unnoticed feelings

Saturday arrived quicker than Liam wanted. He tried to distract himself, but his mind kept circling back to the same thought—Emily was meeting her ex.

By the time noon rolled around, he found himself walking aimlessly through town, his feet moving without purpose until he realized exactly where he had ended up.

Outside the café.

He hadn't planned to come here. He wasn't even sure why he had. But now that he was standing across the street, watching through the large glass windows, he couldn't make himself walk away.

And then he saw her.

Emily was sitting at a corner table, hands wrapped around a coffee cup, facing a guy Liam instantly disliked. He had the kind of polished, effortless confidence that grated on Liam's nerves—like he knew he had an advantage before he even spoke a word.

Liam clenched his fists. Get a grip. He had no right to be jealous.

But then he saw Emily's expression.

She was listening, nodding along, but something was off. Her smile was small, hesitant—like she wasn't fully comfortable.

Liam took a deep breath and forced himself to turn away. This wasn't his fight. If she needed him, she'd tell him.

Wouldn't she?

---

Emily didn't call him that night.

Or the next day.

Liam hated the feeling creeping into his chest—the feeling of distance settling between them like an invisible wall. He told himself it was fine, that she'd tell him when she was ready.

But by Monday morning, when she still hadn't brought it up, he knew something was wrong.

They met up as usual before school, but Emily seemed distracted. She barely laughed at his jokes, and when he finally asked, "So… how did it go?" she hesitated.

"It was… fine," she said.

Liam frowned. "That's not convincing."

Emily sighed, glancing around as if making sure no one else was listening. "He apologized. Said he regretted everything. That he changed."

Liam's stomach twisted. "And do you believe him?"

She hesitated. "I don't know."

Liam exhaled sharply. "Emily—"

"I'm not getting back with him," she cut in quickly, sensing what he was about to say. "I just… I don't know. It made me think about a lot of things."

Liam stayed quiet, waiting.

Emily sighed. "I guess… part of me wanted to believe it. That people can change."

Liam wanted to tell her that people can change, but that didn't mean they deserved a second chance. That just because someone regretted hurting her didn't erase the fact that they had.

But he saw the uncertainty in her eyes—the way she was still working through her emotions—and held back.

"Whatever you decide, just… be careful, okay?" he said finally.

Emily smiled softly. "I will."

But somehow, Liam wasn't sure he believed her.

And for the first time, he realized something terrifying.

He wasn't just afraid of her getting hurt.

He was afraid that no matter what he did, he would always be second place in her heart.