Page 56 of HER SISTER

A tired sigh fell from my lips as I put up the last of my clothes.

We had officially made it back from the cabin trip in the nick of time, especially with New Year's Eve being tomorrow.

Now it was about adjusting back into my normal life before spring classes started in January.

Well, after doing our Secret Santa and attending the New Year's event tomorrow, which Mili seemed to be hosting a gallery event for.

Honestly, everything felt like it had settled down.

Except for the situation with Mya.

We really needed to tell her, and we seemed to finally come to a decision.

We're going to sit her down after New Year's has settled down, so all the big holidays have passed.

That way we can bask in the last holiday before finally spilling the news to her.

I don't know if we would go right into it and say that we're dating or start from the beginning.

I don't think it's something we can really rehearse, instead, I think it works better if we naturally tell her.

Even still, it doesn't make me feel any better.

I know for a fact that she'll be upset, and that's the last thing I wanted.

I'm honestly dreading the look on her face when she hears that we're together—or what she might say.

I've never actually witnessed Mya mad or upset, except for at the cabin when she and Mili managed to get into an argument.

How would this all go down with me being at the other end of it all?

Would she yell at me?

Would she decide that she never wanted to be my friend again?

I mean, I wouldn't blame her if she did.

"Hey Ana, you ready? Everyone's about to be here," Mya suddenly called from my doorway.

I nodded, closing my closet doors, "So ready," I said, forcing a smile as I grabbed one of the wrapped gifts.

I managed to get Willow for Secret Santa, which honestly felt a little too easy.

All I had to get was a new briefcase for her which I managed to fill with candy, office supplies, and gift cards.

Hopefully, she likes it.

Soon everyone was piling into our apartment in our matching Christmas pajamas that we planned—holding gifts, snacks, and drinks.

It almost felt like the cabin all over again, but this time at our apartment.

I honestly can't help but miss the cabin—along with Akeyla and Terrance.

I had a lot of fun there, and it's also where Mili and I solidified everything.

It's so weird to think that I didn't want to go, and I now I couldn't imagine not going.

Honestly, I'm not quite sure if I'll be going home for Christmas next year...

My parents might just have to come on the trip with us.

"I'll get the snacks ready," Willow said.

Ryder nodded, "I'll get the egg nog ready too," he added.

Everyone else got comfortable in the living room between the couch and cover piles we had prepared.

And once we had our snacks and alcoholic egg nog that I swore to only take two sips of due to my last hangover—we were exchanging gifts.

"Oh my god, I needed a new briefcase," Willow said, clearly excited as she held it up.

And as soon as she opened it, more gasps fell from her lips.

"This is so cute—who got me this?" Willow questioned as she looked around the room.

And I didn't hesitate to shyly raise my hand, easily causing Willow to tackle me into a hug.

"Thank you so much, Ana," Willow said as I hugged her back.

I laughed slightly, "Of course," I said as we pulled back from the hug.

Soon everyone else was opening their gifts before it was eventually my turn.

And as soon as I opened the box, my eyes were wide.

"Um," I breathed out awkwardly, taking in the lacy Chanel undergarments.

And as if on queue, I met Arielle's dark eyes, who smiled slightly to herself.

"Hopefully you like it," Arielle said, but we both knew why she got me this.

Or mostly who these were really for.

Mya automatically laughed as soon as she looked down into the box, "Oh okay, I see you Ari," she said, picking up one of the lacy Chanel bralettes.

And I couldn't miss the way, Cam's brows suddenly raised—another person I needed to speak to.

That definitely needed to happen tonight.

I suddenly pulled Arielle into a hug, "Such a thoughtful gift," I said, clearly joking with her as she hugged me back.

Arielle laughed, "So thoughtful honestly," she joked back with me.

And I couldn't lie and say a part of me wasn't excited to show Mili—I knew showing her the gift would go one of two ways.

Well, probably just one.

"Is everything okay?" Cam asked as we stood out on the balcony of our apartment.

Everyone seemed to be dancing to Christmas music and drinking more of the egg nog while Cam and I seemed to be out here, surrounded by tense air.

The contrast between the two felt so weird.

"Yeah, I just wanted to make my feelings clear," I said.

Cam didn't hesitate to nod, "Yeah, okay," she said, leaning against the balcony railing as she waited for my next words.

I sighed slightly, hating how awkward this all felt.

I feel so bad for what I'm about to say, but I know it has to be said.

Not just for Mili but Cam too.

I mean, I'm officially in a relationship now.

This situation with Cam just can't go on.

"I'm just not there fully with you," I whispered, and I hated how mean it sounded, but it was the truth, and in my opinion, it was the best way to put it.

Cam hesitantly nodded, "Oh... okay?" she said, and it was clear that she was slightly confused, but she seemed to cover that up by shaking her head, "Sorry I just wasn't really expecting you to say that," she admitted.

And I couldn't help but nod, "Yeah-yeah, I know. I'm sorry, I should've told you earlier, I just—"

"Ana, it's fine. Seriously, I don't want you to force something if it's not there for you," Cam said, cutting me short before I could manage to ramble like a maniac.

I frowned slightly, "Yeah, I just... it really wasn't you," I tried to explain, hoping that I didn't mess with her head too terribly.

I don't want her to move forward with future love interests, feeling like she does too much or too little of something—all because of a past situation with me.

I know if it was me, I would at least like to know—

"So I didn't do anything wrong?"

I shook my head a few times, "Not at all—seriously this is just more on my end," I assured her.

Cam nodded, "That's really good to hear—I was genuinely thinking I had come off too strong, especially after asking you to take things there that night at the Halloween party," she admitted.

And I could only frown deeper, suddenly realizing her viewpoint of that Halloween party rather than mine.

I had completely abandoned her on the balcony to run after Mili.

Cam never really got an explanation until a few days later, and even still it wasn't a full explanation.

"I'm really sorry for how I handled this, Cam. Really, I should've communicated this so much earlier on," I said, hating how I had treated her.

I knew she was fully there, and I knew I wasn't, yet I still kept leading her on.

Cam only smiled, "It's okay, Ana. You're new to the dating scene, and it's okay to make mistakes—especially with your feelings," she said, and I swear I hated how nice she could be, "Now you've told me your feelings so we can be on the same page."

I nodded, smiling slightly as I said, "Yeah, thank you for being so understanding."

Can only shook her head, "Don't thank me—I couldn't imagine actually being mad at you for not having those feelings for me," she said, and somehow I felt my guilt double.

Because while it was the fact that I didn't have those feelings—it was also that Mili was a part of the equation too, and Cam just didn't know that.

I forced a smile, "We should head back in," I suggested.

Cam didn't hesitate to nod, "Yeah, I think they're doing shots without us," she joked.

I couldn't help but laugh, "They can do all the shots that they want without me," I said, knowing I couldn't touch another shot glass for at least another month.

And soon, Cam and I were inside with everyone else as they all surrounded our kitchen island taking shots of a peppermint vodka.

It was odd, but I already felt slightly relieved just by the talk with Cam.

Now the only person that was left was Mya.