should've known peace wouldn't last.
It never does.
Especially not in my life.
The next day started normal.
Too normal.
Which honestly should've been my first warning.
Ethan dropped me off at the shop that morning before heading to work.
Nothing dramatic.
Just small soft stuff.
"Text me when you eat."
"Drive safe."
"Don't forget me when you get rich."
"Idiot."
Simple.
Easy.
Comfortable.
Like we were finally settling into something stable.
And my guard?
Yeah.
It lowered a little.
Big mistake.
Around noon, the shop door flew open so hard the bell almost fell off.
Not opened.
Flew.
Like someone didn't believe in doors.
"I SWEAR THIS STREET STILL SMELLS THE SAME!"
A loud voice filled the shop.
My cousin and I both jumped.
"What the—"
Then she walked in.
Ava.
Same curly hair.
Same easy smile.
Same confident energy like the whole world was her living room.
She had sunglasses on her head and a drink in her hand like she was just casually strolling through life.
She spotted me instantly.
"Oh! Mira, right?"
I forced a polite smile. "Yeah."
She walked straight up to the counter like we were old friends.
"No joke, I got lost like three times trying to find this place again. Your roads are still confusing."
"…okay?"
She laughed. "Sorry, I talk too much when I'm bored."
Yeah. I can tell.
"What can I help you with?" I asked.
Professional voice.
Calm.
Neutral.
Inside?
Side eye fully activated.
"I came to say hi," she said.
"…hi?"
"And also," she added casually, "Ethan didn't answer my calls, so I figured he's probably here with you."
My eye twitched.
Figured??
Why would you just assume that??
"He's at work," I said.
"Ohhhh." She nodded like that made perfect sense. "Makes sense. He always pretends to be responsible."
Always.
Again with the always.
Why do you know so many things about him?
I hated how every sentence felt like a reminder that she existed in chapters I never saw.
She leaned on the counter.
"You guys close late?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. I'll wait."
Wait??
My brain froze.
"…wait for what?"
"For him," she said like it was obvious. "I haven't seen him in like four years. I need to annoy him in person."
Excuse me ma??
You can't just—
Before I could respond, she had already grabbed a chair and sat down like she owned the place.
My cousin whispered, "Who is that hurricane?"
"I don't know," I muttered. "But I'm stressed."
Three hours.
She stayed three whole hours.
Talking.
Nonstop.
About random stuff.
Abroad stories.
Her terrible cooking.
How she once broke Ethan's bike when they were kids.
"He cried for like two days," she laughed.
I blinked.
Ethan? Crying? Over a bike?
Why does that feel weirdly cute?
Stop it, Mira. Focus.
"You should've seen him when he was small," she continued. "Big head, skinny legs. Always fighting people bigger than him."
I accidentally smiled.
She noticed.
"See? You get it," she said. "He's soft inside. Just acts tough."
Yeah…
I know that.
But hearing it from you feels illegal.
It felt like she was flipping through his childhood album out loud.
And I was just… listening.
Like a guest.
I didn't like that feeling at all.
Around 5PM, my phone buzzed.
Ethan:
"On my way to you."
My heart did that stupid flip again.
Before I could even reply, Ava peeked over the counter.
"Is that him?"
"…yeah."
Her face lit up like a child on Christmas.
"OH MY GOD."
Relax please??
She stood up immediately, fixing her hair.
Why are you fixing your hair??
Why am I noticing that??
Why am I suddenly irritated??
I hate jealousy.
It makes you irrational.
And I hate feeling irrational.
Five minutes later, Ethan walked in.
And everything happened too fast.
The bell rang.
He stepped inside.
Looked tired like usual.
Then—
"AHAHAHA ETHAN YOU UGLY IDIOT!"
She launched at him.
Actually launched.
Jumped and hugged him full force.
My brain short-circuited.
EXCUSE ME???
He stumbled back. "Whoa— AVA?!"
She was laughing so loud the whole shop turned to look.
"You got taller! And uglier!"
"You're insane!" he laughed.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Comfortable.
Too comfortable.
They looked so natural together.
Like muscle memory.
Like this wasn't new.
Like she'd always been there.
And suddenly…
I felt invisible.
Just standing there watching.
My chest tightened in a way I didn't expect.
Not because it looked romantic.
It didn't.
It looked stupid and chaotic and childish.
But that's what hurt.
Because they had something easy.
Something old.
Something that didn't need effort.
And I'm here fighting for space in his present.
He finally noticed me.
"Oh— Mira," he said quickly, pulling slightly away from Ava. "You remember I told you about her?"
I nodded.
Smile tight.
"Yeah. The chaos."
Ava gasped. "EXCUSE ME??"
He pointed at her. "See? Chaos."
She shoved him. "Rude!"
They started arguing immediately.
Like siblings.
Actually siblings.
And weirdly…
That made me relax a little.
Because there was zero tension.
Zero romance.
Just pure nonsense energy.
Still…
My chest wasn't fully calm.
Because sometimes it's not about love.
It's about place.
And I still wasn't sure where mine was.
Ava suddenly turned to me.
"You're dating this fool? Respect. You're strong."
"…thanks?"
She grinned. "Don't worry. I don't steal people's boyfriends. Too much stress."
I choked.
WHAT KIND OF SENTENCE IS THAT??
She laughed at my face.
"I'm joking!"
I didn't laugh.
She laughed harder.
Ethan sighed. "See what I deal with?"
But something in me whispered quietly…
Jokes always have a little truth inside.
And I don't fully trust this girl yet.
Not one bit.