The afternoon sunlight slanted across the campus, warm but soft, brushing the tops of the trees near the sidewalk. Lily's watch beeped softly in her mind before she even looked at it.
She had to go home.
Too far.
Too complicated.
And yet… she couldn't quite will herself to leave.
Her gaze shifted to Mira, whose laughter still lingered like a faint melody, shaking slightly with relief but real this time. Mira's shoulders were squared now, her chin lifted just enough for Lily to see the light catch on her golden hair, the green of her eyes alive again.
She looks fine, Lily thought.
But is it okay if I leave her behind?
The question clung to her chest, weighty and quiet.
Then she felt it—before she saw it.
The air shifted with a familiar scent. Clean. Slightly floral, but not sweet. Expensive.For a second, she was back on the bus again, remembering how close he'd been… how he'd smelled.
Her heart skipped.Almost involuntarily, her gaze lifted.
It was Aiden. And next to him, Jake his eyes fixed on Mira, worry written plainly across his face.
Jake
He came first, his blue eyes scanning for Mira. Relief softened the sharpness there, smoothing it over like he'd been carrying a weight.
"I've been looking everywhere for you," he said, pretending irritation, the words clipped, but Lily could see the corner of his mouth twitch.
"And here you are… stealing candy with little Lily."
Mira blinked, then giggled softly, holding up her lollipop like it was a serious argument.
"You want it?" she teased. "Too bad. I'm not giving you."
Jake groaned dramatically.
"Hah—please. I'm not a child like you."
But the warmth in his eyes lingered anyway, the way he watched her carefully even as he complained. Lily noticed the faint rise and fall of his shoulders, the tension in his hands that relaxed once Mira smiled.
Aiden stood a step behind, quiet enough to fade into the background. His gaze shifted from Mira to Lily, measured and patient. He wasn't interrupting the moment ,just holding space for it, as if he already understood more than he was letting on.
Mira and Jake's voices bounced around each other in teasing rhythm, filling the space with their familiar chaos.
Lily's lips twitched before she could stop it. A small smile slipped through—soft, unguarded.
And then—
Aiden looked at her.
Not in passing. Not by accident.
Their eyes met.
For a moment too long to be polite. Too long to be nothing.
The smile faded from both of them, not because it vanished—but because it no longer fit the weight of the moment. They simply looked at each other, still, aware, as if time had slowed just enough to notice.
Lily's chest tightened.
Her breath caught—just slightly, barely enough to register—but she felt it. Her fingers curled around the strap of her bag, grip tightening without thought, grounding herself to something real.
The world thinned.
The sunlight spilling through the trees blurred at the edges. The teasing voices nearby faded into noise. Even the movement around them seemed to fall away.
There was only him.
Standing there. Looking at her.
And then the heat reached her face—sudden, undeniable.
Lily broke first.
She looked away quickly, lowering her gaze, turning her face just enough to hide the color blooming across her cheeks. Her heart beat too fast, too loud, like it was giving her away.
The moment lingered anyway—quiet, unfinished—settling somewhere deep in her chest, long after her eyes had left his.
He cleared his throat. Quiet. Controlled.
"Winslow," he said, her surname rolling off his tongue with a deliberate calm that made her insides warm and cold at the same time.
"I think we should talk."
His eyes searched hers, steady but searching, trying to measure her, find the little reactions she hadn't noticed.
Lily felt again her heartbeat spike, fast, uneven, like it was trying to escape her chest. She swallowed, cheeks warming, fingers twisting the strap of her bag. Slowly, carefully, she met his gaze.
Aiden glanced aside at Mira and Jake, their laughter still bright but softer now, then returned his attention to her.
"…I'm sorry," he said, voice low, steady, yet carrying a tremor that was almost too small to notice.
"What I said earlier… I was just thinking about her."
He reached back, fingers threading briefly through his hair, like he was buying himself time. Like he didn't know what to do with the sudden attention.
Lily noticed everything.
The way his hand stilled before dropping. The way his posture shifted, then settled again.
A quiet breath left her lips.
It wasn't meant to mean anything.
But it did.
"It's okay," she whispered. "Really."
Her gaze dropped, brushing the ground. Fingers fidgeting with her bag strap, the leather soft under her touch. Her shoulders lifted a fraction, a small exhale escaping her lips, the tension in her chest easing slightly.
"I… I want to be her friend," Lily admitted, voice quieter still. "I really do."
Her heartbeat thumped in her ears. Fast. Loud. Unsteady.
Then she lifted her eyes, meeting his again, shy, hopeful, trembling just enough.
"I see myself in her."
Aiden didn't answer right away.
He didn't need to.
His eyes lingered. On her brown eyes, warm, shining with honesty.
On her lips, faintly curved, the dimple teasing without her realizing.
On her small movements, the way her fingers fidgeted, the tiny shift of weight from one foot to the other.
He hadn't meant to look that long.
But he did.
He glanced around, as if he hadn't looked for more than a second.
"…I'll be more careful with my words," he finally said, voice low and careful, almost softer than it should be.
"And… thank you."
A small, almost shy smile touched his lips.
Lily's chest felt tight, a little fluttering chaos, and she nodded.
Ah… it's fine! Say anything, I won't… like, get mad or something. she thought. Quietly. Secretly.
Her fingers relaxed slightly, her smile softening, warmth spreading slowly through her chest.
Aiden's gaze flicked to Mira and Jake again, then back to Lily, subtle, steady. He nodded toward the path ahead.
"Let's go," he said.
Lily adjusted her bag, stepping forward, side by side with him. Heart still racing, breath uneven, palms tingling.
The campus stretched before them.
The sunlight caught on the edges of leaves, soft shadows flickered on the pavement, a faint breeze tugged gently at their clothes.
And for a moment, nothing needed to be said.
Nothing could ruin this quiet, unspoken heartbeat between them.
Just… the rhythm of steps, side by side, slow and careful.
End of chapter 14