Forbidden Chemistry

Unspoken Awkwardness

The rain had started as a light drizzle, almost innocent at first. But as Lucian sat in the car with Lillian driving, watching the city streets blur by, the clouds above grew heavier, darkening the evening with their looming presence. The weight in his chest mirrored the storm building outside. A storm of feelings that had been brewing for far too long.

His thoughts were a jumbled mess. Astrid. The name echoed in his mind, tinged with guilt, confusion, and something deeper that he refused to name. His sister's voice broke through his haze of introspection.

"You've been quiet for way too long. What's going on?" Lillian's sharp tone sliced through the silence in the car, pulling him back to the present.

He sighed, leaning his head back against the cool leather of the seat. The problem wasn't simple. And his feelings certainly weren't. He closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair. "It's Astrid. I've been avoiding her, trying to keep everything professional, but... it's hurting her. I know it is. And maybe, I'm hurting myself too." His voice cracked at the end, as if admitting it made the truth all the more real.

Lillian's gaze softened as she glanced at him. Her smart, calculating mind quickly started piecing things together. "What happened?"

Lucian hesitated. What had happened? It was more than just the events with Raven Hale. It was how everything felt. The moment Astrid had come to him, vulnerable and raw after learning about Raven's bet, something had shifted inside him. She had turned to him, had found comfort in his presence, and he hadn't been able to pull back since. But he had been avoiding her, pulling away in a poor attempt to stay professional, and the distance was affecting him more than he wanted to admit.

"I was there for her when she found out about that scumbag Raven and his bet," Lucian started, his voice low, almost shameful. "She leaned on me, trusted me. And now... now I'm acting like none of that happened, like I didn't just comfort her. But the truth is, I don't know what's happening anymore. I'm her teacher, but there's something more. I can feel it, Lil, and I don't know how to deal with it."

Lillian took a deep breath, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Lucian, I understand you're trying to be professional, but ignoring her isn't the answer. You can't keep running away from it. Ignoring her is selfish, and you're hurting her by doing it. You're not protecting her—you're confusing her."

He turned toward her, startled by the word. Selfish. Was that what he had been doing all this time? "How is staying away selfish?" he asked, his voice edged with frustration.

"Because you're protecting yourself more than her," Lillian said bluntly. "You're avoiding a hard conversation. You're scared of crossing a line, of what might happen, but what you're doing is making things worse. You need to talk to her, Lucian. If she sees you as a mentor, or even just her teacher, then fine. You can clear the air and set boundaries. But if there's something more, you need to face it. Ignoring it will only hurt you both."

Lucian's throat tightened. The thought of hurting Astrid made him feel sick. He hadn't wanted this. He hadn't planned any of it. And yet, here he was, caught in this storm of emotions.

"I don't want to make it worse, Lil. What if talking to her... what if it makes everything messier?"

Lillian pulled the car into the parking lot of a café, putting it in park but not getting out just yet. She turned to face him fully, her expression serious but gentle. "Lucian, not talking to her is making it messy. You're both in limbo. She probably feels abandoned, confused by your distance. You need to give her clarity, even if it's hard. Even if it means having a difficult conversation."

Lucian swallowed, the knot in his chest tightening. He knew his sister was right, but that didn't make the situation any easier to face.

"Okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll talk to her."