Chapter 29: The Hollow Smile
After that, things didn't get better.
Erica stopped caring about school entirely. She stopped studying, stopped turning in assignments, stopped even trying to pretend she was okay.
But she still smiled.
She still cracked jokes in the hallways. She still laughed with her friends. She still acted like nothing was wrong.
And for the most part, people believed her.
Except for Nicole.
One afternoon, as Erica was heading out of the classroom, she felt someone grab her wrist. She turned and found Nicole staring at her, concern written all over her face.
"Erica," Nicole said softly. "What's going on with you?"
Erica's heart twisted.
She wanted to tell her. She wanted to say, I'm falling apart. I still love you, and it hurts so much I don't know what to do with myself.
But instead, she forced a grin.
"Nothing's wrong," she said. "Why do you ask?"
Nicole's eyes searched hers, as if trying to see past the mask Erica was wearing.
But in the end, she let go.
"Never mind," Nicole murmured.
As Nicole walked away, Erica felt her heart crack just a little more.
And it was killing her.