Chapter 30: Settling them up

Dorah sat there, staring at Helena, her mind racing to process what she had just heard. Set them up together? She blinked a few times, not sure if Helena was serious. The words still echoed in her head, her thoughts tangled in disbelief. "Helena, are you for real right now?" Dorah asked, her voice tinged with disbelief, though she tried to keep her tone calm. Helena's eyes widened with hope, and she leaned forward slightly, clasping her hands together like she was about to make a heartfelt plea. "Please, Dorah. I know it's a lot to ask, but I really want him back. We were good together... before you came into the picture." Her voice wavered slightly, as if the weight of the memory was heavy on her heart. Dorah felt a knot form in her stomach. She had always known there was something unresolved between Helena and Jace, but this was the last thing she expected. She sat there for a moment, trying to make sense of what had just been said. Set them up together? She shook her head internally, wondering how Helena could even ask something like that. "Helena," Dorah began slowly, choosing her words carefully as she leaned back in her chair. "I didn't do anything to ‘steal' Jace from you. He and I... we're just friends. And we don't owe anyone anything. If he felt something for you, that's between you two, but don't expect me to be the one to fix things." Helena's hopeful expression faltered for just a second, but she quickly composed herself, her gaze softening. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the emotions that seemed to be rising within her. "But you two are close, right?" she pressed, desperation creeping into her voice. "You could at least talk to him, convince him to give us another shot. Please, Dorah, just help me out here." Dorah felt a slight pang of sympathy, but she couldn't ignore the discomfort that was swirling within her. This isn't my problem. Her thoughts drifted back to the tension between her and Helena, the awkwardness of their past interactions, and how much Jace had changed since they were all close. She shook her head gently, still trying to maintain composure. "Look, Helena," Dorah continued, her voice steady but firm. "I don't think it's that simple. People don't just get back together because someone else says so. If Jace wanted to be with you, he would've already made that decision. Besides, we're not in high school anymore. We all need to move on." Her voice softened, realizing the pain Helena must be feeling, but Dorah wasn't about to get tangled in this. Helena's face briefly clouded with disappointment, the brief flicker of hope in her eyes quickly diminishing. She looked down at her hands, her fingers curling slightly in her lap as if she were trying to hold herself together. "I get it," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just thought... maybe you could help. You know, make it easier." Dorah sighed, her chest tightening with a mix of frustration and sympathy. I get it, she thought to herself. Helena's still holding onto something that's long gone. "Helena, I'm sorry, but I can't do that. You need to figure this out with Jace, not me." She paused, trying to make her point clear, though she knew it would sting. "You can't expect me to solve this for you. It's not my place." Helena's expression fell, her shoulders slumping slightly as if she had just been dealt an unexpected blow. She bit her lip, clearly trying to hide the hurt. After a long pause, she simply nodded, though her eyes betrayed the disappointment she felt. "I guess you're right," she said softly, her voice quieter now. "Thanks anyway." As Helena stood up to leave, Dorah couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. She didn't want to be so blunt, but there was no way she could pretend this situation didn't bother her. But what was I supposed to say? She thought, running a hand through her hair. Helena had to face the reality that Jace had moved on, whether or not she was ready to. Helena began to walk away, her footsteps echoing in the quiet classroom. Dorah watched her for a moment, wondering if she would ever truly get over Jace. Would they ever really work things out? That question lingered in Dorah's mind long after Helena had disappeared from view. Dorah shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. This isn't my drama to deal with. She turned back to her desk, where her bag sat, untouched for the moment. The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and Dorah quickly grabbed her things, determined to move on from the uncomfortable conversation. There was no use dwelling on it. As she entered the classroom, Dorah noticed the hushed whispers and glances from her classmates. She could feel eyes on her, some curious, some judgmental. She walked past them with her head held high, brushing off the tension in the room. She didn't have time for the drama today, she had enough of her own on her plate. Sitting at her desk, Dorah glanced around and spotted Emma's empty seat. I knew she wouldn't be here today, she thought with a small smirk. Emma always had her own way of starting the school year, usually by making a dramatic entrance or not showing up at all. But Dorah didn't mind. It gave her time to think without her best friend around to interrupt her thoughts. As Dorah settled into her chair, she couldn't help but replay the conversation with Helena in her mind. She had never been one to get involved in other people's romantic entanglements, but something about this situation felt different. Jace and Helena's past was complicated, and even though she didn't have romantic feelings for him anymore, it was clear that Helena wasn't ready to let go. What should I have said? she wondered, the words still echoing in her mind. The bell rang again, and the classroom slowly began to fill with students, distracting Dorah from her thoughts. She didn't have time to dwell on Helena's request, today was a new day, and there were plenty of other things to focus on. But as she sat there, ready to face whatever came next, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the last time Helena would ask her for help. How long can I keep avoiding this? Dorah wondered. But for now, she pushed the thought aside. One day at a time.