'Infinite Grace' || Love ♡

♡～Secret Dating～♡

~AMILY CHARLOTTE ASTON~

Lara's eyes widened with curiosity as she asked, "What did you notice?", I leaned in closer, my voice barely above a whisper, and replied, "I think there's something going on between you and my brother Nick".

I studied her reaction, searching for any hint of confirmation or denial. Lara's cheeks flushed slightly, and she glanced around nervously, as if worried about being overheard.

Lara's eyes met mine, and she whispered, "I'll tell you later, Amy". Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she looked away, trying to compose herself. I could sense it, even if she didn't say it out loud: Lara and Nick were more than just friends. They were dating!!

I was taken aback, my mind racing with questions. "Who confessed?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Lara's blush deepened as she replied, "Nick did". I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

My brother, the ultimate jokester, had feelings for Lara and had actually confessed? It was unthinkable. I couldn't reconcile the Nick I thought I knew with this secretive, romantic version.

I turned to Lara, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Why the secrecy? Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, feeling a little hurt that my best friend had kept this from me. Lara's expression softened, and she placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "Nick wanted to surprise you, Amy. He planned to announce it at your birthday party, make it a special moment for you".

Her words made sense, but I was still reeling from the shock. My brother, the ultimate prankster, had been planning a romantic surprise for me? It was almost too much to take in. I couldn't help but feel a warmth in my heart for the two of them.

I was genuinely happy for my brother and my best friend, and I wanted their relationship to work out. I turned to Lara; my expression serious.

"Just remember, he's my brother", I said, my voice low and playful "Don't break his heart, or you'll have to answer to me Lara".

Lara grinned; her expression light hearted. "Don't worry, Amy. I have no intention of breaking his heart. I love him, and I want us to work out". I nodded, feeling reassured. I knew Lara was the right person for my brother, and I was excited to see their relationship grow.

As we giggled and glanced around, our eyes met the gaze of three handsome boys, who were watching us with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. Atlas, Ethan, and Nick were standing there, looking like they were waiting for us to finish our conversation.

As we caught their eye, Nick raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you two done whispering secrets? Did you finish your speech?" His tone was playful, but I could sense a hint of impatience beneath the surface. Lara and I exchanged a mischievous glance, and I nodded, "Yeah, we're done for now".

Nick and Lara drove off into the night, we bid them a fond farewell. I turned to face Ethan and Atlas, and that's when I noticed Atlas's gaze fixed intently on me. His eyes seemed to bore into my soul, as if trying to convey a message.

He broke the silence, his voice low and serious, "Ethan, drive carefully", The words were cryptic, but the warning was clear. Ethan nodded, his expression understanding. Atlas turned to me, his eyes still locked on mine, and said, "Goodbye, Amy".

The way he said my name sent shivers down my spine. With that, he turned and walked away towards his car, leaving me wondering what had just happened.

Ethan unlocked his car and we both climbed in, the familiar scent of leather and fresh air enveloping us. As he started the engine, I settled into the passenger seat, feeling a sense of comfort and ease with my friend.

We drove through the quiet streets. The darkness outside was punctuated by the occasional streetlight, casting a warm glow over the deserted roads.

Ethan and I chatted idly, discussing everything and nothing, our conversation flowing easily. As we reached our home, I thanked him for drive and he bid goodbye to me. Then we went on our paths.

As I walked through the front door, my mom looked up from her book and asked, "Hey, did you end up going to the basketball court tonight?" I nodded, curious about how she knew. "How did you know I was there, Mom?" I asked, dropping my bag onto the floor.

My mom smiled, "Ethan texted me and said you were with him. He wanted me to know you were safe". I raised an eyebrow, impressed by Ethan's thoughtfulness. 'That's so sweet of him' I said, feeling grateful for my friend's consideration. My mom nodded, "Yes, he's a good kid. I'm glad you two are such a good friends".

I glanced around the living room, expecting to see my dad's familiar face, but he was nowhere to be found. "Where's Dad?", I asked my mom, curiosity getting the better of me. She looked up from her book and replied, "He went to David's home to catch up his best friend. He'll be back later".

I nodded, then my mom's attention turned to me and asked "So, where is Nick?" I smiled, thinking about my brother's relationship. "He actually went to drop Lara home". My mom's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, that's nice. I'm glad he's spending time with her. They make a cute couple".

I smiled in agreement, feeling a sense of happiness. "Yeah, they're really cute together", I said, smiling to myself as I thought about Nick and Lara. With that, I bid my mom goodnight and headed back to my room, feeling the weight of the day's events slowly catching up with me.

I flopped down onto my bed, letting out a soft sigh as my body sank into the comfortable mattress. I was tired, both physically and mentally, and I couldn't wait to drift off to sleep and process everything that had happened.

No sooner had I closed my eyes than my phone buzzed with a notification. I groggily opened my eyes and reached for my phone, wondering who could be contacting me at this late hour. As I unlocked my screen, my heart skipped a beat when I saw the name 'Atlas' flashing on my display.

I felt a sudden jolt of curiosity and excitement, wondering what he could want at this time of night. I hesitated for a moment before opening the message, my mind racing with possibilities.

I sat up with a start, my heart racing with anticipation as I opened the message from Atlas. The screen glowed in the dim light of my room, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I read the simple yet intriguing question: "Are you home Amy?" The message was short, but it spoke volumes.

I quickly typed out a response, my thumbs flying across the keyboard as I sent a simple "Yes, I'm already home" back to Atlas. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should add anything else, but before I could decide, my phone buzzed again with another message from him.

This one was even shorter, just a single word: "Goodnight". I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of warmth and connection at the brief exchange. I replied with a 'goodnight' of my own, and then settled back into bed, my mind still racing with thoughts of Atlas and our mysterious conversation.

As I settled into bed, my face still flushed with excitement from the short exchange with Atlas, Was he genuinely caring for me, or was I just being treated like a friend? I wondered if his behaviour was motivated by a desire to protect me, or if he was actually envious of the connection I shared with Ethan?

I snuggled deeper into the blankets, my phone slipping from my grasp as I let out a contented sigh. I felt my eyelids growing heavy. Without another thought, I drifted off to sleep.

The darkness closed in around me, and I slept soundly, my dreams filled with vague images of Atlas.

~~~~~