Love, Lies, and Loyalty

Chapter 4: Close Calls and Subtle Signals

The Monday after their hike, Mia couldn't shake the memories of the weekend. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the sunlight filtering through the trees, heard Ryan's quiet voice asking her if she was having a good time. Her crush on him was no longer a small thing—it was consuming her thoughts more and more each day.

In the school cafeteria, Mia sat at their usual lunch table with Sarah, her tray untouched as she scanned the crowd. Her heart jumped a little when she spotted Ryan walking toward them, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets, that familiar laid-back look on his face.

"He's coming," Sarah said with a wink, nudging Mia's arm. "You excited?"

Mia laughed nervously, shaking her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, please. You've been staring at him since we sat down," Sarah teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Mia blushed, but before she could respond, Ryan arrived at their table, sliding into the seat across from them.

"Hey, guys," he said, offering a casual smile. "What's up?"

"Not much," Sarah replied, her energy as bright as ever. "We were just talking about how much fun the hike was. We definitely need to plan that camping trip!"

Mia watched as Ryan leaned back in his chair, nodding. "Yeah, it was a good time. I'm up for camping if you guys are."

Mia smiled, trying to push down the nerves fluttering in her chest. "I'm in."

As they talked, Sarah dove into her usual fast-paced chatter, jumping from one topic to the next. Mia listened, but her mind kept drifting to Ryan. She wondered if he'd noticed how quiet she'd been lately, or if he could sense the way she was always so aware of him when they were together. Every glance, every word he said—it all meant so much more to her than it probably did to him.

But then, something strange happened.

Mid-conversation, Mia caught a moment—a fleeting glance from Ryan that made her heart skip. It wasn't the usual, friendly look he gave everyone. It was... different. Softer, more thoughtful. She couldn't explain it, but it sent a jolt through her, a quiet hope blooming in her chest.

Had he been looking at her like that all along? Or was she just imagining it because she wanted it so badly to be true?

Later that afternoon, Mia and Sarah walked home together, their backpacks heavy with textbooks and homework assignments they were both avoiding. The sky was overcast, a typical fall gray that made everything feel a little quieter, a little slower.

"So," Sarah said, breaking the silence. "Have you thought any more about Ryan?"

Mia's heart jumped. "What do you mean?"

"You know," Sarah said, her voice teasing. "You've been crushing on him for a while now. You should make a move or something."

Mia laughed, though it was a little forced. "I'm not going to do that. He probably doesn't even like me like that."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, giving Mia a curious look. "Are you sure? I don't know... I've seen the way he looks at you sometimes."

Mia's breath caught. Had Sarah noticed it too? That small look, that brief moment at lunch when she had felt something shift between them?

Before Mia could respond, Sarah's expression changed—just for a split second. It was a look Mia hadn't seen before, something almost... hesitant. But as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone, replaced by Sarah's usual playful smile.

"Anyway," Sarah continued, her tone light again. "I think you should go for it. What's the worst that could happen?"

Mia tried to laugh it off, but she couldn't stop thinking about that look. It was small, barely noticeable, but now it nagged at her. Something about Sarah had seemed different—guarded, almost.

"Maybe," Mia said, her voice trailing off as they reached her house. "I'll think about it."

"Good," Sarah replied, giving Mia a quick hug before heading down the street. "Text me later!"

Mia waved goodbye, her mind spinning. Something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. As she walked inside, she replayed the conversation in her head, trying to figure out what had changed. Was it just her imagination? Or was there something Sarah wasn't telling her?

That night, as Mia lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind couldn't stop whirling with thoughts of Ryan—and Sarah. She had been so focused on her crush that she hadn't stopped to really think about how Sarah had been acting lately. Maybe Sarah was just teasing her like usual, but something about it felt different now.

The look on Sarah's face earlier that day—it had been so brief, but it left a mark. Could it be possible that Sarah liked Ryan too?

Mia shook her head, pushing the thought away. No, that didn't make sense. Sarah would have told her, wouldn't she? They were best friends. They shared everything. And besides, Sarah had been encouraging Mia to pursue Ryan. She wouldn't do that if she liked him too... right?

But even as Mia tried to convince herself, the doubt lingered. What if Sarah was hiding her feelings? What if Mia's crush wasn't as simple as she thought it was?

As she drifted off to sleep, Mia realized that things might be more complicated than she had imagined. But for now, she would hold onto the hope that Ryan liked her—that maybe, just maybe, this could all work out.

Still, in the back of her mind, the question remained: Was she the only one with feelings for Ryan? Or had she missed something about her best friend?