Page 73 of Before We Were

"Mia, hey," I say, brightening despite myself. "Want to sit?"

She smiles, her dark hair catching the light. "Actually, I was just grabbing a quick bite before heading home. You could come over if you're free? It's a ten-minute walk. I could use the company."

There's something in her tone—a hint of vulnerability that makes the invitation feel weightier than casual plans. I pack up my laptop, intrigued by this glimpse beneath her polished exterior.

"Yeah, sure." I had no other plans except maybe drowning in more coffee at home.

Walking with Mia, the conversation flows naturally, though there's an undercurrent of something more, like looking in a mirror and seeing familiar cracks. She opens up about her life: elite boarding schools where success meant perfect scores, relentless academic pressures, and a nomadic existence following her father's business demands. Her stories scatter across continents, each city seeming to have taken a piece of her with it.

When we round the corner, I freeze. The house before us isn't just large, it's something from a luxury magazine. Marble steps gleam, leading to regal columns that stretch skyward. Expansive windows, framed by pristine shutters, reflect the late afternoon light.

"Uhh, this is your house?" I blurt out, unable to mask my astonishment.

Mia gives a small, strained smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Yeah," she says, typing in a gate code with practiced efficiency. "I know, it's a bit... much."

"Mia, this place looks like it's straight out ofThe Great Gatsby." I laugh.

Her laugh is light, but her eyes flicker with a mix of pride and resignation as she looks back at her home. "It's beautiful, but being an only child in a house like this sometimes feels like living in a museum where you can't touch anything."

The garden feels staged, too perfect—no weathered decorations, no evidence of life being lived.

Mia's voice drops when she mentions her dad. "He's... intense. Big shot in business. Forbes 100 and all that.”

"You never mentioned your dad was..."

"The CEO of one of the biggest tech companies out there?" Mia finishes, her smirk tinged with irony. "Yeah, I don't usually start with that. Makes people act weird. Like suddenly they're talking to my father's bank account instead of me."

"Forbes 100 is pretty impressive though. "

She exhales heavily. "Honestly, most days I don't even get what he does. Growing up with all this..." She gestures at our surroundings. "Everyone you meet tends to want something from you, not just friendship. It's like being a fancy store display—everyone wants to look, but nobody really sees you."

I've only known Mia for just over a week, but hearing her open up makes her more real. She's not just the girl with perfect grades and a rich family—she's been under pressure her whole life, trying to meet impossible standards.

"You know," she continues softly, "I used to just hole up in my room with my books studying till sunrise. It wasn't about loving school; it was the only thing I felt I could control."

Makes two of us.

"I'm sorry," she says suddenly, looking embarrassed. "I don't usually talk about this stuff."

"No, I'm really glad you did," I tell her, feeling the weight of my own guarded nature.

As we step inside, the house is more showcase than home—high ceilings, museum-worthy art, and furniture that looks untouched. I turn to Mia. "For what it's worth, I really don't care about any of this. I'm just happy we're friends."

Her smile then is one of the realest things I've seen in a long time. "Me too."

Walking through the house, the walls display family portraits—young Mia in each one, wearing that kind of smile that's more pose than joy. She flops onto a pristine couch, tucking her legs under her.

"I've always kind of felt like the odd one out," she admits. "Even at boarding school, I never really meshed with everyone else."

"Why not?"

She looks off into space, lost in memory. "I was always a homebody, never cared much for the party scene. And I loved riding horses. It was my escape from feeling alone."

“Well I’m glad you found something you love that much."

Her smile brightens momentarily but fades. “I think I’m finally okay with being an outsider. The girls at school just didn't understand. Eventually, I stopped trying to make them."

"I get that. After we lost my dad, trying to fit in anywhere felt... wrong somehow."

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