Jenny stared unfazed when a splash of orange juice covered the wood table, daring to touch her elbow. There wasn't much on it. Just a soaked white towel, a plate with toast and a mug of coffee. And the now empty glass from which the juice was still pouring.

Ana clasped her hands against her mouth, looking at the mess she made. She only got out of her trance once Jenny snapped her fingers in front of her face, urging her to get a washcloth.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so clumsy," she kept repeating, giggling at the thought.

Jenny took another bite of her toast, monitoring her work but refusing to help. Juliana messed up way too much for her to bother. Her hands were still healing from the lab accident, but they didn't seem to hurt as they once had.

"So, I was asking you about Miguel," Juliana restarted. Before she spilt the drink, she was investigating what had gone down between them. "Why did he bring you home the other night? Are you his friend now?"

"Friends? You know I would never befriend someone who did what he did to you."

Jenny ignored the beginning of the question. Finding out the answer to it had become quite the puzzle. No matter how close she thought she was to an explanation, there was always something that didn't add up.

Miguel couldn't do nice things, much less for women. He would have never taken her home unless he expected sex, and he knew that would never happen.

"I don't think you should let that affect your relationship with him," she mumbled. "That's my business. He did nothing to you."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "It shows his character. I don't want to be friends with someone who makes girls think he wants a relationship, but ditches them as soon as he gets in their pants."

Ana nodded silently, staring at the washcloth in her hands, twisting it between her fingers. Her chest was heavy with remorse, but she feared Jenny's reaction if she said all the words she wanted to let out.

"Please, don't tell me you still fancy him?" Jenny asked, finding nothing in her silence. "After what he did to you? Juliana, have some self-respect."

"He brought you back, didn't he?" Her eyes met her roommate's, steady. "Maybe he is not such a bad person as you made him in your head?"

"Made him in my head?" she repeated. What happened that night had left her questioning a lot about him, but that accusation was far from the truth. "I didn't make up anything. He lied to you! He slept with you and doesn't even acknowledge it."

Ana bit the inside of her cheek and turned her back on her roommate, washing the cloth in the sink. The cold water made her fingers numb. She couldn't face Jenny for longer. Bringing Miguel up again had been a mistake. That entire subject was an error because Jenny would extract the truth from her. She couldn't live with herself if her roommate started looking at her the way she looked at Miguel.

"I don't understand you, Ana. I really don't."

They kept quiet. The silence was tense, as it always was when Ana refused to talk. Although Jenny went back to finishing her breakfast, Ana kept dwelling on it.

Grabbing her jacket off the hanger, Jenny waved goodbye and opened the door. At the last second, Ana mentioned, "You don't have classes so early."

"I'm doing the opening shift with Nicole. We really need more employees."

The door closed, and Jenny got into the elevator. A little girl and her mother were already in, quiet in their corner. The woman pulled her daughter closer to her at the sight of Jenny's tattooed arms, making her roll her eyes.

As soon as the doors opened again, she darted out of the small space, straight to the bus stop, just in time to hop in. She sat in the back, headphones in, and started playing a game on her phone.

They stopped three times before she left the vehicle, jumping onto the pavement after a few old ladies walked into the café. They were regulars, drank tea and ate croissants every morning, making small talk with the waiters.

"Hey, Luce," she greeted the dark-haired girl, heading to the back.

"Hi. Thank you so much for covering for me!" she said before Jenny disappeared.

Nicole was already inside, tying her apron around her waist. It was a chilly day, even inside the store, so she was wearing a long-sleeved shirt under the staff tee.

"Hello, stranger," said Jenny, making the blonde turn to her.

"Hey." She yawned and closed the locker with her knee, leaning against it. "I feel like I need at least six more hours of sleep."

The brunette chuckled. "You and I, mate. You and I."

She opened her locker, throwing anything she didn't need inside and dressing her t-shirt and apron. Feeling lazy, she lay on the bench once she was done.

"Get up, Lúcia needs to leave," Nicole hurried her.

"Lúcia." She sighed at the thought of her. "What is going on between her and your friend?"

Nicole sat by her side on the bench, staring down at her. They'd never discussed him before, only snarky comments from Jenny that she ignored, but she didn't feel like talking about him still.

"They're dating, I think. Nothing serious so far."

"Of course. It's never serious with him," she scoffed.

Nicole sighed in annoyance. "He's trying, you know? He really likes her."

"That's what he said to Juliana."

The blonde glanced at her, trying to match the name to a face. Once she realised who the girl was, her eyes were wide, and laughter erupted from her lips. Jenny sat up to look at her, scowling at her friend. She couldn't see what was so fun about it.

Noticing her seriousness, Nicole slowly regained composure. "You're serious?"

Jenny blinked. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Her friend lifted her hands in defeat, a small smile still playing on her crimson-tinted lips. She sat face to face with her, her brain trying to connect the dots to understand what was going on in Jenny's head.

"No offence to Ana, but he never said that to her. I'm sure."

The brunette shook her head, stubbornly insisting he did. Juliana told her everything. He courted her for ages, told her he was in love with her, and gave her several presents.

"Impossible," Nicole said. "He found her intolerable. She was always staking him."

"No, she has the presents. I saw them!"

"Sure, but he didn't give them."

Three knocks on the door made them get up. Lúcia's head peeked through the small creek she opened. "Can you hurry? I need to leave."

They nodded and left the room as she walked in to change. Jenny stayed behind the counter and Nicole checked the clients to see if they needed anything. The mornings were always the most crowded time of the day, and every table was full. Some people were having breakfast, others were just reading in their corner.

"I don't understand," Jenny told her.

Nicole shrugged. "I don't know what you think happened, but you have to talk with her, not with me."

Her fingers kept hammering against the counter, rethinking everything she knew. Did Juliana lie? She would never do that, right? She wasn't sure anymore.

"But he still slept with her at the New Year's Eve party. He knew she liked him and still did that."

Nicole couldn't quite remember that night. Everything was blurred. It had been her first party since she broke up with Tomás. The night she discovered men were nicer when she was drunk. Miguel had been with her almost all night, just as intoxicated.

"That sounds unlikely."

🖤🤍🖤

Alice had never been to such a fancy restaurant. There had been that one time with Andrew, but she preferred to forget it. She was mesmerised that her father could afford such a classy place. Everyone was dressed in suits and long dresses, some discussing business, others having a romantic night out. Yet, to pay for their dinner, he had to show up first.

"He's not coming," Isabel said, reclining into her chair with the menu in hand. She wore a strapless black dress, blending with the dark colour scheme of the place. "Pick something cheap. We don't have the money for this."

The younger girl played with the end of her flimsy blouse, eyes on her lap. She really wished for him to come.

"He'll be here," she insisted. "He promised."

Isabel rolled her eyes. Her sister was too naïve. Believing people's lies and expecting too much from everyone was hurting her the most. Isabel believed she was a child still, and maybe she was right.

"Pretty sure he also promised something about being with mum through sickness and health too when they got married. Look how that turned out."

Her finger entangled itself around some of her pink locks, pulling them with shaky hands. Every movement around the door was an excuse for her to look, but she could never find him.

She was afraid of not recognise him. It had been over a decade since they saw him last, having only rare, terse letters as reassurance with his existence. He could have changed. He must've changed. They were no longer the tiny girls they once were; he couldn't be the man they barely recalled.

A waiter joined them at the table, dressed in white from head to toe. "Have you chosen, ladies?"

Isabel leaned forward, about to order, when Alice shot to her feet, staring at the door. They both looked at her, but she ran away from the table, ignoring both.

"Dad!" she yelled, hugging someone.

Isabel stared at them, at the man smiling at Alice. It was him, but he was clean. His light brown eyes were the same, but they weren't bloodshot. He had bothered to shave his beard and cut his hair, and he was wearing an actual suit, far from his wrinkled dirty clothes. It could not be him. It couldn't. But it was.

Alice guided him to their table, and he greeted his elder daughter. He took a quick look at the menu and ordered from the still waiting server who watched the tedious scene, hoping he could go back to work soon yet kept his work posture.

"It's so good to see you again." He smiled and reached for their hands. Isabel pulled away as he stared in disappointment, but Alice's excitement made up for it.

"We missed you so much, dad!"

Isabel didn't answer, watching Alice wearily. She had been the one to dread that dinner the most and now was acting as if they were a happy family. It shouldn't even surprise Isabel anymore. She'd always known her sister to do anything to please her father.

Stupid kiss-ass, she thought. What does she think she is going to get from this?

"How's school going?" he inquired, and the brunette almost burst out laughing. School, the neutral, classic topic, of course.

"Oh, it's amazing, dad," Alice started, "I'm learning such great things. I mean, it's always hard studying with Isabel and her boyfriend being noisy at home all the time, but I manage."

That fucker! Isabel's jaw dropped, staring at her sister.

Their father looked from between the girls, suddenly realising he was having dinner with two grown women, not his children. They had boyfriends and needed their own space to study and thrive.

"Y-You have a boyfriend, Issy?"

"And he is always there, on our sofa, feet on the coffee table to get it all dirty," Alice added. "I can't study because they are too loud, and I can't watch TV because they're fornicating in the living room. It's hell, dad!"

Isabel's jaw tensed, glaring at her sister. Thankfully, they were in a crowded space, or she wouldn't be alive by now.

"I didn't know it was so hard to live with your sister, Ali." His eyes met hers, trying to muster an answer. He wanted to bond with them again, but he couldn't start scolding Isabel for making it hard for Alice right away. He didn't have that right.

"I wish I had my house," the youngest sighed dreamily. "My rules, my peace."

Sneaky little bitch. Isabel was still in awe at how she was just controlling the conversation about what she wanted. It's the bad influence of that gold digger brunette that's always with her, it must be.

"Why don't you get your own place?" their father asked.

"Oh, come on, dad. Do you really think mum has enough to pay for two apartments?"

"I can get you one," he said, falling into the trap. "I know I wasn't here to support you, but now I can. It won't be the fanciest home, but I can pay your rent for as long as you need."

A smile grew on Alice's face. "Oh, dad, that's so nice of you. I'm so happy you're here. I missed you so much."

Isabel couldn't handle it anymore. She lifted both arms up in defeat and got up. "I'm glad you two are enjoying yourselves, but I'm out."

"Issy-"

"Nope, I can't," she told them and left the restaurant.

I hate this chapter. And I hate to have to write the problems it opens between Jenny and Ana. I used to love writing about Miguel, but just Miguel, not his problems. Those are lame.

At least I hope you're curious?

The real question is, how are we feeling about Alice right now? And why am I saying we when I'm asking you? Am I just going to adopt whatever feeling you have? And if yes, why?

I hope you're enjoying so far. Please vote and comment;)