a/n: i would like to share this very amazing and heartfelt messages ive ever recieved, its selfish of me to keep it for myself so ive decided to share it with you guys. also sorry for short chapter...

this chapter is dedicated to the_Grey_Stride

-

Maria walked silently by herself, her long hair draped across her slender back, her eyes looking downwards- Her aura was indeed very depressing, as if it was Nico di Angelo walking in her place.

She breathed heavily, trying to ignore the aching feeling at her chest, but it only gets worse whenever she closes her eyes and see her.

Yes, her.

Everytime she closed her eyes she would see Eliza with that horrified expression on her face when she was enganged to Alexander.

It hurt her to see Eliza like this, after all- She was her lov---

Friend, she was her friend.

When she saw the lingering tears on Eliza's eyes when her step mother slapped her, she could feel hers.

It pained her to watch as Alexander forcibly pulled Eliza away from John.

But what hurt her more was the fact nor she or Eliza can't do anything to stop it.

They were both helpless.

But what could Maria even do? She was just... Maria.

'You should just give up, you can't help your friend.'

Maria hissed at her inside voices.

'So you just expect me to stand idly by as my bestfriend gets married to a guy she doesn't love anymore?'

'.....Alright then'

Maria gripped the helm of her dress as she neared the mansion.

'How can I help her?'

'You can't.'

'What--'

'Yet, what you need is to get on her level- get higher.'

Maria scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

'You need to upgrade'

"HUH!?" Maria suddenly exclaimed, making a few people stare at her with weird looks.

'Your idea is stupid.'

'Hey, don't blame me- I'm your conscious, so basically it's you having this arguement by yourself.'

'Oh yeah.'

Maria shook her head and went inside the mansion.

-

Maria laid down on her bed, clutching on the plain white sheets. Negativity invaded her mind in only a matter of minutes.

She felt useless, she couldn't even talk to Eliza even if she wanted to, she was too busy for the wedding to even spare a bit of time for her.

She felt pained, she hoped that Eliza can find the time to hang with her, it broke her heart not being able to converse with her even it it was just for a little bit.

Why was she even thinking her pain? She should be thinkinh abouy John or Eliza's misery, they were the victims here, not her.

She was just a nobody.

She felt guilty for being so selfish, her pain doesn't matter, she doesn't matter.

All that matters is her family.

She decided to go to the garden.

-

Maria walked into the depths of the enormous garden, watching the sun as it sets, indicating the end of another day.

She inhaled sharply, trying to prevent the tears that was about to fall.

Why was she even hurting this much? Eliza was just a friend, why does she feel so jealous?

She stopped walking.

She clutched the red fabric on her chest, strained sobs coming out of her sore throat.

But there were no tears.

This was the pain she hated the most. No tears, no noise, just the pain.

"Why...." Maria mumbled, pulling her hair "Why do I feel so... Hurt?"

Maria couldn't take it anymore.

She screamed a heartwrenching cry of pain, a small weight disappearing on her shoulders as she did so.

It still wasn't enough.

She screamed.

Again,

And again,

And again,

And aga--

"MARIA!?"

Maria shutted her mouth when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind.

"Shhh..." The voice hummed, her voice broken "D-don't do that again... Y-you scared the hell out of me..."

Maria felt tears welling up the corner of her eyes "E-Eliza..."

"Shh..."

Maria finally realized the beautiful but painful truth.

The teen held Eliza's hands, gently removing them from her waist "D-don't do this to me please..."

"Maria...?" Maria didn't look at her, instead she looked up the sky.

"I think I know what's wrong with em now." She said, her back faced away from the older woman.

"Babygirl, there's nothing wrong with yo--"

"Don't call me that..." Maria whispered in a voice that was barely even audible "I-I didn't want to believe it at first b-but it's too damn late to take these feelings back.."

Eliza watched as Maria started to tremble "I-I'm such a whore... Crushing on the sister of the same person I used to like..."

Eliza widened her eyes when she realized what she was talking about "Baby, no--"

"Don't." Maria whispered "I-I know now.."

Maria turned around, a single tear falling down from her eyes, shattering Eliza's heart more if possible.

"I've fallen for you at the right place at the wrong time."