Lunchtime was supposed to be a break from the stress of classes, but lately, it felt more like a test of patience. I sat at our usual table with Izzy, Charlie, and Gabe, trying to keep a neutral face as Charlie continued her subtle flirting with Izzy. It wasn't outright, just small things—one day it's a lingering touch on Izzy's arm. The next; a playful tease that made Izzy laugh a little too hard. Everyone could notice it, but it was like Izzy was blind to it, brushing off anything that made me question their closeness.
"Hey, Izzy, did you watch that movie we talked about?" Charlie asked, leaning in just a bit too close, her sultry smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
Izzy nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I did. It was great, thanks for telling me about it."
My heart clenched as I watched them. It wasn't that Izzy and I never talked like that, we always did, but there was an ease between her and Charlie that I couldn't shake. It felt like I was watching something slip away between us, like sand through my fingers, no matter how tightly I tried to hold on.
Gabe must have sensed my discomfort because he nudged me gently. "You okay?" he asked quietly, his big brown eyes full of concern.
I forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired, I guess."
But he wasn't fooled. Gabe had a way of reading me that made it hard to hide anything. Still, I didn't want to ruin the mood, so I swallowed my frustration and tried to enjoy the rest of lunch, even though every laugh between Izzy and Charlie felt like a knife twisting in my gut.
---
As the days turned into weeks, I noticed Gabe going out of his way to cheer me up. He'd bring me little things like my favorite candy or a iced coffee when he knew I had a rough day. He'd wait for me after class, making sure I wasn't walking alone, always with that goofy smile that made me feel like maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed.
One afternoon, as we walked out of school together, Gabe suddenly said, "Hey, how about we go get some ice cream? My treat."
I looked at him, surprised by the offer but too drained to refuse. "Sure, why not?"
We ended up at this little place not that far out of town, but has been around forever and feels like a safe haven from the rest of the world. I got cookie dough, my usual, while Gabe opted for chocolate with extra sprinkles.
We found a quiet spot to sit, and for a while, we just enjoyed our ice cream in silence. But I knew he could tell something was on my mind.
"What's up, Eve?" he finally asked, his voice gentle but probing. "You've been kind of off lately."
I sighed, swirling my spoon in the melting ice cream. "It's Izzy," I admitted, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth. "And Charlie. I feel like they're getting way too close, and I don't know what to do about it."
As soon as the words left my lips, it felt like a dam inside me burst, and I couldn't hold back anymore. "Gabe, I don't know, if you know this but," I began, my voice trembling as tears welled up in my eyes. "Izzy... she's the best thing that's ever happened to me. She's not just someone I'm with; she's my everything. Before, it's was like my world was complete, like all the chaos in my mind finally quiets down. But now... I feel hollow, like a part of me is missing, and I can't breathe properly."
I took a shaky breath, wiping at the tears that had begun to fall. "Every time I see her, my heart skips a beat. She has this way of looking at me, with those deep brown eyes, like she's seeing right into my soul. Her smile... God, her smile lights up my entire world. It's not just a curve of her lips; it's the way her eyes crinkle at the corners, the way her whole face softens when she's genuinely happy. It's like sunshine breaking through the darkest clouds."
