Her Quiet Run

Season 1 --- Chapter 7: The Slide Begins

The morning felt heavier than usual. One of those Nottingham mornings where the air wasn't cold, but it still made your bones ache. Malisa stood at her bedroom mirror, hoodie half-zipped, headphones hanging around her neck blasting LeoStayTrill's latest drop. The bass thumped against her chest, but even that couldn't drown out the tightness sitting under her ribs.

She ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek. Dry.

Her hands were shaking more than usual, so she shoved them into her hoodie pocket like she could hide the tremor from herself.

She hated that she even noticed it.

Downstairs, her dad was slumped on the sofa, legs kicked out, one arm hanging off the side. The cheap bottle he'd dropped last night was still on the floor.

"Morning, Dad."

He didn't move at first. Then a grunt.

"Li...sa? That you?"

"Yeah."

"Be good at school, ay? Don't let anyone stress you out."

He gave a half-smile. Tired. Genuine.

A version of him she barely got anymore.

She nodded, even though he was already drifting back to sleep.

Malisa leaned against the doorway for a second, breathing slowly. She didn't want today to feel like this. Weak. Foggy. Like she was dragging herself through mud.

Her pocket buzzed.

Priya:

"U on the bus yet babes?? Jay's being loud again"

Malisa snorted, the first real sound she'd made all morning.

She grabbed her bag, clipped her Oyster card to her hoodie, and headed out.

* * * * * * * * * *

The bus was packed, full of students and early workers trying to squeeze in an extra five minutes of sleep. As she climbed aboard, she tapped her Oyster card against the reader, the beep sharp in her ears.

Priya's arm shot up from the back.

"Oi! Over 'ere! This boy's moving mad, I swear!"

Jay was rapping loudly to a beat only he could hear, Sienna filming him on her phone while Nia shook her head in disappointment.

Malisa slid into the seat next to Priya.

"You alright?" Priya asked quietly, eyes narrowing.

Malisa forced a smile.

"Yeah. Just tired."

Priya didn't buy it. She never did.

But she let it go. For now.

Jay leaned over the aisle.

"Bro, listen, LeoStayTrill needs to feature ME. I'm telling you, the streets ain't ready."

"The streets aren't ready for that assault on their ears," Sienna shot back.

"Nah, Sien, you're just jealous of my artistry."

The whole bus shook with laughter. Even Malisa smiled, but it felt like it didn't reach her eyes.

Her chest tightened again.

She pressed her thumb into the seam of her hoodie pocket, grounding herself. Focusing. Pretending the pressure helped.

Priya saw. Of course she did.

"You sure you're good?" she whispered.

Malisa looked away.

"I said I'm fine."

Priya didn't argue. But her expression said more than words could.

* * * * * * * * * *

At college, everything blurred.

The hallways felt too loud.

The lights too bright.

Her body too slow.

In English, Eva waved her over.

"You're late, hun. Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Malisa lied again.

She sank into her chair. The words on her worksheet swam slightly, like the page was rippling. She blinked hard until the lines settled.

Jay leaned back in his chair in front of her.

"Yo, after this, we're grabbing fries. You coming?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe means yes."

She didn't respond.

Her leg wouldn't stop bouncing.

Priya, beside her, softly tapped Malisa's knee with her pen.

A silent reminder: breathe.

Malisa inhaled. Exhaled. It didn't help.

The ache in her chest spread into her throat.

Her fingers twitched again.

She looked at her bag.

Looked away.

Then back.

Priya followed her gaze, eyes sharpening.

She whispered,

"Don't."

Malisa froze.

Heat prickled up her neck.

"I wasn't," she whispered sharply.

Priya didn't blink.

"I know what you look like when you're not okay."

Malisa's jaw tightened.

"Drop it."

Priya opened her mouth to speak, but the teacher walked in.

Saved. But also trapped.

* * * * * * * * * *

At lunch, Sienna had dragged them outside to "touch grass and stop looking half dead," her words.

The wind was sharp, blowing leaves across the courtyard. Jay was eating chips like he hadn't eaten in a week. Nia was scrolling her phone, eyes flicking up whenever Malisa shifted too quickly.

Malisa sat beside Priya, who kept glancing at her bag like it was alive.

"Guys, I'm gonna go toilet," Malisa said quietly.

Priya stood immediately.

"I'll come."

"No. Stay. It's fine."

Jay raised a brow.

"What, you scared of toilets now?"

"Jay, don't be an i***t," Nia muttered.

Priya didn't move.

"I'm coming."

Malisa clenched her jaw but didn't argue.

They walked in silence into the empty hallway. The college smelled like old paper and disinfectant.

The moment they stepped into the girls' bathroom, Priya crossed her arms.

"Lis... please don't do this again."

Malisa stared at the floor tiles.

"Do what?"

"You know what."

"I'm not---"

"You're shaking."

Malisa's throat tightened.

Her chest felt like a fist was squeezing it.

Priya softened, stepping closer.

"You don't have to lie to me."

Malisa swallowed hard.

Her voice cracked.

"I'm just stressed, Pri."

"I know. But taking things won't fix it."

Malisa flinched at the word "taking," even though Priya hadn't been specific.

"I'm not addicted," Malisa whispered, almost choking on the words.

Priya's eyes softened.

Not judging. Not angry. Just... sad.

"I never said you were. But I know when you're hurting. And you're hurting right now."

Malisa's breath wobbled.

She pressed her palms to the sink, knuckles white.

Priya gently rubbed her back.

"Let me help you, babe. Please."

Malisa blinked fast, forcing the tears back.

Crying in college toilets wasn't part of her aesthetic.

"I'm fine."

"You're literally not."

"I SAID I'M FINE, PRIYA!"

Her voice echoed off the tiles.

Priya stepped back, startled but not scared.

Malisa covered her mouth instantly, shaking.

"I... didn't mean..."

Priya nodded quietly.

"I know."

Her voice was soft, steady.

"It's the pills. They make everything louder. You're not shouting at me... you're shouting at yourself."

Malisa's lungs squeezed painfully.

Her head felt heavier.

Her hands braced on the sink again.

"I just... I just need to calm down, Priya..."

"Not like that," Priya whispered.

A tear slipped down Malisa's cheek before she could stop it.

Priya pulled her into a hug.

Warm. Tight. Real.

Malisa didn't hug back at first.

Then she collapsed into it, silent, breathing shakily.

"We're gonna help you," Priya murmured.

"All of us. You're not doing this alone."

Malisa squeezed her eyes shut.

Her voice barely a whisper:

"I don't know how to stop."

Priya didn't let go.

"You don't have to know. You just have to let us stay beside you."

Malisa's chest cracked open in a way she wasn't used to.

Not pain.

Not panic.

Just vulnerability.

Terrifying vulnerability.

After a long moment, they pulled apart.

Priya wiped Malisa's cheek with her sleeve, not making it a big deal.

"Come on. The others are gonna think we fell in."

Malisa laughed weakly.

"Jay will have a whole conspiracy theory ready."

"Exactly. Let's go before he names it."

They walked out together.

Side by side.

* * * * * * * * * *

But as they headed back to the courtyard, Malisa didn't notice someone watching her from behind a pillar.

Rico.

Arms folded.

Eyes narrowed.

Jaw tense.

He'd seen everything.

And whatever he was thinking...

It wasn't friendly.