What We Never Said

The Night Out

The Night Out

Kisha and Ella came over in the afternoon, both of them noisy as usual. I was lying on my bed, pretending to scroll on my phone, but really I was just staring at Charles’s old texts.

Kisha entered first. “Nana, you look like you’ve been buried alive,” she said, dropping her bag on the floor.

Ella went straight to my mirror, already checking her hair. “What’s wrong with you again?”

“Nothing,” I said, but my voice was flat.

Kisha squinted at me. “It’s Charles, abi?”

I sighed and sat up. They always knew. There was no point hiding.

I gave them my phone. “Here. Read.”

They sat side by side, scrolling through the chats. I felt like a criminal waiting for a judgment. Sometimes they laughed at something silly he wrote, but most times their faces turned serious.

Finally, Kisha dropped the phone. “No. I don’t like this guy right now.”

Ella shook her head. “Why is he still talking about his ex? What’s that supposed to mean?”

I hugged my pillow tighter. “I don’t know. I like him so much, but sometimes it feels like I’m just… there. Like he’s not fully with me.”

Kisha crossed her arms. “Girl, you can’t be killing yourself over somebody who’s still looking behind.”

Ella put her hand on mine. “You need a break. Just one night to breathe.”

“A break?” I asked.

“Clubbing,” Kisha said like it was final. “Tonight. All three of us.”

I frowned. “Clubbing?”

“Yes,” Ella said, standing already. “We’ll dress up, look fine, and enjoy ourselves. End of story.”

They didn’t even wait for me to argue. Plans were already flying around the room.

By evening, my room looked like a war zone. Clothes everywhere, makeup scattered across the table, the smell of perfume heavy in the air.

Kisha wore a glittery black dress that caught the light every time she moved. Ella’s outfit was a short red mini that screamed trouble.

Me? They forced me into a silver crop top and a black leather skirt. At first I felt exposed, like I couldn’t breathe, but when I looked in the mirror… I actually looked nice. Different.

“You’re hot,” Kisha said, snapping pictures before I could stop her.

“Too hot,” Ella added, winking. “Charles is going to regret everything.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my smile.

The club was full, music already shaking the walls. Lights flashed everywhere, and people moved like they didn’t have any problems in their lives.

We squeezed to the bar, ordered drinks, and I was just starting to feel the beat when Ella suddenly froze.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

I turned my head—and my stomach dropped.

Charles.

He was there. Sitting with Jesse, my brother, and a few of their friends. But what hurt the most wasn’t just that. It was the girl leaning into him, smiling, touching his arm like she belonged there.

My chest burned.

Kisha saw it too. “Nope. Not tonight.”

Ella squeezed my hand. “Ignore him. He’s not worth it.”

But my eyes wouldn’t leave him.

I pulled away and forced a smile. “Let’s get shots.”

The tequila was sharp, burning down my throat, but after the second one my body felt lighter. By the third, the ache in my chest felt far away.

“Let’s dance!” Kisha shouted, pulling me into the crowd.

The music was heavy, the bass in my chest. We moved, hair flying, laughing, pretending the world outside didn’t exist. For a while, I actually felt okay.

Then I saw him again.

Charles. His eyes were on me.

Something inside me changed. If he could sit there with another girl, then fine. Two can play this game.

I turned and locked eyes with one of Jesse’s friends—David. He was already smiling, waiting. I walked up to him and started dancing.

The music swallowed us. His hands rested carefully at my waist, and I leaned in, laughing like I didn’t care.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Charles still watching.

His girl frowned, but he didn’t look away.

A rush went through me. For once, I wasn’t the shy, quiet one. I was bold. Untouchable.

Kisha and Ella cheered from the side, hyping me up. I laughed harder, let David spin me around, and took another shot.

I danced like nothing could hurt me. Smiled like my heart wasn’t breaking. But deep down, every time Charles’s eyes met mine, I knew the truth.

I still cared.

No matter how hard I tried, my heart was still his.