Chapter 15 A Seed of Doubt
Bellatrix slipped into the dark red dress, the fabric settling smoothly against her skin. The spaghetti straps felt delicate on her shoulders, light and almost weightless, and the hem fell just above her knees — loose enough that she could move without feeling restricted, yet fitted enough to flatter her frame. Elvira had called it the perfect "dancing dress," though Bellatrix still wasn't quite sure why dancing had even come up or what the night might actually hold. While Bellatrix stood still, trying not to fidget, Waynona giggled behind her, carefully curling Bellatrix's straight hair before pinning the ringlets into a soft, elegant pile on top of her head.
"It looks like a blooming flower," Elvira said, admiring the style with clear satisfaction, her eyes lighting up as she tilted her head to get a better look.
"On my head?" Bellatrix asked, trying to look up without moving too much and ruining their careful work.
"On your head," Elvira teased with a laugh, clearly amused. "Trust me, you look stunning — absolutely stunning."
They kept Bellatrix turned away from the mirror; they wanted the final look to be a surprise, something worth the wait. As she stood there patiently, Bellatrix glanced around, letting her eyes wander. Elvira's room was a total contrast to the rest of the gloomy house. The walls were bubblegum pink, decorated with painted yellow ducks and cheerful teddy bears that seemed almost alive with personality. Stuffed animals cluttered the bed and shelves, some neatly arranged, others clearly well-loved. It looked more like a room for a little girl than the college student Bellatrix had just met, and the contrast was both surprising and oddly comforting.
"Is this really your room?" Bella asked, unable to hide her curiosity, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and quiet amusement.
Elvira laughed softly, almost shyly. "Everyone asks that. I know it’s a bit much," she admitted with a small shrug. "I always dreamed of a room like this when I was little, but we couldn't afford nice things back then."
"How did your family's luck change?" Bella asked, her tone gentler now, sensing there was more to the story.
The smile faded from Elvira's face, the lightness in her expression dimming. "It’s a sad story," she said quietly. "You probably don't want to hear it."
Bella raised an eyebrow, silently waiting, her curiosity outweighing any hesitation.
Waynona was the one who filled the silence, her voice softer now but steady. "Elvira's family owned a massive farm. It was supposed to be split between her father and his brother, but her uncle died in a terrible car accident."
"Oh no. What about his family? Didn't he have kids?" Bella asked softly, already bracing herself for the answer.
Elvira sat on the edge of her bed, her shoulders dropping slightly as the memory settled over her. "My grandfather’s will said the land could only stay with his sons and their children. My uncle was married, but they never had kids. So, everything went back to my father."
"Her dad wanted his sister-in-law to stay on the farm," Waynona added, folding her arms lightly, "but she was heartbroken and angry. She felt cheated because nothing her husband owned belonged to her once he was gone. She moved away and cut them off completely. Her father was so upset — grieving for his brother and fighting with his own father — that he eventually just sold the land for millions."
"I'm so sorry," Bella said quietly, looking down at her lap, her chest tightening at the weight of it. Waynona gently nudged her chin back up, careful not to let her ruin the carefully styled hair.
"We own a few businesses now, and we're doing well," Elvira said, picking up a comb again, trying to move forward. "But my aunt won't touch a cent of the money. She says we were never a 'real' family in my grandfather’s eyes, so she wants nothing to do with us."
"It breaks Elvira's heart," Waynona whispered, glancing at her friend with concern. "She loved her aunt. That woman took care of Elvira after her mom passed away, and now she won't even take a phone call."
A brief silence followed, heavy but unspoken, before Waynona suddenly shifted the mood.
"Ariel was bragging all day yesterday that she agreed to go out with him today," Waynona said, her tone turning lighter again. "He was even making fun of his brother for being jealous."
"But... she was with them when she called me," Bellatrix said, frowning slightly as confusion crept in.
"Them?" Elvira asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"Well, I spoke to Arking. He said he needed her help picking out a gift."
Waynona and Elvira shared a quick look before bursting out laughing, unable to hold it in.
"It sounded like Arking was just covering for her," Waynona said, tapping Bellatrix's shoulder playfully. "He probably made up an excuse so you wouldn't think she ditched you for a guy."
"No, Mayzie wouldn't do that," Bellatrix said quickly, feeling defensive, almost instinctively. "She’s honest. Sometimes she’s too honest."
"We didn't mean to upset you, Bella," Elvira said gently, patting her hand in reassurance. "I’m sure she’s great. It was probably just Ariel lying to us yesterday."
They went back to getting her ready, adjusting small details here and there, but the damage was done. A quiet seed of doubt took root in Bellatrix's mind, subtle but persistent. She wanted to believe Mayzie, to trust her completely, but Mayzie always said she wasn't interested in dating. Had she met someone and decided to keep it a secret? Was she hiding things because she didn't want to look like a liar?
Bellatrix thought back to her talk with Alonso, replaying his words in her mind. He had pointed out how much Mayzie was keeping from them, things Bellatrix had brushed off before. The more Bellatrix thought about it, the more she realized how little she actually knew about her best friend’s life beyond what was shared on the surface. She told Mayzie everything — every thought, every feeling, every secret — she had no walls between them. But was the friendship one-sided?
A painful thought slowly crossed her mind, heavier than the rest: maybe Mayzie only hung out with her because she had no other choice. The idea lingered, unwelcome but impossible to ignore.
Did Mayzie even like her at all?