Crossing hearts

Chapter 13.2

Lily sat cross-legged on her bed, her favorite book, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, sprawled open in front of her. She had chosen it deliberately, hoping that the story of Hazel and Gus, two teenagers navigating love in the face of illness, would distract her from the gnawing absence of Zane in her life.

As she flipped through the pages, her mind drifted to Zane. The memory of his bloodshot eyes and the raw emotion he'd shown haunted her. She had seen a different side of him that day, a vulnerability that stirred something deep within her. What if something is wrong with him again? She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. Just move on, Lily.

Molly and Harper had gone out for dinner, leaving her alone in the dim light of their dorm room. She wasn't hungry; her appetite had vanished along with her sense of normalcy. Instead, she buried herself deeper in the book, reading and rereading passages, but Zane's image kept creeping back in—his laughter, the way his eyes lit up when he was engaged in conversation, and, most painfully, the harsh words he had flung at her the last time they spoke.

Just as she turned the page again, a soft knock broke her concentration. She frowned, wondering why Molly and Harper were knocking when they had keys. With a sigh, she put the book down and opened the door, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Zane standing there.

Lily: "Zane?"

Zane: "Lily, I... I'm sorry."

The words hung in the air, startling her. Zane, with all his bravado and ego, was standing at her door, apologizing?

Lily: taken aback "You... you're sorry?"

Zane: nodding, his voice low "Yeah, I am. Can I come in?"

She hesitated, her heart racing. Should she let him in? She felt a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, relief, and fear.

Lily: finally finding her voice "Uh, yeah. Please, come in."

As he stepped into the room, she closed the door behind him. He sat on her bed, and she followed suit, both of them enveloped in an awkward silence. The tension was palpable, as if the air had thickened with unspoken words.

Zane: glancing down, fidgeting "I've been... thinking a lot since the other day. About what I said, and how I treated you. You didn't deserve that."

Lily: her heart racing "I thought... I thought we were friends. I was just trying to be there for you."

Zane: his eyes flashing "Friends? Do you really think that's all we are? I don't know how to be just friends with you, Lily."

Her heart raced at his admission, the heat rising in her cheeks.

Lily: stammering "I... I don't know what you mean."

Zane: leaning closer, intensity in his gaze "I mean that every time I see you, it feels like something more. I can't just ignore that. But I'm scared. I pushed you away because I thought it would protect us both."

Lily: taken aback, breath hitching "I thought you wanted to push me away. You said we'd never be friends!"

Zane: voice rising slightly "I said that in a moment of anger! I've been trying to act tough, but it's exhausting, and it doesn't change how I feel about you."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, leaving Lily momentarily speechless. The space between them felt charged, alive with tension and unfulfilled desire.

Lily: voice barely above a whisper "So what do we do now?"

Zane's expression softened, vulnerability breaking through his tough facade.

Zane: "I don't want to lose you, but I don't know if I can be what you need. I want to try, though. I want you to be more than just a friend."

The sincerity in his voice sent shivers down her spine. For the first time, she felt the possibility of something deeper, something real, sparking between them.

Lily: her heart racing "I want that too. But... what if we mess it up?"

Zane: smirking slightly, easing the tension "We already messed up, remember? But that doesn't mean we can't try again. Together."

A small smile crept across her face as they shared a moment of understanding. The past hurt lingered in the background, but it felt lighter now, overshadowed by the flicker of hope igniting between them.

Lily: "So, what now? Are we going to finish that project or just sit here staring at each other?"

Zane: grinning "I thought you'd never ask."

As they began to work on their project, the tension gave way to laughter and teasing. Every moment spent together felt like an uncharted territory, a promise of what could blossom between them.