vulnerable

57.

a/n: I've been at the beach this weekend and let me just say I'm red as a lobster 😭

Stella was slumped against the headrest of the guest bed. She watched as Hannah shifted through her closet, picking out an outfit for dinner with Chloe. A part of her didn't want to go- whatever plot the actress was trying to create, Stella just wanted to let it unfold. But another part of her wanted to show Chloe that she wasn't some puppy in love. Romance was hard.

"What about this?" Hannah turned with a sleeveless, flowery, dress in her hand.

Stella let out a sigh, shaking her head at the choice. "I don't think it fits right."

"Bullshit." Hannah rolled her caramel brown eyes. She threw the fabric on the bed, running a hand over it like a designer. "It'll show off your boobs."

"Hannah!" Stella whined, snatching the dress into her own hands. It was a turquoise color with white petals trickling down to the hem. The neckline was... generous, so her best friend wasn't wrong.

"What?" Hannah chuckled, crossing her arms like a mom waiting for her daughter to try on the outfits she picked out. "I'm just saying you'll look hot and Chloe will be jealous since she has itty biddies."

"Really? You think mine are bigger?" Stella glanced into the mirror on the wall, twisting her lips around in thought. She shook her head and turned back with a frown, "It doesn't matter."

"Girl she's an iron board. Flat." Hannah threw her hair up in a messy ponytail. "Now sit. Let me do your makeup."

"Yes ma'am." Stella joked.

She sat at the corner desk she'd yet to use. Hannah borrowed a chair from the kitchen and sat on the edge in front of her. All of their makeup supplies were scattered across the wood. Stella had washed off her makeup from the morning to allow Hannah's own makeover. She definitely knew how to do eyeliner better than Stella.

"Your boyfriend was being an asshole earlier." Hannah commented with a groan, swiping her with a fluffy brush.

Stella shrugged her shoulders. "Your cousin hasn't talked to me since."

"Jules would talk to you." Hannah smirked. She started blending some cold foundation on her friend's face.

Stella slapped her knee. "You have to stop bringing up Jules. He's a flirt and I'm taken."

"Yeah yeah." Hannah whined, waving a dismissive hand. "I just think that sometimes you forget how beautiful and great you are. Don't let Gio take that away from you."

"He's not." Stella felt defensive. She thought back to how it felt finding Chloe's messages. Her body slumped a bit. She scrunched her nose, but Hannah leaned back with a frown. Stella sighed. "Do you think he is?"

"It doesn't matter what I think." Hannah went back to blending the foundation. "But... seems like he got too comfortable."

"If Christian needed a place to stay in California, would you let him stay with you and Hunter?"

"Hell no." Hannah shook her head.

"And why is that?"

Hannah gripped her fluffy brush harder. The tips of her fingers turning pale white. "Too much history for us to share a space in front of my fiancé."

Stella gulped. "What if Gio still wants Chloe? Even just a little bit?"

"He better not." Hannah groaned. "But if he does... then maybe he's not the right guy for you."

Stella tried not to tear up. Hannah noticed and lay a warm hand on her shoulder. "But he wouldn't do that to you. He loves you more than anything in this world."

Stella wiped at her eyes, earning a frown from her friend. Hannah patted some more foundation on and went towards the blush. Stella thought back on the times she'd met Chloe. They weren't very great. "I wish you were coming with me."

"And see that bitch!?" Hannah exclaimed, placing a firm fist on her hip. "I'd kill her on sight."

"I might do the same." Stella sighed. "Are you sure you're fine being with Christian for the night?"

"I can handle your brother." Hannah chuckled.

"I bet you can." Stella grinned.

"Shut up." Hannah smacked her shoulder. "We're going to focus on Carolina and Joah."

"They can handle themselves." Stella closed her eyes as Hannah started on the eyeshadow. "Maybe you two should burry the 'ole hatchet."

"Alright miss country girl." Hannah said. "I'll see what he has to say, but he really hurt my feelings last time we talked."

"I know." Stella agreed. "He just wants you to be his."

Hannah paused, making Stella peek one eye open. She glanced out the window for a moment.

"What are you thinking?"

Hannah shook her head. "I'm thinking that I wish life was easier."

"I'm thinking that you still haven't told me the whole truth about Hunter."

Hannah clenched her jaw. "I told you we're good."

"You were in jeans and tennis shoes." Stella rolled her eyes. "You were not good."

"Another time." Hannah waved a hand. "You need to focus on what you're going to say to Chloe when Gio goes to the bathroom. The man has the tiniest bladder."

"What I'm going to say?"

"Yeah like 'what the fuck are you doing bitch' you know, something like that." Hannah shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. "Catch her off guard."

"But what if she tells Gio?"

"Then she's a fucking whore!"

"Whore?" Carolina had opened the door and stood with a confused face. "What's that?"

"Oh shit." Hannah cursed. "Don't repeat any of that."

"It's a bad word, Caro." Stella looked at the youngest Reyna. "Specifically for a girl."

"Are you talking about Chloe?" She grinned like an evil child.

Hannah wiggled her eyebrows. "Possibly."

"Oh, is this what you're wearing Stella? It's beautiful!" Carolina beamed.

"I think so." Stella smiled at her. "We'll see after Hannah finishes up my face."

"Can you do my makeup after?" Carolina asked Hannah with a bright smile.

Stella knew her friend couldn't resist. "Of course!" Hannah said with a grin. "Who you trying to look cute for?"

"No one!" Carolina blushed. "I just want to see what I look like with makeup."

"Alright." Hannah nodded. "Give me a sec with Stella, okay? Go listen in on Gio and then come tell us what he's talking about."

"Okay!" She scurried off in a rush.

Hannah raised a brow, glancing back at Stella. "Does she have a crush on Chris?"

"Yeah." Stella snorted. "She's been very blushy at the mention of him."

"Not her falling for a Pulisic too." Hannah groaned. "The same one."

"Are you almost done?" Stella fidgeted in her chair.

Hannah nodded. "Go get changed. You're gonna look great."