.❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。
—𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍, 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐀

—𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲

Arabella grumbled as she sat down to start writing for her upcoming Harper's Bazaar magazine topic, she was suppose to write about how the influence of fashion changes throughout America, which is why her team sent her to Charleston for the next few months. But her mind was frustratingly blank. She couldn't understand why she had been struggling with writer's block for the past week. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind and focus on the task at hand.

Arabella muttered to herself, slouching in her seat at the cafe. "Should have done business." She had hoped that the change of setting would help her write, but it didn't seem to be making a difference. She stared blankly at the screen, frustration mounting as the words refused to come.

Arabella huffed in annoyance before getting up and leaving her stuff at the table to get a coffee. Madison had often talked about how good the coffee was at this cafe, so Arabella figured it was worth a try.

She walked up to the counter, glancing at the menu before ordering her usual. "Could I please get a Mocha Coffee?"

The barista nodded before entering Arabella's order into the cash register. Arabella pulled out her wallet, flipping through it in search of her card.

"The total is $4.61. Would you like to pay cash or card?" The barista smiled politely.

Still flipping through her cards, Arabella apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm having the worst day. I swear it was in here."

"No worries take your time."

Arabella checked her pockets before finally giving up. "You know what, it's fine. I don't need the coffee."

"I got it." Someone spoke behind her before they handed the barista their card.

Arabella turned around to refuse the gesture but was surprised when it was someone she knew.

"Noah?"

In front of her stood Noah Summer, the boy she had dated throughout high school. Arabella's heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with him, a rush of memories flooding back. She couldn't believe he was here. First Drew, now Noah. What was in the air in Charleston?

Noah gave Arabella a wide smile as the barista handed him back his card. "Hey, Belle."

"What?" Arabella spluttered out. "I...I'm sorry I'm just very confused right now."

"I'm expanding my dad's business to South Carolina." Noah stated, laughing. "Charleston was second on the list. but if I knew you were here it would be first."

Arabella stayed silent for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts and process everything that was happening. Trying to ignore the last part he said.

"Well, thank you for the coffee. You didn't have to," Arabella finally said. "I don't have any money on me, so I don't know how to repay you."

"You could repay me by having a coffee and catching up. As friends, of course," Noah joked hesitantly, unsure if he was overstepping any boundaries. "Unless you don't want to, of course—"

"Don't be silly. No harm in just catching up as friends." Arabella smiled, emphasis on the last part. "I needed a break from what I'm doing anyway."

Noah's smile widened, and he picked up his coffee, following Arabella to her table. Arabella quickly gathered some of her things, making space for Noah.

"It's crazy, right?" Noah laughed as he settled into the chair opposite Arabella's. "The day I come to Charleston, I stop at a random cafe, and I see you."

"Right, because at this point, I would just say you're stalking me," Arabella raised her eyebrows in a joking manner, eliciting a laugh from both of them.

The pair continued to talk, their conversation flowing easily as they caught up on what was new in their lives. Arabella shared stories about her job and life after college, while Noah talked about his plans for expanding his dad's business.

Noah and Arabella were sitting close to the door of the cafe, so every time someone entered, the bell would jingle. Arabella didn't pay much attention to it since her back faced the door. Noah, on the other hand, couldn't help but glance over each time the bells chimed.

On one particular jingle, Noah's eyes shot up, and his eyebrows began to rise in astonishment. Arabella noticed his sudden change in expression and turned to follow his gaze, curious about what had caught his attention.

"Hot-shot, didn't think I would see you ever again." Noah spoke.

Drew and Chase stood by the door, their presence causing a brief moment of tension at the table. Chase glanced between Drew, Arabella, and Noah before muttering a quick "ooh, they added a new flavor," and walking away, leaving the three of them alone. The atmosphere between the three of them was tense.

"What's good, man," Drew spoke, taking a step to shak Noah's hand. His tone was casual but his body language was tense as he avoided eye contact with Arabella. "How's life treating you?"

"Great, but not as good as life for you." Noah nodded from his seat. "Heard about the new Netflix show coming out. Congratulations man."

Drew muttered a thanks, painfully obvious that he was trying to avoid eye contact with any of them.

As much as Arabella wanted to leap out of her seat, slap Chase, and flee to the bathroom, she remained frozen. She felt trapped, both mentally and physically, unable to escape the awkward tension.

"You remember Belle, right?" Noah said, right as Drew was about to walk away. Arabella couldn't shake the feeling that he was being mocking. "Crazy how the three of us are all here in Charleston. It's like fate," he added.

Drew's eyes finally landed on Arabella's figure, and he was transfixed. He remained unmoving, his gaze locked on hers, as if trying to convey something without words. Arabella felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity of his stare, a mix of emotions winding inside her as she met his gaze.

"Yeah, I do actually," Drew started, his head raising slightly before nodding. Arabella felt a surge of discomfort, wishing she could disappear. "Funny how people with different aspirations find themselves in the same city."

Arabella furrowed her eyebrows at Drew's words, sensing an underlying meaning. His comment felt directed at her, but she couldn't quite decode his intentions. She felt a pang of hurt and confusion, feeling as though Drew was mocking her. The first words out of his mouth and it was this. How could he act as if he hadn't left her without a call or text?

"You know what's also funny," Arabella challenged, her voice tinged with bitterness. "At least people with different aspirations try at whatever they're working on."

The words hung in the air, the tension intense in the silence that followed. Noah remained in his chair, his gaze shifting between Arabella and Drew, sensing the tension between them. Chase, on the other hand, kept his distance from the pair, lingering close enough to hear their conversation.

Drew looked between the pair before scoffing, "Guess some things never change, right Ara?"

Ara.

Arabella's jaw dropped slightly at Drew's word. Confusion and frustration flowing through her veins. He was acting as if she left him.

"Excuse me?"

Drew glanced at Arabella with a blank expression before turning and leaving the cafe without a word, giving Arabella a feeling she knew all too well. Arabella scoffed at his retreating figure, shaking her head in disbelief. "Guess some things never change," she repeated Drew's words from earlier but she muttered them under her breath so that only she could hear.

Chase quickly followed behind Drew, mumbling something along the lines of 'you didn't even get coffee.' Just as he was about to leave he turned to Arabella, greeting her with a casual, "Hey, Belle," grimacing a smile, knowing the atmosphere was uneasy.

Arabella forced a smile before turning to sit correctly in her seat. She then buried her hands in her hair, indicating her frustration.

"Well, that was something," Noah remarked, acknowledging her discomfort.

Arabella smiled weakly at Noah before getting up and packing her stuff. "I'm sorry, Noah. I think it's best if I just go."

"No, of course." Noah said, his voice tinging with disappointment. "But, hey—don't be a stranger."

Arabella meekly nodded at Noah, not bothering to respond, as she rushed out of the cafe. Once she was a good distance away, she stopped and buried the heels of her hands into her eyes, exhaling a groan.

"Bitch."

©𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞