Red.

NADIA

The night before that

I got out of my car, locking it behind me as I walked into the pizza shop. I had been searching for Blue and the guys for what felt like hours, and finally, I had gotten a tip that they were here. I shoved my hands into my hoodie pockets, my eyes scanning the dimly lit restaurant for any sign of them.

As I opened the door, the aroma of fresh dough and melted cheese hit me, and my stomach growled in response. But I wasn't here for the food - I was here to relax with my friends.

My eyes scanned the room, taking in the handful of customers scattered about. And then, I saw a guy - a guy with light brown hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing a pizza apron.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by his question. "Yes," I replied, my voice a little sharper than I intended. "Do I look that bad?"

He shook his head quickly, his eyes darting away from mine. "No, no, that's not what I meant. I just...I don't want you to think that..."

I sighed, not having the energy to deal with this right now. "It's alright," I said, cutting him off. "I'm just looking for someone."

He nodded, his eyes still fixed on mine. "I'm Giovanni," he said, holding out his hand.

I took it, "Nadia," I replied, my eyes scanning the room again. "Have you seen a girl with blonde cornrows? Small eyes and my height?"

"Oh yes," Giovanni responded, looking to the back and then, I saw them - Blue and Anthony, sitting at a table in the back, surrounded by books and a half-eaten pizza. I thought Ishan was with them?

"Thanks," I said to Giovanni, not looking back as I walked towards the table. I sank into the empty seat, my eyes closing instantly.

"Whoa, what's going on with you?" Anthony asked, pulling down my hood and revealing my face. I resisted the urge to swat at him, grateful for the warmth of my hood on the chilly day. "You look absolutely terrible," he added, earning a stern glance from Blue.

"Anthony!" she chided, her voice low and warning. He raised his hands in surrender and returned to his books, as Blue reached for my hand. I took it gratefully, her warmth and concern a balm to my frazzled nerves.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked softly, her eyes searching mine. I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to burden her with my problems.

I didn't want to dampen the mood or bring my baggage into this moment, so I shook my head. "No, let's focus on studying for our biology test. Vicky and I didn't get to cover everything, and I'm not in the mood to fail." I sent a quick text to Vicky, asking her to bring my book to school the next day, and for now, I was grateful for Blue's textbooks and notes.

"I doubt you will," he said, his eyes not leaving his book. His confidence in me a small boost to my flagging spirits.

Anthony looked up from his book, a confused expression on his face. "Guys, can someone explain something to me? I'm stuck on this one question."

Blue and I exchanged a look, and I nodded. "What's the question?" I asked, curious.

"It's about gene expression," Anthony said, furrowing his brow. "How does the lac operon work, exactly?"

I smiled, happy to explain. "Okay, so the lac operon is a genetic switch that regulates the expression of genes involved in lactose metabolism. Basically, it's a way for bacteria to adapt to different environments."

Anthony leaned in, interested. "How does it work, Nadia?"

Blue launched into a detailed explanation, using examples from our textbook to illustrate the concept. Anthony listened intently, his eyes lighting up with understanding.

"Ah, I get it now," he said, nodding. "Thanks, ladies. You're absolute lifesavers."

We continued studying, quizzing each other on different biology concepts. As we worked, I felt my worries slowly slipping away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and focus.

Giovanni brought some pizza on the house and Blue looked at us, the edges of her lips curling and I internally rolled my eyes, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

After a while, we took a break and started playing some games, laughing and joking around. For a moment, I forgot about everything else - my family drama, my stress about the test - and just enjoyed the company of my friends.

It was a small respite, but it was exactly what I needed. And as we packed up our things and said our goodbyes, I felt a sense of gratitude towards Blue and Anthony. They had no idea what I was going through, but they were there for me anyway. And sometimes, that's all you need.

As the night wore on, Blue and Anthony said their goodbyes, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I sat in silence, sipping my cola, the acidity burning my throat. Giovanni's voice broke the stillness. "Hey, is there anything you need?"

I looked up, hesitant. "Are you allowed to sit?" I asked, not wanting him to get in trouble.

He smiled. "My shift is over, so I'm good."

I returned a faint smile, grateful for his company. "Are you close with your family?" I asked, hoping I wasn't prying too much.

To my surprise, he opened up. "I am actually."

I took a deep breath, venturing further. "What would you do if they were hiding a secret from you?"

Giovanni's expression turned thoughtful. "Well, it depends on what it is," he said with a shrug. "But even if it's something bad, it's always better to talk about it. That way, you'll know exactly what to do. And if nothing changes, at least you'll know where you stand."

His words struck a chord. "Again, thank you, Giovanni." I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "I better get going. See you around."

He smiled. "See you."

As I left the pizza shop, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I checked my phone, realizing I had missed multiple calls from my brother and that it was past 3 am.

I needed to head back soon. But this time, I felt more at peace, thanks to Giovanni's advice. I got into my car, feeling a sense of hope.