Chapter 49 Aria
I didn’t sleep. I drifted, maybe, for minutes at a time, because every time I close my eyes I see Sienna’s face, her stunned expression when I asked if she and Luca ever actually dated, the flicker of annoyance and surprise I couldn’t read, and then her abrupt excuse to go home early.
By morning, the pit in my stomach felt like a crater. When I roll out of bed, my phone showed zero new messages. No “lol sorry, I freaked out yesterday” text or memes.
Mom caught me at the kitchen table pushing cereal around like it's a puzzle I can’t solve. She studied me with that soft Mom-expression that means she’s about to pry gently but effectively.
“You’re quiet this morning,” she stated, pouring herself tea. “Everything okay with you and Luca?”
I nearly choked. “What? No. I mean—yes, it’s not about Luca.”
Her eyebrows rose, but she let it go. “Sienna then?”
I don’t know how she does this maybe moms are born with psychic abilities. “She left really suddenly yesterday” I say. “And she hasn’t answered any of my texts which is weird.”
Mom sat across from me, resting her hand lightly over mine. “Did you two fight?”
“No. I mean—kind of? I just asked her something, and she got all strange and defensive. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
“Well, she’s your best friend,” Mom says. “Just check on her. I’m sure she’ll come around. Teenage girls fight and make up all the time. Trust me, I was there once.”
I smiled wearily and text Sienna again.
Me: Morning. You okay?
Me: Please answer.
Me: Literally one emoji. Even a thumbs down. Anything.
But all I got was nothing. Nora met me outside school, her hair twisted up into a messy clip, the kind that’s effortless but somehow perfect.
“Okay,” she announced the moment she sees my face. “You look like someone who’s about to fail a math test and confess murder at the same time.”
I exhaled shakily. “Sienna’s not answering me. She was weird yesterday like really weird.”
Nora frowned. “Weird how? Possessed-by-demonic-bad-vibes weird? Or crying-in-the-bathroom weird?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “She just left out of nowhere and hasn’t texted me back.”
“If she’s ghosting you,” Nora said, hooking her arm through mine, “we’re hunting her down.”
“Should we really?”
“Yes.” She dragged me across the parking lot. “Look, Sienna’s dramatic but she’s not silent. You know that girl can’t go two hours without narrating her own life to someone. If she’s gone quiet, something’s up.”
We spend the first half of the school day pretending to focus but mostly checking our phones. By lunch, I’m vibrating with anxiety. I try calling Sienna again—still straight to voicemail.
Nora watched me closely. “Want to skip last period? We can look around town.”
I hesitated. “We’ll get in trouble.”
She tilted her head. “Aria. Your best friend vanished. I think they’ll understand.”
But before I can agree, Avery Thorne practically floats by our table like a perfume advert made human. She smirked. “You look stressed, Morgan Junior,” she noted, setting her salad down. “What happened? Did your little friend finally realize hanging out with you is social suicide?”
Nora muttered, “Here we go!”
I swallowed hard. “Avery, not today.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Avery pressed a hand to her chest with mock sincerity. “I didn’t realize it was Sensitive Aria Day. Should I leave you two lovebirds to whisper secrets?”
Normally, I’d snap something back or at least roll my eyes dramatically enough to injure myself.
Nora straightened. “Avery, take your salad and your expired attitude somewhere else.”
The cafeteria goes quiet for a moment. Avery stares Nora down but Nora doesn’t blink. Finally, Avery flips her hair and breezes away but not before glancing at me again curious now, not cruel.
“She knows something’s wrong,” Nora pointed. “Great. Expect the rumor mill to explode in five minutes.”
“I don’t care,” I replied.
As soon as the bell rings for last period, we slip out behind the gym. We check Sienna’s usual spots: the café where she likes to sip iced lattes even in winter, the bookstore with the squeaky bell, and the river path where she claims her brain “reboots” but we found nothing. By the time we reached the edge of the residential streets, my chest felt packed with sharp rocks.
Nora nudged me gently. “She probably just needed space.”
“From me?”
“From everything,” Nora stated. “Come on. Sienna’s weird sometimes but she wouldn’t disappear without a reason.”
“But I pushed her,” I whispered. “I asked about her and Luca, and she just shut down. I didn’t even mean to make it a big deal.”
“Okay,” Nora said, turning to face me fully. “Let me give you some tough love, yeah? Friends fight and get uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean you caused whatever this is. Sienna didn’t text either of us back, so something else is happening.”
If only she knew how right or wrong she might be. We sat at the curb outside Sienna’s house. Her lights were off and we couldn't find her Dad either and it didn’t look like she’s home. I texted her again even though I know she won’t answer.
Me: Where are you? I’m seriously worried. Please just tell me you’re safe.
Nora placed her hand on my shoulder. “We’ll keep looking tomorrow. Tonight, you should rest.”
“I won’t be able to sleep.”
“You need to try,” she insisted. “Let your brain recharge before it melts.”
She walked me home, refusing to leave until I’m through the door. Mom is in the living room watching TV. She looked up the moment she saw my face. “No luck?”
I shake my head.
She patted the couch. “Come here.”
I sat beside her and she pulled me into her side like I’m six again. “Whatever’s going on with Sienna isn’t your fault. Friendships go through storms and what matters is how you weather them.”
“She left after I confronted her,” I admitted quietly.
Mom kissed the top of my head. “People react to things in ways we don’t expect. She might be embarrassed, confused, or dealing with something totally unrelated. Trust your heart, sweetheart. It knows when someone matters.”
When I finally crawled into bed that night, I left my phone’s volume at maximum but Sienna didn’t text back not even once. I fall asleep with a single, gnawing thought someone is lying about something and I’m scared to find out who.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Sienna is officially missing, Aria’s guilt is spiraling, and Nora is stepping up like
a real ride-or-die friend. 👀 Something is shifting in Silverpine, and things are about to get deliciously complicated. Comment your thoughts—I’m reading💙.