Good Luck, Babe! - Leah Williamson

2. We Can't Be Friends (But I'd Like To Just Pretend)

Ella's POV.

Walking home, the cool night air helped clear my head. The evening had been exactly what I needed, a reminder of who I was without the constant shadow of Josh's mood swings. As I opened the door to my house, I felt a strange mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.

I changed into my pyjamas and sat on the edge of my bed, my phone buzzing again with another message from Josh. I stared at the screen, the apology glaring back at me, and made a decision.

Me
We need to talk tomorrow.

I sent the message before I could second-guess myself and set my phone on silent. Crawling under the covers, I allowed the events of the night to replay in my mind. Leah's laughter, the music, the feeling of freedom. I drifted off to sleep with a sense of determination. Tomorrow would be the start of something new.

The next morning, I woke up with a sense of purpose. I was going to break up with Josh. It wasn't going to be easy, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I spent the day gathering my thoughts, rehearsing what I would say, and steeling myself for the inevitable confrontation.

When Josh arrived that evening, he looked contrite, his eyes soft with what seemed like genuine regret. We sat down on the sofa, and I took a deep breath.

"Josh, I've been thinking a lot about us," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "I love you, but this relationship isn't healthy for me. We keep going through the same cycle, and it's hurting both of us."

He looked taken aback, his eyes searching mine. "Ella, please, I can change. I know I've messed up, but I don't want to lose you."

I shook my head, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I believe you want to change, but I don't think you're ready to. And I can't keep waiting for something that might never happen. I need to focus on myself, on being happy."

We talked for a while longer, the conversation filled with tears and apologies. In the end, we both knew it was the right decision. He left, and I felt a strange mix of sadness and relief. The next two weeks were a blur of emotions as I adjusted to my new reality.

During that time, Leah was my rock, always there to lift my spirits and keep me distracted. We spent a lot of time together, often falling into our usual patterns of joking and teasing. But something felt different now. There were moments when her casual flirtation made my heart race, a flicker of something more passing between us. Had I always felt it and Josh's presence was simply masking it?

One evening, we were sitting on her sofa, a bowl of popcorn between us as we watched a movie. Leah had her arm draped over the back of the sofa, and I found myself leaning into her, the warmth of her body comforting.

"Hey, Ella," she said during a lull in the movie. "You know you're the best thing that ever happened to me, right?"

I looked up at her, my heart skipping a beat. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me too, Leah."

She smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "If only you were into girls. We'd make a killer couple."

I laughed, though her words stirred something inside me. "Yeah, if only."

But as the days passed, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Leah's words. I started to question my own feelings, wondering if the connection I felt with her was deeper than just friendship. There were moments when our hands brushed, and it sent a shiver down my spine, or when she hugged me, and I didn't want to let go.

One night, as we were saying goodbye after a long day out with the girls, Leah pulled me into a tight hug. She held me a little longer than usual, and when she pulled back, her face was close to mine. For a brief, electrifying moment, I thought she might kiss me. My heart pounded in my chest, a swirl of confusion and longing.