They Are Sisters

In the cozy living room—its white walls softened by pink curtains, a pair of stereo speakers flanking the corners, and a single long settee anchoring the space. Freya sat, engrossed in her phone. Ava’s cheerful voice broke through her focus.

“Here you go,” Ava said, handing her a steaming cup of coffee.

Freya’s face lit up. She set her phone aside and took the cup, inhaling deeply. “Mmm, this smells amazing,” she said, taking a sip.

“Whoa, Ava, this is superb,” she praised, taking another drink.

Ava grinned and settled beside her, folding one leg beneath her. “You still haven’t told me what happened between you and Caleb,” she said, her tone patient as she studied Freya’s face.

Freya’s smile faded. She placed the cup on the tea table and sighed. She didn’t want to admit how unsettled she felt. Her emotions were confusing, but she reminded herself: she and Caleb were just friends. Besides, he wasn’t even her type. It couldn’t possibly be love.

Shaking her head decisively, she replied, “You know Caleb and I are like cat and mouse—we argue over the smallest things. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Ava raised an eyebrow. “Then why did he suddenly change his mind about coming to my place?”

Freya inhaled sharply, then chuckled. “You just don’t know Caleb well enough. He does that all the time. I’m not surprised.”

Ava continued to watch her, clearly sensing that something was amiss. But why were neither of them willing to talk about it?

Noticing the curiosity in Ava’s eyes, Freya waved her hand dismissively. “Enough about Caleb and me. Who was that hot guy who seemed head over heels for you?”

She grinned, but was taken aback by the shadow that crossed Ava’s face.

“That was Cole. My ex-boyfriend,” Ava said quietly, staring at the speakers.

Freya’s mouth formed an ‘O’. From Ava’s expression, it was clear that Cole had hurt her deeply, leaving a lasting scar.

Sensing the awkwardness, Ava glanced at Freya and noticed the concern etched on her face. She forced a smile.

“What’s with that look, Freya? You’d think I’d died or something,” she joked.

She was surprised to see tears welling up in Freya’s eyes.

“Don’t joke about that, Ava,” Freya said sternly.

Ava couldn’t help but find her friend’s concern endearing. She was crying on her behalf? She wondered what Freya would have done if they’d known each other back then.

Ava moved closer to Freya and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks before pulling her into a warm hug.

“Don’t think about him, Ava. He’s a loser,” Freya said firmly, her voice softening as she rubbed Ava’s back tenderly.

Ava smiled, a beautiful but bitter smile. She was beginning to forget him, and she felt proud of herself for how she’d managed to brush him off earlier at school.

When they finally pulled away, Freya quickly wiped the remnants of tears from her face. “I’m sorry, Ava. I cry too easily.”

Ava flashed a grin, her dazzling white teeth brightening her face. In that moment, she felt a deep affection for Freya, something about her reminded Ava of Hazel. She suddenly wished Freya were her sister.

Freya’s eyes drifted to the speaker. Her face lit up. “Let’s dance, Ava!”

Before Ava could protest, Freya jumped to her feet and switched on the speaker. Loud music burst through the room, vibrating through the floorboards.

Ava’s jaw dropped. “Freya—” she started, but stopped herself, glancing nervously toward the door. If Charlotte walked in and saw someone using her stuff…

Freya was already swaying her slender body to the rhythm, lost in the beat. But Ava, filled with anxiety, rushed over and switched off the speaker.

Freya froze mid-dance. She turned to Ava, a deep frown forming across her face.

“Why, Ava? I was enjoying that rap. Don’t kill my vibe, please,” she said, her tone a mix of authority and disappointment.

She marched right back to the speaker and turned it on again.

Ava stood there, lips pressed into a thin line, watching Freya dance with infectious energy. Just as she felt a flicker of amusement rise, the door suddenly swung open.

Charlotte stood at the entrance and behind her, a tall, imposing figure loomed.

Ava’s heart dropped.

Panic surged through her. She stumbled back to the speaker and turned it off again.

“Ava, you—” Freya’s voice trailed off as her eyes settled on the two figures in the doorway.

A woman and a man.

She recognized the man immediately. She had seen him before and, recalling who he was to Ava, her expression contorted with surprise.

“What the fuck is going on here, Ava?” Charlotte asked, her voice deceptively calm as she stepped into the room, throwing Freya a cold, who-the-hell-are-you look.

Ava raised her head. “Nothing, Charlotte. This is Freya, my friend,” she said simply, praying her sister wouldn’t cause a scene in front of her guest.

Ava, however, didn’t seem to have noticed the man behind Charlotte. 

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Are you insane? How dare you bring a stranger into this house? What gave you the nerve, huh?” she snapped, her voice rising with fury.

“I just told you—she’s my friend,” Ava replied calmly, though her heart was tangled in knots.

“And who gave you permission to invite people here?” Charlotte shot back, her tone biting, her cold gaze fixed on Ava like a blade.

Freya could no longer bear Charlotte’s cruel attitude.

“Is there a problem with her having a friend over?” she asked in a low, strong voice, stepping forward without hesitation.

Charlotte’s eyes flicked to Freya, scanning her beautiful, heart-shaped face, now flushed with fury.

She scoffed. “Who are you talking to?”

Freya met her glare head-on. “I’m talking to whoever decides to answer.”

Her voice rang with clarity and force, and the fierce gleam in her eyes could have cut through steel. Even the blind would have noticed it.

Throughout the heated exchange, Cole remained quiet—silent as a mouse. He stood awkwardly near the doorway, unsure of what to do or say, hoping the drama would subside on its own. His gaze kept drifting back to Ava, whose frantic attempts to keep things from spiraling were painfully visible.

“Please, Charlotte. Don’t be upset,” Ava pleaded softly, her voice laced with desperation. She just wanted peace.

Charlotte shot her a glare. Her mouth opened to speak, but before she could say a word, Freya exploded.

“Will you stop begging her, Ava? How could you ask her for forgiveness when she’s clearly the one in the wrong?” Freya snapped, her voice trembling with frustration. At this point, she didn’t care who Charlotte was. The injustice was too loud to ignore.

“Girls,” a deep voice called out, slicing through the tension like a knife.

Ava’s head whipped around, eyes wide in shock. Until that moment, she hadn’t even realized anyone else had entered the room.

But there he stood.

Cole.

A cold shiver ran through her spine as their eyes met. Her breath caught. She stared at him, paralyzed, her mind trying to catch up with the sudden rush of emotions.

It felt like the world had tilted.

Of all people… he was here?

A wave of despair surged through her. To her, Cole was the most heartless person she had ever known. And yet, here he was, boldly walking into her home and daring to face her after everything he’d done.

Could anything be more cruel?

Her eyes burned. She didn’t realize the tears had gathered until they spilled over, uninvited, tracing silent paths down her cheeks.

Before she could turn away to hide her pain, it was too late.

“That’s enough, Charlotte. Just let it go,” Cole said gently, placing a hand on Charlotte’s shoulder as if to pacify her.

Charlotte turned to him with a sugary smile, her voice feigning remorse. “Babe, I’m sorry I lost my temper in front of you. My sister can be so… upsetting sometimes,” she said sweetly, pouting and lowering her head in mock guilt.

Cole offered a weak, awkward smile, clearly uncomfortable. He could feel the heat of Freya’s glare from across the room.

Freya was stunned. She blinked rapidly, trying to process what she’d just heard.

Babe?

Sister?

Her jaw slackened slightly as the realization hit.

Charlotte and Ava were sisters.

And Cole… dated both?

She didn’t know whether to scream or laugh at the absurdity of it all. Her gaze snapped back to Ava, whose trembling lips and teary eyes told her everything she needed to know.

Ava was breaking.

And Freya? She was ready to burn the whole place down.