Hidden Flames..

Chapter 1

Lily was eight years old the first time she really saw Ethan. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and the neighborhood kids were gathered at her house for one of her brother Jake's legendary backyard soccer matches. Lily, being the youngest, was usually relegated to the sidelines, watching from the porch with a book in hand.

But that day was different. She had been reading, eyes occasionally drifting to the game, when Ethan, Jake's best friend, scored a goal. He turned to celebrate, his laughter ringing out clear and joyful. Lily's gaze lingered, captivated by his infectious energy.

Ethan was only three years older than her, but to Lily, he seemed like someone from a different world—tall, confident, with a carefree grin that made everyone around him feel included. In that moment, something inside her shifted. She didn't quite understand it then, but she knew she wanted to be around Ethan more, to hear him laugh, to see that grin directed at her.

From that day on, whenever Ethan came over, Lily found herself gravitating towards wherever he was. She'd offer to fetch drinks during their video game marathons, pretending to be engrossed in the activity, but really just hoping for a chance to hear him speak or to catch his eye.

As the years went by, her feelings grew, blossoming into something deeper, something she couldn't quite name. Ethan remained the center of her quiet world, even as she grew older and their interactions became more sporadic.
Lily had grown accustomed to being in the background whenever Ethan was around. It was her safe place, a way to observe him without revealing too much of herself. But there was one thing she could never get used to: being treated like a little sister.

One summer afternoon, Lily found herself in the kitchen, baking cookies. She loved to bake, especially when Ethan was around, because it gave her an excuse to be close to him without feeling awkward. As the cookies baked, the sweet aroma filled the house, drawing in Ethan and Jake from the living room where they had been playing video games.

"Something smells good in here," Ethan said, walking into the kitchen with that easy grin she had come to love.

Lily smiled shyly, pulling the tray out of the oven. "Just a little something I whipped up."

Ethan reached over, grabbing a cookie from the tray, even though it was still hot. "You're the best, Lil. You're like the little sister I never had."

The words hit her like a bucket of cold water. *Little sister.* She knew he didn't mean anything by it, but hearing those words from him, the boy she had been crushing on for years, felt like a slap in the face.

She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Glad you like them," she said flatly, before turning on her heel and walking out of the kitchen without another word.

Ethan blinked, looking after her in confusion. He turned to Jake, who was leaning against the counter, munching on a cookie. "What just happened? Did I say something wrong?"

Jake shrugged, unfazed. "Leave her. It's probably just one of her mood swings. I don't even get them half the time."