Love, Lies, and Loyalty

Chapter 2: A Growing Connection

The days after Ryan joined their lunch table flew by in a blur of shared jokes and casual conversations. Mia found herself gravitating toward him whenever they were together, and, to her delight, he seemed to be doing the same. Every day, she looked forward to lunch just for those few precious moments of connection, her crush growing deeper with each passing day.

It was Thursday afternoon, and Mia sat in the library, waiting for Sarah to finish her history project so they could head home together. She was supposed to be studying, but her mind kept drifting to Ryan, as it often did. She couldn't stop thinking about their conversation earlier that week when he'd complimented her photography again. He was noticing her more, and she was starting to feel like they were really building something.

Just as she was about to lose herself in daydreams of him, Sarah dropped into the seat beside her, a huge grin on her face.

"All done!" Sarah announced, slamming her books shut. "Thank god that's over."

Mia laughed, glancing up. "I don't know how you waited until the last minute to start that thing."

Sarah shrugged, gathering her stuff into her backpack. "It's a talent. Hey, by the way, Ryan's coming to the café after school with us today. I told him we go there sometimes, and he said he wanted to tag along."

Mia's heart leapt. "Really?"

"Yeah, why not?" Sarah said casually, zipping up her bag. "It'll be fun, right?"

Mia nodded, excitement bubbling up inside her. She had never imagined getting to spend time with Ryan outside of school, and now here it was, right in front of her. She tried to keep her cool, though, acting like it was no big deal.

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Mia agreed, though her voice was a little breathless.

They left the library together and made their way to the café, a cozy little place just a few blocks from the school where they often went to hang out after class. Mia had been there countless times with Sarah, but this time felt different. She couldn't help the fluttering in her stomach as they walked, knowing Ryan would be meeting them soon.

When they arrived, Ryan was already sitting at a corner table, his phone in his hand and his backpack slung across the back of the chair. He glanced up when they walked in, offering them a casual smile.

"Hey," he said, tucking his phone away as they approached. "I grabbed a seat over here."

Mia felt her heart race a little faster at the sight of him. He looked relaxed, like he belonged there with them, and for a moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like if it were just the two of them hanging out. Shaking the thought away, she slid into the seat across from him, with Sarah plopping down beside her.

They ordered drinks and settled into easy conversation. Ryan had this way of making everything feel natural, like there was no pressure to impress anyone. He talked about his plans for the weekend, asking them both if they'd ever gone hiking at the nearby state park.

"I've been a few times," Mia said, feeling more confident now that they were chatting. "It's really nice, especially in the fall."

"Yeah? I was thinking of going this weekend. Maybe I'll check it out." Ryan smiled at her, and Mia felt her cheeks warm under his gaze. "You should come with if you're free."

Mia blinked, surprised. Was he asking her to hang out with him?

Before she could respond, Sarah jumped in. "Ooh, I love hiking! Let's all go together. It'll be fun."

Mia's heart sank a little. She had been so caught up in the moment that she hadn't considered Sarah might want to join too. But she quickly pushed the disappointment aside. It was fine—better even. The three of them could hang out as friends, and maybe she'd still get some one-on-one time with Ryan.

"Yeah, that sounds great," Mia said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Let's do it."

Ryan nodded, seeming pleased with the plan. They continued talking, and though Mia was part of the conversation, her thoughts kept drifting. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was happening between her and Ryan. It was subtle, but she could feel it—the connection, the possibility of more. But every time she started to imagine it, Sarah's presence would snap her back to reality.

That night, as Mia lay in bed, she replayed the afternoon over and over in her head. She had been so close to something special with Ryan, but Sarah had jumped in before she could fully process it. Mia shook her head, feeling silly. It wasn't like Sarah was trying to ruin anything. She just wanted to have fun, and of course she would want to go hiking too. After all, the three of them had been hanging out more lately, and it was only natural that Sarah would want to join in.

Still, Mia couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if it were just her and Ryan. Would he have asked her out? Was he dropping hints?

The thought filled her with both excitement and doubt. She wasn't sure what Ryan felt, or if he even liked her the way she liked him. But one thing was clear—she had to figure it out soon.

For now, though, she would go hiking with Sarah and Ryan and see where things went. After all, there was still plenty of time for something to happen. She just had to wait for the right moment.