Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three
Felicity didn’t mean to cry. She really hadn’t. She’d planned to hold everything in, pretend her heart wasn’t being torn apart, and go on about her morning like nothing had gone on.
But when Victoria and Gwen walked into the room and found her still curled up on her bed, eyes bright red and pillow held closely to her chest, there was no way of hiding it.
The door had barely clicked shut behind them before Gwen noticed, her laughter dying instantly.
“Felicity?” she said softly, stepping closer slowly. “What happened?”
Victoria set her cup of noodles down at the nearest table, her eyebrows drawing together. “Whats wrong? Who hurt you?” Her voice calm.
Felicity shook her head and wiped her cheeks quickly, trying to play it off like it was nothing, but the tears kept flooding down her face anyways. She hated how weak she felt. She hated how obvious it was. And she hated that she couldn’t even manage to keep up the pretense that everything was fine.
“I’m okay. It’s nothing,” she whispered.
“Girl, it’s obvious you’re not okay,” Gwen said, sitting beside her. “So let us know what’s wrong, if there’s someone who needs an ass whooping.”
Felicity let out halfway between a laugh and a sob. She pressed her palms into her face, trying to catch her breathe. Victoria sat on her other side without a word, just waiting—steady, patient, but clearly ready to pounce on whoever was the cause.
“You know you can speak to us” Victoria murmured. “We’re here, you know.”
And just like that, the wall Felicity tried for so long to keep up had finally cracked. She dropped her hands and bent her head, staring at the bedsheets as the truth came out of her chest, too heavy to carry any longer.
“It’s Leon,” she whispered.
“I knew it. I knew it had something to do with him.” Gwen said.
Victoria folded her arms. “What did he do this time?”
Felicity swallowed, her throat tight. “So we…we slept together.”
The room went quiet. Even the noise from outside suddenly seemed to fade.
Gwen blinked. “As in… slept slept?”
Victoria’s mouth fell open. “Oh.”
Felicity nodded, tears spilling over again. “He told me he’d sorted everything out with Charity. That they were done for real. He looked me in the eyes and said there was nothing between them anymore. And I believed him.” Her voice cracked. “God, I believed him.”
Victoria went over and held her hand. Gwen rubbed her back gently, her earlier shocking turning into protective rage.
“Felicity,” Gwen said softly, “There’s nothing wrong with what you did. You believed someone cared about you that’s all.”
“But I feel so stupid,” Felicity whispered. “He…was my first. That had to mean more.”
Victoria took in a breath, eyes widening again. “he took your virginity?”
Felicity nodded without looking at them.
“Oh babe…” Gwen murmured, pulling her in for a hug.
The silence returned, but this time it was full of understanding. Everyone thinking for a moment of what to say next. Victoria’s expression softened with something close to heartbreak on Felicity’s behalf.
“So you gave him everything because you trusted him,” Victoria said. “And now he’s acting like—what? Like it meant nothing?”
Felicity covered her face again. “He hasn’t replied my messages. Not even a call. It’s like…”
“Like you don’t matter?” Gwen finished quietly.
Felicity nodded. That was it right there. It felt like she had poured her heart and soul into this just for him to let her down, without a care in the world.”
Victoria leaned back, eyes narrowing dangerously. “Leon is actually insane.”
Gwen clicked her tongue. “Very mad. That boy has coconut for brain.”
“How can you tell someone you’ve sorted things with your ex, then go and disappear? Then the next minute you’re right back with her.”
Victoria sighed. “And after taking your first time? Men will embarrass you if you let them.”
Felicity buried her face in a pillow. “Please stop.”
“We will stop when we’re done,” Gwen said, patting her back. “But seriously, babe… you didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t rush. You didn’t throw yourself at him. He made promises. He came to you.”
Victoria nodded firmly. “And you believed him because you’re kind. Not stupid.”
The words pressed into her, tightening her throat until it almost hurt. She nodded, trying to hold back fresh tears.
Then suddenly, the door swung open again.
Derin stepped inside, halting as soon as she noticed Felicity’s face and the way they were gathered on Felicity’s bed. Her eyes moved from Felicity’s red cheeks to Victoria’s clenched jaw and then to Gwen’s tense posture.
“Why is she crying?” Derin asked, frowning.
Felicity wiped her dace quickly and sat up. “It’s nothing. Really you guys. I’m good.”
Gwen raised her eyebrow like, liar, but stayed silent.
Derin stepped closer anyway, concern flickering across her expression. “It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Felicity forced a smile. “Just stressed. School things.”
Victoria scoffed quietly under her breath.
Derin didn’t miss the tension. Her eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping in. She set her bag down and leaned against the wardrobe.
“You know,” she said slowly, “when I was coming in, I kind of heard… little things.” She wasn’t smiling. She wasn’t accusing either. Just curious. “You and Leon have… something?”
Felicity’s heart dropped into her stomach.
Before she could answer, Gwen sat up straight. “Why are you asking?”
Derin shrugged lightly, though her eyes were sharp. “Because I’m confused. I mean… isn’t he Charity’s babe?”
The room froze.
Felicity felt the blood rush to her face. Panic clawed at her chest—she wasn’t ready to talk about this. Not with Derin. Not when she wasn’t sure where Derin’s loyalty lay.
“We’re not talking about that,” Felicity said quickly, her voice thin. “Let’s just drop it.”
Derin blinked, obviously sensing she’d hit a nerve. She raised her hands in surrender. “Okay. Just asking. No pressure.”
But Felicity could feel her watching—thinking—connecting dots that weren’t hers to touch.
Gwen shifted closer to Felicity, almost like a shield. Victoria crossed her legs, expression cool, protective, and uninterested in entertaining Derin’s curiosity.
Derin finally grabbed her bag and walked out of the room, but the air stayed tight and uneasy.
As soon as her back was turned, Gwen leaned close to Felicity and whispered, “Don’t worry. She doesn’t know anything for real.”
Victoria added under her breath, “And she doesn’t need to.”
Felicity nodded shakily. The earlier tears, the confession, the fear—it all sat heavy on her chest. But with Victoria and Gwen on either side of her, she felt… held. Safe.
Broken, yes. Confused, definitely.
But not alone.
And for the first time since the night she gave Leon a piece of herself she could never take back, that was enough to keep her breathing.