unnoticed feelings

Liam couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.

Not just with Emily—but with himself.

He had spent so much time hoping for her to open up, for her to see what was right in front of her. And now that she had finally admitted she was scared, that she didn't know what she wanted…

He realized something, too.

He was scared, too.

---

Monday morning, Liam found himself moving through the hallways with a strange sense of detachment. His mind was still stuck on that night in the park, on Emily's hand in his, on the uncertainty in her voice.

Did she feel the same way about him? Was her hesitation because of lingering feelings for her ex—or because she wasn't sure about Liam?

Either way, he knew one thing.

He couldn't keep waiting forever.

"Yo, Liam!"

He turned to see Mason jogging up to him, grinning. "Dude, you've been spacing out all morning. You good?"

Liam forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired."

Mason gave him a skeptical look but let it slide. "Hey, are you coming to the bonfire Friday night?"

"Bonfire?"

Mason nodded. "Yeah, school tradition, remember? End of midterms, everyone meets at the lake, big fire, dumb games, questionable decisions. Should be fun."

Liam hesitated. He wasn't exactly in the mood for a party, but… maybe he needed a break.

"Yeah," he said. "I'll think about it."

---

At lunch, Emily sat across from him, but the usual ease between them felt strained.

Liam wanted to ask her if she had thought about their conversation. If she had talked to her ex again.

But before he could say anything, Emily spoke first.

"Are you going to the bonfire?"

Liam blinked. "Mason just asked me that."

Emily fidgeted with her food. "Are you?"

"Probably."

She hesitated. "Me too."

Something in her tone made Liam's stomach twist.

Before he could say anything else, Naomi suddenly appeared beside their table, smiling. "Hey, Liam."

Emily looked up, her expression unreadable.

Liam glanced between them, caught off guard. "Hey?"

Naomi nodded toward the empty seat beside him. "Mind if I sit?"

Emily's grip on her fork tightened slightly.

Liam noticed.

He exhaled and gestured to the seat. "Go ahead."

As Naomi sat down, Liam couldn't ignore the way Emily suddenly went quiet, pushing her food around on her plate.

Maybe she didn't know what she wanted yet.

But for the first time, Liam wondered if she was starting to realize she might lose him if she took too long to figure it out.