Previously : "My heart's not racing because I'm scared of you…"
She paused.
A soft, shaky breath escaped her lips.
"It's because… I've started to like you."
That quiet confession caught Ellie off guard—even though she was the one who said it.
Her head was still resting on the table, eyes locked on Bella's peaceful face. But now, her chest felt tight. Her thoughts were spinning.
"Wait… Did I just say that?"
The feeling she had toward Bella—it wasn't just a passing thing anymore. It wasn't a joke or a moment. It felt real. Too real.
She blinked. Her heart pounded louder.
"So… that means I like women?" Ellie mumbled, still staring at Bella like the answer might come from her.
It didn't feel wrong. But it felt… unexpected.
Is this really how it feels?
"I mean, my heart must be confused. Maybe I'm just tired," she said to herself, shaking her head like that would help clear it. "That's why it's beating like crazy, right?"
She leaned back and sighed, trying to convince herself.
"All I need is some rest… Once I sleep, everything will feel normal again."
She looked back at Bella.
"Bella, let's go home," she said softly, reaching out to shake her gently.
But there was no real response—just a sleepy, incoherent sound.
Ellie tried again, a little firmer. "Hey, wake up. You can keep sleeping at home."
Still nothing.
The alcohol had clearly knocked her out. She wasn't waking up anytime soon.
Ellie let out another sigh as she stood up. "Alright… guess I'm carrying you," she muttered under her breath.
She carefully leaned down and lifted Bella into her arms. Bella's head naturally rested on her shoulder, her body soft and warm, completely relaxed. Ellie held her a little tighter.
She brought Bella to the car, settled her into the passenger seat, then drove home.
By the time they arrived, Bella was still fast asleep. The streetlight outside cast a soft glow into the car, just enough for Ellie to see her face clearly. She reached over, unbuckled Bella's seatbelt, and gently brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen across her face.
Ellie stared.
Her eyes dropped to Bella's lips—soft, a little parted in sleep—and suddenly, her heart skipped again. Fast and loud, just like earlier.
But she didn't say a word. Not this time. Ellie still wanted to believe it was just exhaustion messing with her head.
"Bell… we're here," she said softly, giving her a gentle shake.
Bella stirred, eyes fluttering open slightly. The alcohol had started to wear off just a little. Their eyes met in the quiet space between them.
"We arrived?" Bella mumbled, her voice soft and sleepy.
"Yeah," Ellie said with a small smile.
"Come on, let's get you inside. You can sleep in your bed."
"I feel so dizzy…" Bella murmured.
"I know. That's why you need to lie down," Ellie replied gently.
She wrapped one arm around Bella's waist and helped her walk toward the bedroom, steadying her step by step. When they reached the bed, Bella didn't even bother to sit properly—she just flopped forward and landed face-down, limbs spread out like a starfish.
"…Are you serious?" Ellie blinked.
Bella groaned into the mattress. "Mmm. So comfy…"
Ellie chuckled under her breath, kneeling beside the bed. "You can't sleep like that, you're still in your dress."
Bella reached behind her back, lazily trying to unzip it. "Ellie… help me…"
Ellie hesitated. "You wanna change first?"
With a sigh, she leaned over and gently pulled the zipper down. Her fingers brushed against Bella's back—smooth, warm, and completely exposed now as the fabric loosened.
Then Bella, still lying face-down, reached under herself and started unclasping her bra.
"Wait—what are you doing?" Ellie said, panicked.
She quickly turned away, her face heating up. "H-Hey, you can change after I leave, you know!"
Bella didn't respond—just kept moving like she didn't care.
"Ugh… finally. That thing was suffocating me," she mumbled into the pillow, voice muffled and sleepy.
Ellie's heart was pounding. She didn't know why she felt so nervous.
"I—I'm gonna go now," Ellie said awkwardly, standing up.
After the door clicked shut, silence filled the room.
Bella stayed still, her face half-buried in the pillow. Her body was heavy, her mind hazy from the alcohol… but her heart?
Her heart was suddenly wide awake.
The truth was—she hadn't really passed out at the restaurant.
She had just… closed her eyes.
The beer she drank in one shot had made her sleepy, sure—but not enough to miss what Ellie said.
Not even close.
Bella heard it.
The words echoed in her ears.
"It's because… I've started to like you."
"Wait… Did I just say that?"
"So… that means I like women?"
"All I need is some rest… Once I sleep, everything will feel normal again."
She remembered every word.
And she froze.
She didn't know what to do or how to react. Her whole body had tensed, but she forced herself to stay still, eyes shut tight. If she opened them, if she looked at Ellie in that moment, she knew the air between them would break.
So she pretended.
She stayed quiet. Played along like the alcohol had knocked her out.
Even when Ellie carried her to the car.
Even when she helped her walk to the bedroom.
Even when she unzipped her dress.
Bella kept acting like she was too drunk to know what was going on.
But the truth was… she had heard everything.
And now that Ellie was gone, now that she was finally alone, the weight of it all hit her at once.
Ellie liked her.
But even Ellie didn't sound sure about it.
Was it real? Or just a feeling born out of confusion and late-night emotions?
Bella pulled the blanket up to cover her face, letting out a shaky sigh.
"Stupid beer… What am I supposed to do now?"
"Why did it have to be her?"
Her chest ached—not because Ellie liked her, but because Bella was scared to believe it.
Scared to hope.
Scared that this was just another almost.
She wasn't ready for another heartache.
Not when she still hadn't fully let go of the last one.
And even though she was still dizzy, and still unsure, one thing was clear:
Tonight changed something between them.