Chapter 255: Alone With A Friend
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The moment I knocked on Gigi’s door, it swung open as if she was already waiting there, her ear practically glued to the wood. There she was, decked out in baggy flannel pajama pants covered in tiny cartoon cats, and an old band tee that had definitely seen better days.
Her hair was piled high in a messy bun, held up by what looked like a chopstick. No pastel makeup, no judgment, just Gigi, exactly who I needed right now.
Without asking what had happened or why I was standing on her porch with a duffel bag and red eyes at nine-thirty on a school night, she stepped forward and wrapped me in a hug that felt like it could keep all my shattered parts together, if only for a little while.
"You look like fucking trash," she said softly against my shoulder, her tone gentle enough not to hurt.
I let out a watery laugh that came out more like a hiccup. "I feel worse."
She squeezed me tightly once more before letting go just enough to shut the door behind us and guide me toward the stairs. The house smelled like cinnamon from a candle her aunt had lit in the living room, mingling with that familiar scent of laundry detergent that always clung to Gigi’s clothes.
We shuffled upstairs in our socks, mine still wet from the snow and she nudged me into her bedroom without even turning on the light, just relying on the soft glow from the string lights over her headboard and a little crescent moon lamp on her nightstand.
She piled every spare blanket and pillow onto the floor, creating this cozy nest that was both ridiculous and perfect at the same time. A minute later, she returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with mini marshmallows and a plate of slightly stale ginger snaps she’d probably snagged from the kitchen.
We settled in among the pillows, leaning back against the bed, our knees brushing, the warmth from the mugs seeping into our hands.
For a while, we didn’t say anything. The house creaked as it settled, the clock on her dresser ticked softly, and the snow tapped quietly against the window. Gigi sipped her drink slowly, giving me the space to just be without needing to fill the silence.
I found myself staring at the marshmallows melting into my chocolate and tried to recall the last time I’d felt this safe.