Love, Lies, and Loyalty

Chapter 6: Signals Crossing

The weekend arrived, and Mia found herself standing in front of the coffee shop where she and Sarah had agreed to meet. The autumn chill hung in the air, and Mia pulled her jacket tighter, feeling a nervous energy swirl in her stomach. Today was supposed to be a casual hangout, just the two of them, but with everything that had been left unsaid, Mia wasn't sure how the day would go.

She spotted Sarah through the window, sitting at a corner table, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee. The familiar sight of her friend brought a smile to Mia's face, though the unease still lingered. She couldn't keep avoiding the topic forever, and it was starting to weigh on her more and more.

Mia pushed open the door, the warm scent of coffee and cinnamon washing over her as she stepped inside. Sarah looked up and waved, her usual bright smile in place. Mia walked over, taking a seat across from her.

"Hey!" Sarah greeted. "I already ordered for us. I got you your favorite."

Mia smiled. "Thanks, you always know what I like."

Sarah laughed. "Of course I do. Best friend duties."

As they settled in, the conversation started out light—talk about school, weekend plans, and the upcoming midterms that neither of them wanted to think about. But underneath it all, Mia felt a tension she couldn't ignore. Every now and then, Sarah's eyes would flicker with something—something unreadable, like she was holding back, too.

"So," Sarah said after a while, taking a sip of her coffee. "You've seemed a little distant lately. What's going on?"

Mia froze for a second, her heart racing. This was it. The question she had been dreading but also expecting. She could feel Sarah's gaze on her, searching for an answer.

Mia hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I don't know... I guess I've just been... thinking a lot lately."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, her expression softening. "About what?"

Mia looked down at her coffee, swirling the spoon around aimlessly. She felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her, but she couldn't avoid it any longer. She had to say something—at least part of the truth.

"About... us," Mia said slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah blinked, surprise flashing across her face. "Us? What do you mean?"

Mia's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to find the right words. "I just... I feel like there's something going on between us that we're not talking about. Like, things have felt different lately."

Sarah didn't respond immediately. She set her cup down, her fingers tracing the rim of the mug as she seemed to process Mia's words. The silence stretched between them, and Mia's nerves only grew.

"Different how?" Sarah asked, her voice careful.

Mia bit her lip, debating how much to say. She didn't want to push too hard, but she also couldn't keep pretending everything was normal.

"I've been feeling... conflicted," Mia said finally. "Like, I don't know... I like someone, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do, or if it'll mess everything up."

She watched Sarah's reaction closely, looking for any sign of recognition in her friend's eyes. But Sarah's face remained calm, though her gaze had shifted, growing a little more intense.

"You're talking about Ryan, aren't you?" Sarah asked, her voice quiet but direct.

Mia's breath caught. The way Sarah said it—it was like she already knew. Like she'd known for a long time. There was no teasing in her voice this time, no playful nudges. Just... honesty.

Mia nodded slowly, feeling her chest tighten. "Yeah... I am."

Sarah was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Mia braced herself, not sure what to expect next. But then, to her surprise, Sarah let out a small laugh—soft, almost bittersweet.

"Mia," Sarah said, her voice gentle. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Mia blinked, confused by Sarah's reaction. "I... I don't know. I guess I was scared. Scared of messing things up, or... or hurting you."

Sarah smiled, but it was a sad smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I get it. I really do. But, Mia... you don't have to be afraid of telling me how you feel."

Mia felt a wave of relief wash over her, though the tension between them still lingered. "So... you're not mad?"

Sarah shook her head, her smile fading a little. "No, I'm not mad. I could never be mad at you for liking someone, Mia."

But there was something in Sarah's tone that made Mia pause. Something unsaid.

Mia swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper as she asked the question that had been haunting her for weeks. "Do you... like him too?"

Sarah's eyes flickered with something—something that looked almost like pain. She didn't answer right away, and the silence felt like it stretched on forever.

Finally, Sarah sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. "I... I didn't want to make things complicated. I thought if I just kept quiet, it would be easier. But... yeah, I guess I do."

Mia's heart sank. The confirmation hit her harder than she had expected, even though she had suspected it for a while. The weight of their shared crush now hung between them, heavier than ever.

"I didn't want to say anything because I knew you liked him," Sarah continued, her voice soft. "And I didn't want to get in the way of that. You're my best friend, Mia. I'd never do anything to hurt you."

Mia felt her throat tighten, the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. She had been so focused on her own feelings that she hadn't considered how hard this must have been for Sarah, too. They had both been keeping secrets, both afraid of what the truth might do to their friendship.

"I'm sorry," Mia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn't mean to make things weird between us."

Sarah reached across the table, taking Mia's hand in hers. "Hey, don't be sorry. This isn't your fault. We can figure this out together, okay? No matter what happens, we'll be okay."

Mia nodded, though her heart still felt heavy. She didn't know how they were going to navigate this, but one thing was clear: their friendship mattered more than anything. Whatever happened with Ryan, they would have to face it together.

But for now, as they sat there in the coffee shop, hands clasped across the table, Mia couldn't help but wonder if things would ever really be the same again.