Tip Twenty; send naughty messages, tease and entice them.

After Asher leaves the library, the weight of everything presses down on me, making it hard to breathe. I stay frozen in place between the shelves, staring at the empty space where he had been. The quiet of the library feels deafening, and the reality of what I've just done hits me like a brick. I don't know how long I stand there before I finally gather my things and leave.

I need someone. I need to talk to someone. The first person that comes to mind is Charlie. Despite how things have been between us lately, she's still my best friend. I want to believe she'll understand that she'll be there for me the way she always has been.

The drive to their house feels like a blur, and when I park outside, I take a deep breath before climbing out of the car, hoping Asher didn't come home when he left. His car isn't here. My stomach twists with nerves, but I push through it. I need to see her. I need Charlie to tell me everything's going to be okay.

I need my best friend, even if I can't bring myself to tell her everything that's happened recently.

I don't want to break her heart.

I knock on the door and wait. A few moments later, it opens, and there she is. But something's off. Her face tenses at the sight of me, her eyes widening, and the distance between us feels palpable, like a wall I can't break through.

"Hey," I say softly, my voice cracking a little. "Can I come in?"

Charlie hesitates for a moment, and my heart sinks. She steps back, letting me in, and she offers a small smile. "What are you doing here?"

I shrug, feeling out of place. "Wanted to see you."

We sit on her couch, but Charlie doesn't say anything. She's distant, her hands fidgeting in her lap, eyes darting around the room as if she can't quite look at me.

"Charlie..." I start, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's going on between us, but I miss you. I feel like everything's just—falling apart."

She finally meets my eyes, and there's something in her expression I can't place—something guarded and distant. It's like she's here, but not really here with me.

"Ivy..." She starts, her voice soft but strained. "I-" She pauses and blinks, chewing her lip. "I just... I'm sorry I've been distant."

My chest tightens at her words. It's not what I wanted to hear. I came here hoping for comfort, for reassurance, but all I get is more uncertainty. I nod, swallowing down the hurt, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Okay. I get it," I say, though I really don't. "I'm just... Have I done something?"

I know I have, but some part of me thinks maybe Charlie doesn't know, maybe this is something else.

Charlie shakes her head, "No, I-" She stops again, "there's just a lot happening right now."

The silence between us lingers. I wait for her to say something, anything that might make me feel like I haven't completely lost her, but the words never come. Eventually, I can't take it anymore.

"I should go," I say quietly, standing up. Charlie doesn't stop me, and that hurts more than anything else.

As I leave the house, I feel even more lost than before. The ache in my chest grows heavier, and by the time I get home, I'm emotionally drained. I make my way upstairs, wanting nothing more than to collapse onto my bed and shut out the world. But before I can make it to my room, I hear Leon's voice.

"Hey, you okay?"

I pause in the hallway and turn to see my brother standing in his doorway, leaning against the frame with a concerned look on his face. I try to force a smile, but it feels weak. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

Leon doesn't buy it. He steps out into the hallway and crosses his arms, studying me. "You sure? You've seemed... off lately."

I hesitate, debating whether to tell him what's been going on. I've never been good at hiding things from him, and right now, I don't have the energy to pretend.

"Charlie's been acting weird," I finally admit, leaning against the wall. "I don't know what I did, but she's been so distant, and I feel like everything's falling apart."

Leon is quiet for a moment, his brow furrowing like he's deep in thought. I expect him to give me some generic reassurance, but instead, he says, "I don't think it's anything you've done."

The way he says it catches me off guard. I frown, studying his expression. "What do you mean?"

He shifts uncomfortably, glancing down the hallway before meeting my eyes again. "I just... I don't think this is about you, Ivy. I think Charlie's dealing with something, and it's not your fault."

Something about the way he says it makes my heart skip a beat. It's almost like he knows something I don't. "Leon... do you know what's going on?"

He hesitates, his gaze flicking away from mine for a second before he shakes his head. "No, I don't. I just... I have a feeling. You and Charlie, you'll sort it out. Just give it time."

His words offer a small sliver of comfort, but there's still a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that he's holding something back. I don't push, though. I'm too tired, too emotionally drained to dig deeper right now.

"Thanks," I mutter, managing a small smile. "I hope you're right."

Leon gives me a reassuring nod, but the conversation feels unfinished, like there's more he wants to say but can't. He squeezes my shoulder gently before heading back to his room, leaving me standing alone in the hallway.

I retreat to my room, shutting the door behind me and collapsing onto my bed. I pull my pillow over my face, trying to block out the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. But just as I'm about to lose myself in the quiet, I hear a knock on my door.

My heart leaps into my throat, and for a moment, I think it might be Leon again. But when I open the door, I'm surprised to see Charlie standing there.

Her eyes are red, like she's been crying, and she looks more vulnerable than I've ever seen her. For a moment, neither of us says anything, the weight of everything that's been left unsaid hanging in the air between us.

"Ivy," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "I'm not ready to talk about everything, but... I'm sorry. For being distant."

I open my mouth to respond, but the words get stuck in my throat. I want to tell her it's okay, that I understand. But the truth is, I don't. I don't understand why she's been pushing me away, why everything feels so broken between us.

Still, I nod. "It's okay. We don't have to talk right now."

Charlie hesitates, then nods, her shoulders sagging with relief. She glances down at the floor, avoiding my gaze. "Thanks."

The silence that follows is thick and uncomfortable, but I don't push her for more. She's not ready, and maybe, right now, that has to be enough.

After a long moment, Charlie finally steps back, giving me a small, apologetic smile. "I'll... see you around, okay?"

I nod, watching as she turns and walks away, disappearing down the stairs. Once again, I'm left alone, the unresolved tension between us lingering like a dark cloud over my head.

I close the door and lean against it, letting out a shaky breath. Everything feels so tangled, so messed up. Between Asher, Charlie, and whatever is happening with my friendship, it feels like my whole world is slipping through my fingers.

And for the first time in a long time, I don't know how to fix it.