Silence Screams

Chapter 12: The Slow Build

The next few days passed quietly for Elena. After the confrontation with the bullies, she felt a small sense of relief, but the memory lingered in the back of her mind. Kyle had been there when she needed him most, but something deeper nagged at her. She had always been accustomed to dealing with her pain in silence. Having people like Kyle, Andrew, and Tom around was new and, in some ways, frightening.

It was Friday afternoon, and Elena sat at her usual spot by the large windows in the campus library. Sunlight poured in, casting a warm glow across the pages of her notebook. She was busy sketching-something she often did when words felt too hard to form. Drawing was a way for her to express the things she couldn't say aloud. Her hand moved across the page, bringing a scene to life: Kyle, standing tall, defending her like he always seemed to do now.

A soft tap on her table pulled her from her thoughts. Looking up, she saw Kyle standing there, holding two cups of coffee. He smiled and set one down in front of her.

"Thought you could use a break," he said, sitting down across from her.

Elena smiled and reached for the coffee, nodding her thanks. She took a sip and felt the warmth spread through her, appreciating the small gesture.

Kyle leaned back in his chair, watching her for a moment. "I was thinking," he began, a bit awkwardly, "about the other day... you know, with Andrew and Tom. I kinda like them."

Elena raised an eyebrow, surprised. She had noticed the easy rapport between the three of them after the bullies had left, but Kyle wasn't the type to make friends easily.

Kyle chuckled at her reaction. "I know, I know. I'm not the 'let's hang out and be best buds' kind of guy, but they're decent. I wouldn't mind getting to know them better. Especially after they had our backs."

Elena nodded, her expression thoughtful. She liked Andrew and Tom too. Though they had only met briefly, their quick actions showed that they were dependable, even if trust wasn't fully established yet.

"Actually," Kyle continued, "they're meeting up at that coffee shop off campus later. They asked if we wanted to come."

Elena hesitated, her pencil still resting in her hand. She wasn't sure if she was ready to be around so many people at once. Being with Kyle was different; he had slowly become her comfort. But with Andrew and Tom? It felt like entering unfamiliar territory, like she was exposing herself to more vulnerability.

Kyle seemed to sense her hesitation. "Hey, no pressure. I'll go with or without you. But... I'd like you to come." His voice softened. "I want you to get to know them. They're cool."

Elena looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity there. He was trying to help her open up, to show her that not everyone in the world was as cruel as the bullies they had faced. After a moment of contemplation, she gave him a small nod.

Kyle grinned. "Great. We'll go after you're done here."

***

The coffee shop was buzzing with the usual late afternoon crowd. College students sat in groups, sipping their drinks and typing away on laptops. A low hum of conversation filled the space as Elena and Kyle stepped through the door.

Andrew and Tom were already sitting at a table near the back, their heads bent in conversation. When they noticed Kyle and Elena enter, Andrew waved them over, grinning.

"About time!" Andrew said as they approached, his tone teasing. "We thought you bailed."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Traffic, or something." He pulled out a chair for Elena, who sat down next to him, glancing at Andrew and Tom. Though she felt nervous, their casual demeanor helped ease some of her anxiety.