HAUNTED || chris sturniolo

𝟎𝟐𝟒. the absolute worst idea in the world

CHAPTER 024 -
╰┈➤ ' the absolute worst idea in the world ' ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
「 real life 」

─ real life

THE AFTERNOON SUN HUNG LOW IN THE SKY, casting a warm orange glow over the pavement as cecelia leaned against the hood of zayn's car. they'd been parked in the nearly empty lot behind the local convenience store for about ten minutes now, neither of them saying much. zayn was perched on the edge of the hood beside her, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at the distant horizon.

cecelia could feel the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. zayn had been unusually quiet since they met up, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something sharper, something serious.

"you're thinking too hard," zayn said finally, breaking the silence.

"am i?" cecelia replied softly, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

"yeah." he shifted slightly, turning to face her. "look, i know you don't want to get in the middle of this whole mess with chris and adriana. but... you kinda already are."

cecelia winced, her gaze dropping to the pavement. "i know. it's just—she's still hurt, zayn. she's finally starting to seem okay again. what if this just—"

"makes it worse?" zayn finished for her. "or what if it helps? what if chris actually does something right for once, and they figure their crap out?"

"and what if he doesn't?" cecelia's voice cracked slightly, her brows furrowing. "what if he just hurts her again? i can't—i can't be the reason she gets hurt again, zayn."

zayn let out a sigh, dragging a hand down his face. "cecelia, listen to me. chris is an idiot. a stubborn, cocky idiot. but he's trying. i've seen it. he's trying to fix what he broke. and yeah, there's a chance it could all blow up in his face, but there's also a chance it won't. and if no one gives them that chance, they'll never know."

cecelia's chest tightened as she considered his words. her thumb anxiously rubbed the edge of her sweater sleeve, her mind racing.

"it's not fair that it's on me," she whispered.

"you're right," zayn said softly. "it's not. but sometimes, people need a push. and if anyone can convince adriana, it's you."

the sincerity in his voice made her stomach twist. zayn was right, he usually was. and even though every part of her was screaming to stay out of it, she knew she couldn't.

"fine," she said after a long moment, her voice quiet but steady. "i'll talk to her. but i'm not promising anything."

zayn smirked faintly, nudging her shoulder. "that's all i'm asking."

the next morning at school, cecelia found herself clutching her phone tightly in one hand as she walked through the crowded hallways. she'd been up half the night, rehearsing what she would say to adriana, trying to find the right balance between casual and serious.

but now, standing outside their shared locker, her stomach churned with nerves. adriana was already there, swapping out her books, her long hair cascading over one shoulder as she focused on organizing her things.

cecelia took a deep breath and approached. "hey."

adriana glanced up, her face breaking into a warm smile. "hey, cece. you good? you look kinda..." she trailed off, her brows knitting together in concern. "are you okay?"

"yeah, i'm fine," cecelia said quickly, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "just... tired."

adriana didn't look convinced, but she let it slide, closing her locker and leaning against it casually. "what's up?"

cecelia hesitated. the words she'd practiced so carefully last night suddenly felt heavy on her tongue, stuck somewhere in her throat.

"so... you know how zayn and i have been hanging out a lot lately?"

adriana nodded slowly, her expression neutral. "yeah?"

"well, um, he... he kind of had an idea. and i think it's not... terrible."

adriana tilted her head slightly, her brow lifting. "okay, now i'm curious. what idea?"

cecelia shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting away before returning to adriana's face. "he thought it might be... good if we all hung out. like, the four of us."

adriana's smile immediately faded, her posture stiffening. "the four of us?"

"yeah. me, you, zayn... and chris." cecelia's voice grew smaller as she spoke his name, and she winced as adriana's expression darkened.

"cecelia." adriana's voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing. "please don't tell me you're serious."

"i am serious, adri," cecelia said quickly, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. "just—just hear me out, okay? i know it sounds like the absolute worst idea in the world, but zayn thinks it might help. chris... he's been trying. and—"

"and what?" adriana cut her off, her voice low but tight. "he's been trying? trying to what? undo everything he did? trying to make me magically forget how humiliated i felt? how hurt i was?"

cecelia flinched, her shoulders curling in slightly. "i know. i know, adri. and i'm not saying you have to forgive him, or talk to him, or even look at him. but maybe... maybe this could give you some kind of closure. or at least let you see if he's actually changed."

adriana's arms crossed tightly over her chest, her gaze hard and unyielding. for a long moment, she didn't say anything, and cecelia felt her stomach sinking.

"i don't know, cece," adriana said finally, her voice quiet but firm. "i don't think i can do that. i don't think i want to do that."

"you don't have to decide right now," cecelia said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "just... think about it, okay? that's all i'm asking."

adriana's lips pressed into a thin line as she looked away, her gaze focused on the bustling hallway behind cecelia.

"fine," adriana said eventually. "i'll think about it. but i'm not promising anything."

"that's all i wanted," cecelia said, relief flooding her voice.

the bell rang overhead, signaling the start of their next class. adriana turned and walked away without another word, her shoulders tense and her steps quick.

cecelia watched her go, her stomach still tied in knots. she knew this wasn't over, not even close. but at least adriana hadn't slammed the door shut completely.

it was a start.

evie speaks
we're getting there!