.

Kai opened the door, surprised.

“Oh. Hey.”

Nevaeh nodded. “Is she awake?”

Kai blinked. “You mean Daniela?”

“No. I meant your fridge.”

Kai stared at her.

Nevaeh sighed. “Yes Daniela.”

He stepped aside. “She’s upstairs. She’s been asleep most of the day.”

Nevaeh hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she walked in.

The house was quieter than usual.

No music.

No yelling.

No James somehow breaking something.

It felt wrong.

Kai pointed upstairs. “Second door on the left.”

Nevaeh nodded and started walking.

She didn’t think about it too much.

She refused to.

The door was slightly open.

She pushed it gently.

Daniela was on the bed.

Hair messy.

Blanket pulled up to her shoulders.

She looked nothing like herself.

Not the confident version.

Not the loud version.

Just tired.

Nevaeh stood in the doorway for a second longer than she meant to.

Then she stepped inside.

Daniela stirred slightly.

Didn’t fully wake.

Nevaeh looked around the room, then quietly set the bag she was holding on the chair.

Water bottle. Medicine. Something Kai had mentioned she needed earlier.

She didn’t know why she brought it.

She just did.

As she turned to leave, Daniela shifted again.

Her eyes opened slightly.

Not fully focused.

Just enough.

“…Kai?”

Nevaeh stopped.

For a second she didn’t answer.

Then softly, “No.”

Daniela squinted a little, trying to focus.

“Oh.”

Silence.

Then, more quietly, “Why are you here?”

Nevaeh hesitated.

She could’ve said something sarcastic.

Something easy.

Instead she said, “You weren’t answering.”

Daniela blinked slowly.

“I was sleeping.”

“I noticed.”

Another pause.

Daniela looked away slightly. “You didn’t have to come.”

Nevaeh didn’t respond immediately.

Then she said, “I know.”

That hung in the air.

Daniela swallowed, still half-asleep.

“Did Kai send you?”

“No.”

That surprised her a little.

Nevaeh didn’t explain.

Didn’t add anything else.

Just stood there for a second.

Then she said, “I’ll go.”

She turned toward the door.

Behind her, Daniela spoke again.

“…Nevaeh.”

Nevaeh stopped, but didn’t turn fully.

“What.”

Daniela was quiet for a moment.

Then, softly, “Thanks.”

Nevaeh paused.

For a second too long.

Then she nodded once.

And left the room.

Downstairs, Kai looked up.

“She okay?”

Nevaeh hesitated.

Then said, “She’s sleeping.”

Kai nodded. “Good.”

Nevaeh started toward the door.

Kai watched her. “You didn’t have to come, you know.”

Nevaeh didn’t look back. “Yeah. I know.”

Nevaeh stood there for a second.

She told herself it didn’t mean anything.

It was just being decent.

That was it.

Nothing more.

But she couldn’t stop thinking about the way Daniela had said her name.

Kai was halfway down the stairs when he suddenly stopped.

“Wait.”

Nevaeh turned back. “What now?”

Kai rubbed the back of his neck like he was already regretting whatever he was about to say. “I actually have to run out for like… twenty minutes.”

Nevaeh stared at him. “And?”

He pointed vaguely upstairs. “She’s gonna wake up soon. Can you just… keep an eye on her?”

Nevaeh immediately frowned. “No.”

Kai didn’t even hesitate. “Please.”

“No.”

“Nevaeh.”

“I said no.”

He sighed. “She’s gonna be alone.”

That did it.

Nevaeh exhaled sharply. “Ugh. Fine. Twenty minutes.”

Kai nodded quickly. “Thank you.”

She immediately regretted agreeing the second he grabbed his keys and left.

The house got even quieter after the door shut.

Too quiet.

Nevaeh stood there for a second, then slowly went upstairs again.

Daniela’s room was still dim.

Curtains slightly drawn.

The soft sound of her breathing steady.

Still asleep.

Nevaeh hovered in the doorway for a moment, unsure what she was even doing here.

Then she stepped inside anyway.

Carefully.

Quietly.

Like she didn’t belong there.

Which, technically, she didn’t.

For a few minutes, she just stood by the bed.

Daniela didn’t move.

She looked less sharp like this. Less loud. Less… everything.

It was weird.

Nevaeh exhaled and glanced around the room.

Her eyes moved slowly.

The space felt very different from what she expected.

Not messy.

Not chaotic.

Just… lived in.

There were a few clothes folded on a chair.

A bag near the desk.

A half-finished water bottle.

A small pile of random items that probably meant something to Daniela but nothing to anyone else.

Nevaeh shifted her weight.

She should’ve just stayed by the door.

But instead, she walked a few steps further in.

Then a few more.

Before she really thought about it, she was looking at the desk.

Photos.

Notes.

A few small things she couldn’t immediately place.

She wasn’t trying to snoop.

At least that’s what she told herself.

But her eyes kept moving anyway.

She stopped at a framed photo.

Daniela with people she didn’t recognize.

Smiling.

Not performing.

Just… happy.

Nevaeh stared at it longer than she meant to.

Behind her, Daniela shifted slightly in bed.

Nevaeh froze.

Silence again.

Then steady breathing.

Still asleep.

Nevaeh let out a quiet breath and turned away from the desk.

But now the room felt different.

Less like just a space.

More like something personal.

Something real.

Not the version of Daniela she saw in group chats or arguments or annoying comments.

Just… her.

Nevaeh walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down slowly.

Not too close.

Not too far.

Just there.

She didn’t know why she didn’t leave.

She probably should’ve.

But she stayed anyway.

Her eyes drifted back to Daniela.

Still asleep.

Still completely unaware she wasn’t alone.

Nevaeh crossed her arms, leaning back slightly.

“I’m literally just sitting here so Kai doesn’t blame me if you die or something,” she muttered quietly to herself.

Daniela didn’t respond.

Obviously.

Nevaeh sighed again, quieter this time.

And waited.

Even though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was waiting for.

Daniela shifted again, this time more noticeably.

Her eyes opened halfway, unfocused.

For a second she just stared at the ceiling like she was trying to remember where she was.

Then she turned her head slightly.

“…Nevaeh?”

Nevaeh looked up immediately. “Yeah?”

Her voice came out faster than she meant it to.

Daniela squinted a little. “You’re still here?”

Nevaeh paused. “Kai left.”

“Oh.”

Silence.

Daniela swallowed, her voice rough from sleep. “My head hurts.”

Nevaeh stood up before she even really processed it. “Okay. Water. Do you need medicine?”

Daniela blinked slowly. “I don’t know.”

“Okay.”

She was already moving.

She grabbed the water bottle from the chair and checked the label of the medicine.

“Here.”

Daniela took it slowly, watching her like she was slightly confused.

“You’re being weird.”

Nevaeh didn’t look at her. “Drink it.”

Daniela obeyed.

Which, under normal circumstances, would’ve been impossible.

But right now she just did.

After a moment, Daniela leaned back again.

Her voice was quieter. “My hair is annoying.”

Nevaeh looked at her. “What?”

“It’s everywhere.”

Nevaeh stared at her for half a second.

Then she said, “Okay.”

Daniela didn’t even question it. She just shifted slightly, turning her head to the side.

Like she expected it to be handled.

And Nevaeh… just did it.

No argument.

No hesitation.

She carefully gathered Daniela’s hair, fingers moving gently as she pulled it back.

Daniela winced slightly. “Not tight.”

“I know.”

Nevaeh adjusted it immediately.

Still focused.

Still quiet.

A few seconds passed.

Then Daniela mumbled, “You’re weirdly good at that.”

Nevaeh didn’t respond right away.

“…I have sisters.”

“Oh.”

Silence again.

The kind that wasn’t uncomfortable.

Just slow.

Nevaeh finished braiding her hair properly, tying it off at the end.

Then she stepped back slightly, looking at it for a second like she was checking her work.

“There.”

Daniela lifted a hand slowly, feeling it. “Thanks.”

Nevaeh nodded once. “Yeah.”

Daniela stared at her for a moment.

Still half-asleep.

Still not fully processing anything.

Then she asked quietly, “Why are you here?”

Nevaeh paused.

Long enough that she could’ve said something sarcastic.

Something safe.

Instead she just said, “I don’t know.”

And that was the most honest thing she’d said all day.

Daniela hummed softly, like that answer made sense even if it didn’t.

Then she closed her eyes again.

Less tense now.

More settled.

“…Don’t leave,” she muttered.

Nevaeh froze slightly.

Just for a second.

Then she sat back down in the bed.

“…I’m not.”

And this time, she didn’t move.

Daniela fell asleep again not long after that.

The medicine was probably helping.

Or maybe she was just exhausted.

Either way, within a few minutes her breathing had evened out.

And the room became quiet once more.

Nevaeh sat in the chair beside the bed.

Arms crossed.

Staring at absolutely nothing.

At least that was the plan.

Instead her eyes kept drifting back.

The braid had fallen over Daniela’s shoulder.

A few loose strands framed her face.

She looked younger when she slept.

Less guarded.

Less polished.

Nothing like the Daniela everyone else knew.

Nothing like the Daniela from KATSEYE videos.

Nothing like the Daniela who could somehow talk for twenty minutes without taking a breath.

Just…

Daniela.

Nevaeh hated how weird that realization felt.

She shifted in her chair.

Looked away.

Looked back again five seconds later.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

Her phone buzzed.

A text from Amanni.

AMANNI:
Where are you?

NEVAEH:
At Daniela’s.

The typing bubble appeared immediately.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Then disappeared again.

Finally:

AMANNI:
👀

NEVAEH:
Don’t.

AMANNI:
Didn’t say anything.

NEVAEH:
You literally sent the eyes emoji.

AMANNI:
And?

NEVAEH:
Goodbye.

Nevaeh locked her phone.

Immediately regretting telling her.

Now she’d never hear the end of it.

A small movement pulled her attention back.

Daniela shifted slightly under the blanket.

Her eyebrows pinching together.

Like she was uncomfortable.

Even asleep.

Without thinking, Nevaeh stood.

Adjusted the blanket.

Pulled it higher over her shoulder.

Then froze.

Because she’d done it automatically.

The same way she’d gotten the water.

The same way she’d fixed her hair.

The same way she’d stayed.

Nevaeh stared down at her for a moment.

Confused.

Mostly at herself.

Why was she doing all this?

The question sat heavily in her chest.

Because she genuinely didn’t know.

A week ago she would’ve left.

No question.

No hesitation.

Now?

Now she was sitting in Daniela’s room while she slept.

Making sure she took medicine.

Braiding her hair.

Fixing her blanket.

It didn’t make sense.

From downstairs came the sound of the front door opening.

Kai was back.

Nevaeh immediately stepped away from the bed.

Like she’d been caught doing something embarrassing.

Which was ridiculous.

She was literally helping a sick person.

Still.

One last glance.

Just one.

Daniela was asleep.

Peaceful this time.

No frown.

No tension.

Just resting.

For some reason, seeing that made Nevaeh feel lighter.

Kai appeared in the doorway.

“How is she?”

Nevaeh looked away from the bed.

“Better.”

Kai smiled slightly.

“Thanks.”

Nevaeh shrugged.

Trying very hard to act normal.

“Yeah.”

She grabbed her hoodie from the chair.

Headed toward the door.

Then paused.

Just for a second.

And before she could stop herself—

She looked back.

At Daniela.

At the braid.

At the blanket she’d fixed.

At the girl she’d spent days avoiding.

Then she left.

Upstairs, Daniela slept through all of it.

Completely unaware that for the first time since they’d met…

Nevaeh had stayed.

Not because Kai asked.

Not because she felt obligated.

Not because she had nowhere else to be.

She’d stayed because she wanted to.

And that realization was going to become a problem very, very soon.