Beneath the Surface

Chapter 6

It was a small, low-key gathering—just Lizzie, Y/N, Mia, and Jess. Lizzie had made sure of it. After spending so much time with Y/N one-on-one, she thought it would be nice to have a night where Y/N could get to know her friends in a more relaxed setting. Nothing too wild, just the four of them at Lizzie's house with some snacks, a movie, and maybe a little teasing from Mia and Jess, which was inevitable.

The living room was warm and inviting, the soft glow of the fireplace giving it a cozy feel. Lizzie had set up a spread of snacks—popcorn, chips, and drinks—and was nervously waiting for Y/N to arrive. Mia and Jess were already sprawled on the couch, chattering about something random while occasionally giving Lizzie knowing looks.

"So, Y/N's really coming?" Mia asked, grinning. "You must be serious about this one."

Lizzie rolled her eyes, trying not to let her friends' teasing get to her. "We're just hanging out."

"Sure, just hanging out," Jess echoed with a smirk, popping a chip into her mouth.

Before Lizzie could retort, the doorbell rang. Her heart did a little flip, which was ridiculous, but it happened anyway. She took a deep breath and opened the door to find Y/N standing there, her hands tucked into her jacket pockets, looking calm and composed as always.

"Hey," Lizzie said, smiling. "Come in."

Y/N nodded and stepped inside, her eyes briefly scanning the room before settling on Lizzie. As Y/N walked past, Lizzie caught the faintest scent of Y/N's cologne, and it sent an unexpected flutter through her chest. She shook it off, leading Y/N into the living room where Mia and Jess were already waiting.

"Y/N!" Mia greeted her with exaggerated enthusiasm. "We've heard so much about you."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, but her expression didn't falter. "I'm sure."

Jess patted the empty spot on the couch beside her. "Come on, we're about to start the movie."

Y/N glanced at Lizzie for a brief moment, as if seeking reassurance, and Lizzie gave her a small smile. Y/N sat down, her usual quiet and composed demeanor in place, but Lizzie could tell she was at least trying to relax.

They picked a movie—something light and funny—though Mia and Jess were clearly more interested in teasing Lizzie than watching the screen.

"So, Y/N," Mia said after a few minutes, leaning forward with a playful grin. "How are you liking Campbell Hall so far?"

"It's fine," Y/N answered, her eyes flicking to Lizzie for a moment before returning to the screen.

"And hanging out with Lizzie?" Mia pressed, smirking. "How's that been?"

Lizzie shot Mia a look, but Mia just grinned wider. Y/N seemed unfazed, though Lizzie's heart was racing. Y/N shrugged slightly, her voice calm. "She's good company."

Lizzie felt her face heat up at the casual compliment, and Mia immediately noticed.

"Aww, Lizzie's blushing!" Mia teased, elbowing Jess, who laughed.

Before Lizzie could respond, Y/N's phone buzzed on the coffee table. She glanced at the screen, her expression shifting slightly, and leaned over to Lizzie. Her voice was low, almost sweet as she whispered, "I need to take this call. I'll be back."

The way Y/N spoke sent a soft warmth spreading through Lizzie, making her stomach do a little flip. She nodded, watching as Y/N stood and walked out of the room, her phone pressed to her ear.

As soon as Y/N was gone, Mia pounced.

"Okay, now you have to admit it," Mia said, her grin practically stretching off her face. "You totally like her."

Lizzie groaned, sinking back into the couch. "Mia, seriously."

"Oh, come on," Jess added, smirking as she reached for the popcorn. "It's so obvious. You've been spending all your time with her. And the way she just whispered in your ear? Please."

Lizzie tried to laugh it off, but the truth was starting to become harder to deny, even to herself. There was something about Y/N, something that made Lizzie feel things she wasn't quite ready to admit out loud.

"It's not like that," Lizzie mumbled, though she wasn't fooling anyone.

Mia leaned closer, her teasing voice softening just a bit. "It's okay to admit it, Liz. If you like her, it's cool. We're just curious."

Lizzie sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just... complicated."

Jess tilted her head, her playful expression shifting to something more thoughtful. "What's complicated about it?"

"I don't even know if she's into me like that," Lizzie admitted, her voice quiet.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? Have you seen the way she looks at you?"

Jess nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Liz. She's totally into you."

Before Lizzie could say anything else, Y/N re-entered the room, her phone now tucked away in her pocket. She sat back down on the couch next to Jess, her usual calm demeanor back in place.

The conversation shifted back to the movie, and for a while, things settled into a more comfortable rhythm. But as the credits rolled and the movie ended, Mia stretched her arms above her head and looked around, clearly not ready to call it a night just yet.

"Hey, why don't we play a game or something?" Mia suggested, glancing around the room. "Something fun."

Jess perked up, clearly on board with the idea. "Yeah, I'm down. What do you have, Liz?"

Lizzie thought for a moment, then stood up and went to the game shelf near the TV. "We've got a bunch of stuff—Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble..."

"Clue!" Mia said quickly. "That's perfect. Let's do that."

Within a few minutes, they had the board set up on the coffee table, and the game began. Y/N didn't say much, but Lizzie noticed she was actually paying attention and getting into it. Mia and Jess, on the other hand, were more focused on teasing Lizzie whenever Y/N said or did anything remotely nice.

"Y/N's pretty good at this," Jess remarked after Y/N correctly deduced a clue. "I'm impressed."

Lizzie grinned, but Mia wasn't about to let the moment pass. "Of course she is. Y/N's a mystery solver. Just like she's solving the mystery of Lizzie's heart."

"Mia!" Lizzie laughed, shaking her head. "Cut it out."

Y/N smirked slightly, but didn't say anything, though Lizzie noticed her eyes flicker toward her for a brief second. The tension between them was subtle, but it was there, and Lizzie could feel it building with every passing moment.

The game stretched on for a while, full of playful banter and light teasing, until eventually, Mia and Jess decided it was time to head out.

"All right, we're gonna go," Mia said, standing up and grabbing her coat. "Thanks for the fun night, Liz. We should do this again soon."

"Yeah, definitely," Jess added as she followed Mia toward the door.

Lizzie nodded, smiling as she walked them out. "For sure. Thanks for coming."

Once Mia and Jess were gone, the house suddenly felt much quieter. Lizzie stood by the door for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened that night—the teasing, the game, the way Y/N had whispered in her ear.

When she turned around, Y/N was still sitting on the couch, her posture relaxed but her gaze thoughtful.

Lizzie hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "You don't have to go yet, if you don't want to. I mean... you could stay a little longer."

Y/N looked up at her, something unreadable in her expression, but there was a softness in her eyes that made Lizzie's heart skip a beat.

"Yeah," Y/N said quietly. "I'll stay."

Lizzie smiled, feeling that familiar warmth in her chest again as she sat back down next to Y/N. The two of them settled into a comfortable silence, the weight of the night lingering between them, unspoken but undeniable.

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