Chapter 97 For A Moment
Mia's POV
"You're a natural, Mia," Josh said, watching me rinse the last of the shampoo from the customer's hair. "But I've told you a hundred times already. You don't have to help out here. You're supposed to stay in the office."
I smiled at him as I carefully wrapped a towel around the woman's shoulders. "I know," I replied honestly. "But I actually enjoy working out here more than being stuck inside the office. Besides, I'm good with numbers. I can finish the paperwork quickly and still handle the inventory later."
Josh did not look fully convinced, but he did not argue anymore. It was already close to midnight, and we were nearing closing time. The salon was quiet now, the earlier buzz fading into a calm silence that felt comforting instead of lonely.
Josh's salon was not very big, but it was warm and cozy. The soft lighting, the faint scent of shampoo and hair products, and the gentle music playing in the background made the place feel safe. I could easily imagine how any woman who walked in here would feel pampered, almost like a princess, even if only for a short while.
I had already finished my homework earlier that evening, using the small desk in the office while waiting for customers to come in. Still, I noticed the way Josh kept glancing at me, like he was trying to figure something out. He probably sensed my restlessness, my need to stay busy.
And he was right.
I was keeping myself busy on purpose.
If my hands were occupied and my mind focused on work, then maybe I would not think about Liam. Maybe the ache in my chest would quiet down, even just a little.
The bullying at school had stopped. No more whispers loud enough for me to hear. No more cruel remarks thrown in my direction. But silence did not mean peace. I could still feel their anger, sharp and heavy, especially from Chloe. She never said anything anymore, but her looks were enough to remind me that nothing had truly changed.
I chose to ignore it. I spent most of my time with Dina and Daniel, people who made me feel normal, like I belonged somewhere. They helped distract me, helped me breathe.
Still, no matter how hard I tried, I could not stop thinking about him.
Liam's face would sneak into my thoughts when I least expected it. His voice. His smile. The way he used to look at me like I mattered.
No amount of work, no number of customers, no late night at the salon was enough to completely push him out of my heart.
“Do you want to hang out later at my house after our last period?” Daniel asked.
I looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. My energy had been low all day, and I knew he noticed.
“As if I have the time, Dan,” I said lightly.
But the truth was I wanted to go anywhere that would help me forget. Even just for a few hours. Even just for one evening.
Watching Liam walk past me earlier, laughing softly at something Stacy said, still felt like someone pressing on a fresh bruise. It should not hurt anymore. I was the one who told him to stay away. I was the one who said we needed distance for both our sake. But knowing it was my decision did not make it easier.
Daniel tilted his head slightly. He could always read me too well.
“Just early dinner,” he said gently. “I know you’re working at Josh’s salon now. It’s less busy than the café, right? You won’t be too tired.”
I hesitated. He was right. The salon was calmer, more organized. I did not come home exhausted the way I used to after long café shifts. Still, part of me was afraid that if I allowed myself to relax, all the feelings I had been holding back would spill out.
But Daniel was trying. He had always tried.
“Okay,” I finally said. “I’ll just text Josh that I’ll be a little late.”
His face lit up immediately, like I had just given him the best news of the week.
“See? That wasn’t so hard,” he teased.
I rolled my eyes, but I could not stop the small smile that formed on my lips. Maybe I needed to be somewhere that did not remind me of everything I lost.
After school, Daniel drove us to his house. The familiar gate, the trimmed garden, the warm glow of their porch lights made something inside me soften. I had been here many times before. It used to feel like a second home.
As soon as we stepped inside, the door opened wider.
“Oh, Mia, my dear! It is so nice to see you. Come in,” Josh’s mom said warmly, her whole face lighting up when she saw me.
I bowed my head slightly out of respect. “Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez.”
She stepped closer and gently held my hands. “You know you are always welcome here. I am always happy to see you. And of course, my son would be even happier.”
Her tone turned teasing at the end, and I felt Daniel stiffen beside me.
“Mom, stop it,” he groaned, his face turning red.
I could not help but laugh softly. It felt strange. Laughing felt unfamiliar these days, like something I had forgotten how to do.
Mrs. Rodriguez looked at me with gentle eyes. “You look thinner, Mia. Are you eating properly?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered politely. “I’m just a little busy.”
She squeezed my hand knowingly. “Busy is fine. But don’t forget to take care of your heart too.”
Her words hit deeper than she probably intended. I swallowed quietly and nodded.
Daniel quickly took my hand, almost as if he wanted to rescue me from further teasing. “We’ll be in the game room, Mom.”
She waved us off with a smile.
The game room was just as I remembered it. Posters on the wall. A big television. Soft couches. A shelf filled with board games and video game consoles.
“Sit,” Daniel said, dropping onto the couch and patting the space beside him.
I sat down, hugging my bag close to me at first. I was not sure how to act anymore. Everything felt fragile inside me.
“You don’t have to pretend in front of me,” he said quietly.
I looked at him. “Pretend what?”
“That you’re okay.”
The room felt suddenly still.
“I am okay,” I said automatically.
He gave me a look that said he did not believe me.
“Mia,” he continued gently, “you don’t have to be strong all the time. Not here.”
I looked down at my hands. They were slightly trembling, though I was not cold.
“I told him to stay away,” I whispered. “So why does it still hurt this much?”
Daniel leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a second before answering.
“Because loving someone doesn’t turn off just because you tell it to.”
His words made my chest tighten.
“I just want him to be okay,” I said. “I didn’t want him to suffer because of me. I thought distance would make everything easier.”
“Does it?” he asked softly.
I shook my head.
There was silence between us, but it was not uncomfortable. It was heavy, but safe.
After a while, he nudged my shoulder lightly. “Okay. Enough sadness. You are here for early dinner and distraction. Let me at least try to make you smile.”
I looked at him. “And how exactly are you planning to do that?”
He grabbed a controller and tossed one to me. “You’re about to lose in this racing game.”
A small laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “In your dreams.”
And for the next hour, we argued about shortcuts, cheated turns, and dramatic losses. I laughed when he pretended to cry after losing. I teased him when he blamed the controller.
For a moment, just a moment, I forgot.
I forgot the way Liam looked at Stacy. I forgot the ache in my chest. I forgot the fear of losing everything.
But in between the laughter and the playful insults, there was still a quiet space inside me where Liam’s name lived.
And no matter how hard I tried to fill the room with noise, that space remained.
Still, as Daniel grinned at me proudly after finally winning one round, I realized something. Maybe healing did not happen all at once. Maybe it started with small things.
A dinner invitation, a warm welcome. and a friend who refused to let you face your pain alone.