Crossing hearts

Chapter 10

The day began like any other, but an underlying anxiety gripped Lily as she entered class. She scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zane, but it was in vain. He was still absent, and with each passing hour, her worry deepened. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had to make things right, and that meant finding him.

After class, she approached Molly and Harper, her determination outweighing her trepidation. "Do you guys know where Zane lives? I need to talk to him."

Molly furrowed her brow, concern flashing in her eyes. "Lily, are you sure that's a good idea? He's not been in a great mood."

"I know," she replied, her voice steady. "But I need to apologize."

After some coaxing, they provided her with the address, and Lily set off with her heart pounding. The walk from school felt longer than usual, each step weighted with the pressure of her own guilt. She had never been this rude to anyone before, and she was still trying to process why she had snapped at Zane the way she did.

When she finally arrived at his home, she paused to take in the grandeur of the mansion before her. She had known Zane was wealthy, given his grandfather's connection to the school, but this place was something else entirely. A wave of uncertainty washed over her as she approached the door and knocked.

A maid answered, her expression polite but reserved. "Can I help you?"

"I'm a friend of Zane's," Lily said, swallowing her nerves. "I'd like to see him."

The maid hesitated. "He's upstairs, but I should warn you-he's not in a good mood lately."

Lily nodded, steeling herself. "I understand. I'll be fine, thank you."

As she ascended the staircase, Lily couldn't help but admire the lavish decor around her. It was stunning, but it felt distant, like a world she could never truly belong to.

When she reached Zane's room, she found him slumped over his desk, head down. At first, she thought he might be sleeping, and the urge to turn and flee gripped her. But no, she reminded herself, she needed to be there. She approached him cautiously and placed a hand on his shoulder.

His head lifted slightly, revealing bloodshot eyes that startled her. "What do you want, Lily?" he asked, his voice flat and void of emotion.

"I just wanted to talk," she said, her heart racing. "I'm really sorry for what I said. I crossed the line, and I regret it. If I could go back in time, I would change everything. Please, just hear me out."

Zane scoffed, turning his head away. "It's not like you're the first to say that. Everyone knows, and honestly, I'm used to it by now."

"I know," Lily insisted, her voice trembling. "But that doesn't make it right. I shouldn't have said what I did."

"Forget it, Lily. I just want to be alone," he replied, his tone dismissive.

"Please, just come to school," she pleaded, desperate for him to understand.

Zane lifted his gaze to hers for a brief moment, and she saw something soften in his expression, but just as quickly, he returned to his position, his head resting on the table. The air around them felt heavy with unspoken words.

"Okay," Lily said, feeling defeated. "I should go."

She turned to leave, but as she stepped out of the room, she hesitated. The sight of him so vulnerable and defeated tugged at her heart. No, this isn't how it ends, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she turned back and walked back into his room.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly. For a moment, he remained still, and she feared he might pull away. But he didn't.

After a few heartbeats, she released him, stepping back to gauge his reaction. "I just thought you might need a hug right now," she said softly, her heart racing.

Zane didn't respond. He remained in the same position, looking down, lost in his thoughts. Lily felt a pang in her chest, her resolve wavering as she took in his pain.

"I'll... I'll let you be," she said, her voice barely above a whisper before she hurried out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the house.

As she walked away, she glanced back at the mansion, a mix of relief and sorrow flooding her. She had apologized, but the sight of Zane like that lingered in her mind.

What had she done? And why did it feel like she was the one who needed saving?