346: RAIN–SOAKED RAGE ARIEL’S POV My blood boiled at the insult. How dare he continue to disrespect us like that? Without a second thought, 1 stormed towards the car, my anger reaching its breaking point. Ignoring Tessa’s protests, I picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it towards the car, aiming for the windshield. The stone struck the glass with a loud crack, leaving a spiderweb of fractures in its wake. For a moment, there was stunned silence, then the man inside the car erupted into a string of expletives. “You crazy bitch!“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” he shouted. I ignored him, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t let him get away with insulting us like that. I grabbed another stone, ready to continue my assault on his car. But Tessa grabbed my arm, her voice urgent. “Ariel, stop! Let’s just go, please. It’s not worth it ” Her words cut through my anger, and I hesitated, the stone slipping from my fingers. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. She was right. This wasn’t worth it. As much as I wanted to lash out, it wouldn’t solve anything. With one last glare at the car, I let Tessa lead me back to our vehicle. As we drove away, my hands trembled with residual anger, but I knew that I had made the right choice. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to walk away, but in this case, it was the only option. “Okay, Ariel. That was really wild of you,” Tessa said, with the both of us still in the car. “Yeah, I know,” I replied, my voice still edged with frustration. “But did you hear said? He can’t just talk to us like that and expect us to take it lying down.” what he Tessa sighed, her grip on the steering wheel tight. “I get it, Ariel; believe me. But escalating the situation like that isn’t going to help. “We need to be the bigger person here.” I clenched my fists, feeling the urge to argue bubbling up inside me. But as I glanced at Tessa’s worried expression, something softened within me. She was right. We couldn’t let this jerk ruin our day any further. “I just can’t stand people like him,” I muttered, sinking back into my seat. “I know neither,” Tessa said softly. “But let’s try to put it behind us, okay? We’ve got better things to focus on.” 214 I nodded, forcing myself to relax. Tessa was always the voice of reason in moments like these, and I was grateful for her calming presence. Taking a deep breath, I turned my gaze towards the road ahead, determined to leave the anger and frustration behind us. “Yeah, you’re right,” 1 sald, offering her a small smile. “Let’s just forget about him and enjoy the rest of our day.” As the rain stopped falling, Tessa and I decided to treat ourselves to some ice cream, hoping it would help shake off the lingering tension from the earlier encounter. “You know, ice cream sounds like the perfect way to lift our spirits after that mess, Tessa suggested, glancing at me with a hopeful smile. I nodded, grateful for her suggestion. “Yeah, definitely. Let’s go indulge ourselves a little.” We drove in silence for a few minutes, the weight of the earlier confrontation still hanging in the air. But as we pulled into the parking lot of our favorite ice cream shop, I could feel some of the tension dissipating. Stepping out of the car, I took a deep breath, letting the cool breeze wash over me. Tessa linked her arm with mine, giving me a reassuring squeeze as we walked towards the entrance. Inside the scent of freshly made waffle cones and sweet treats enveloped us, instantly lifting my spirits. I couldn’t help but smile as we approached the counter, scanning the colorful array of flavors. “What are you in the mood for?” Tessa asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I glanced at the menu, feeling a sense of childlike joy wash over me. “Hmm, maybe something fruity. “I like strawberry or mango.” Tessa nodded in agreement, placing her order before turning to me. “I’ll get the same.“And maybe we can add some sprinkles for an extra treat.” I grinned, nodding eagerly. “Sounds perfect.” While we awaited the scooping of our ice cream into waffle cones, the tension from earlier dissipated. With each passing moment, I found myself relaxing, focusing on the simple pleasure of enjoying a sweet treat with my best friend. Finally, with our cones in hand, we found a cozy corner to sit and enjoy our desserts. The first taste of the creamy, fruity goodness was like a balm to my soul, washing away the last remnants of anger and frustration. “This is exactly what I needed,” I said, smiling at Tessa as we savored each delicious bite. 345: RAIN–SOAKED RAGE 3/4 She nodded, her eyes shining with contentment. “Me too, Ariel.“Me too.” “At least it’s going to make you forget about that ex of yours.” Tessa sighed deeply. “I don’t know, Ariel. We’ve shared lots of moments together. I don’t know if I’m ever going to get over him.” I listened quietly as Tessa spoke, her words carrying a weight of sadness that tugged at my heart. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. “I understand, Tessa,” I said gently, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her arm. But you deserve someone who respects you and treats you right. You shouldn’t have to settle for anything less.” Tessa looked up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know, Ariel. It’s just hard to let go of someone you’ve cared about for so long.” I nodded, squeezing her arm in reassurance. “I get it. But sometimes, holding on to something that’s not good for us only brings more pain in the long run.” She sighed, leaning her head against my shoulder. “I just wish it didn’t hurt so much.” “I know, Tessa. But I promise you, it’ll get easier with time,” I said softly, offering her as little comfort as I could. We sat in silence for a moment, the only sound being the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of spoons against ice cream dishes. But despite the heaviness of our conversation, I felt a sense of closeness and solidarity between us. “Thanks, Ariel,” Tessa said, giving me a small smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. Π I returned her smile, feeling a swell of affection for my best friend. “Anytime, Tessa. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.” While enjoying our ice cream and each other’s company, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. Tessa’s sadness weighed heavy on my heart, and I couldn’t bear to see her hurting like this. “Tessa, I know it’s tough right now,” I began, searching for the right words to offer her comfort. “But you’re stronger than you think. “And you deserve to be with someone who sees your worth and treats you with the love and respect you deserve.” Tessa nodded slowly, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I just don’t know if I’ll ever find someone like that again.” 346 RAIN SHARED RAGE I reached out to wipe away her tear, offering her a reassuring smile. “You will, Tessa “I have no doubt about that. But in the meantime, focus on yourself Rediscover the things that make you happy, and eventually, everything will fall into place” She sniffled, managing a small smile in return. “Thanks, Ariel. I needed to hear that ” “Anytime, Tessa,” I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll be here every step of the way. 347: RECKLESS REACTION