unnoticed feelings

Monday arrived, and the rhythm of school life resumed, but for Liam, everything felt different. He had a sense of purpose now—a quiet determination to rebuild his bond with Emily and prove that his feelings weren't fleeting.

Emily, however, was cautious. Though her interactions with Liam were as friendly as ever, she didn't let her guard down completely. She was still testing the waters, waiting to see if his actions would align with his words.

---

During lunch, Liam decided to sit with Emily and her small group of friends instead of Naomi and the popular crowd.

"Whoa, what's this?" one of Emily's friends, Mia, teased as Liam approached their table. "The mighty Liam, sitting with us humble peasants?"

Emily shot Mia a warning glance. "Cut it out."

Liam smiled good-naturedly. "Hey, I'm here for the snacks. I heard Emily's got the best stash."

Emily rolled her eyes but handed him a pack of cookies from her bag. "Don't get used to this."

He took the cookies with a grin. "Thanks, Em."

The table fell into a natural rhythm of conversation, and Liam found himself laughing more than he had in weeks. Sitting here felt comfortable—like he belonged.

Naomi passed by at one point, glancing at him with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Liam gave her a polite nod but didn't dwell on her reaction.

---

After school, Liam found himself lingering near the art room, waiting for Emily. She had stayed behind to finish a project for class, and he figured he'd walk her home again.

When she finally emerged, her arms full of supplies, she raised an eyebrow at him. "You're still here?"

"Thought I'd help you carry that," he said, taking the larger items from her arms.

Emily looked at him suspiciously. "What's your angle?"

"No angle," he said. "Just being a good friend."

She smirked. "We'll see how long that lasts."

As they walked, Liam noticed how quiet the streets were, the usual after-school chatter fading into the background.

"Hey, do you remember when we used to race home from school?" he asked suddenly.

Emily laughed. "Of course. I won every time."

"Because you cheated," Liam countered. "You always took the shortcut through the park."

"Smart strategy isn't cheating," she said, grinning.

He shook his head, smiling. "Maybe we should race again someday. Give me a chance to redeem myself."

Emily glanced at him thoughtfully. "Maybe. If you're lucky."

---

That evening, Liam decided to put more thought into how he could show Emily he was serious about valuing their relationship. He remembered something she had mentioned in passing weeks ago—a book series she loved but hadn't finished because she couldn't find the last two volumes.

The next day after school, Liam went to the local bookstore and scoured the shelves until he found them. He couldn't help but feel a little excited as he imagined the look on Emily's face when he gave them to her.

---

The following morning, he waited for her by the gates, clutching the books awkwardly. When she arrived, her eyes widened in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I wanted to give you something," he said, holding out the books.

Emily stared at them, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "How did you even know about these?"

"You mentioned them once," Liam said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I thought you might like them."

She took the books carefully, her fingers brushing against his. For a moment, she didn't say anything, and Liam felt a pang of doubt.

Then she looked up at him, her eyes soft. "Thank you, Liam. This... this means a lot."

"It's nothing," he said quickly, but the smile on her face made his chest feel warm.

---

Over the next few weeks, their friendship began to feel more like it used to—comfortable, easy, and full of shared memories. But there was also something new between them, an unspoken understanding that things were changing.

Emily started to let her guard down little by little, laughing more openly around Liam and even seeking him out during breaks. Meanwhile, Liam found himself growing more certain of his feelings every day.

---

One afternoon, as they sat under the oak tree in the courtyard, Emily turned to him suddenly.

"Why did you change, Liam?" she asked.

He looked at her, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"

"You were so obsessed with Naomi for so long. What made you see things differently?"

Liam hesitated, then said, "I think I realized I was chasing after something that wasn't real. Naomi never really saw me—not like you do. You've always been there, Emily. You've always been real."

Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked away. "You're so cheesy."

"Maybe," he said, grinning. "But it's true."

She didn't reply, but the small smile on her face told him everything he needed to know.

---