unnoticed feelings

The tension was impossible to ignore.

Liam could feel it in the way Emily barely touched her food, in how she avoided looking at Naomi, in how her usual easy conversations with him felt forced.

Naomi, on the other hand, was completely at ease. She talked as if nothing had changed, as if she and Liam had always been close.

It was strange.

A few weeks ago, he would have given anything for this kind of attention from Naomi.

Now, he wasn't sure he wanted it.

---

After lunch, Emily barely said goodbye before heading off to class.

Liam watched her go, unease settling in his chest.

"Hey."

He turned to find Naomi watching him, her head tilted slightly. "Are you and Emily… a thing?"

The question caught him off guard. "What?"

Naomi shrugged. "I just noticed how weird she got when I sat down. Like she was upset or something."

Liam exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated."

Naomi studied him for a moment, then smiled. "You know… I used to think you were just that quiet guy with a crush. But you're different now."

Liam met her gaze. "People change."

"Yeah," Naomi said softly. "They do."

For a second, it felt like she was about to say something else, but then the bell rang.

She gave him one last lingering look before walking away.

Liam let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Why did everything suddenly feel so… messy?

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur.

Liam barely paid attention in class. His thoughts kept circling back to Emily—to the way she had looked at him at lunch, to the way she had asked about the bonfire.

Was she jealous?

Or was he just imagining things?

That night, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, his phone buzzed.

Emily: Hey, can we talk?

His chest tightened.

Liam: Yeah. What's up?

There was a long pause before she replied.

Emily: Can you meet me outside?

Liam sat up instantly. He glanced at the time—11:07 p.m.

Whatever this was, it wasn't something she wanted to say over text.

Throwing on a hoodie, he grabbed his keys and slipped out the door.

He had a feeling that after tonight, things between them would never be the same.