Whispers in Secret

4- Confident in a Friend

As they settled into the cozy booth, enjoying the last few bites of their burgers, Blake leaned back and stretched, looking a bit hesitant before finally speaking up.

“So, Ella…” he began, a playful yet slightly awkward grin forming on his face. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

Ella raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What’s that?”

“Well, you know my friend, James? We study together sometimes, and he’s seen you around…” Blake trailed off, fidgeting with the straw in his drink. “Anyway, long story short, he’s kind of interested in you.”

Ella blinked in surprise, the revelation catching her off guard. “James? From your study group?” she asked, trying to recall any significant interaction she’d had with him. She had met him a few times in passing, but nothing had ever stood out to her.

“Yeah, that’s the one,” Blake confirmed, glancing at her with a curious look. “He thinks you’re smart, cool, and, well, pretty. He asked me to… uh, feel things out, see if you might be interested in him.”

Ella shifted in her seat, feeling a little flustered. She hadn’t expected this kind of conversation, especially after everything going on in her head with Lucien. She liked James—he was nice and polite—but her heart was already wrapped up in complicated emotions.

“That’s… sweet of him,” she replied, trying to sound neutral. “But, I don’t know. I’ve got a lot going on right now.”

Blake noticed the hesitation and gave her a sympathetic nod. “Yeah, I figured. No pressure or anything, just thought I’d mention it. If you’re not feeling it, no worries.”

Ella smiled softly. “Thanks, Blake. I appreciate you telling me, but I’m not really in the right headspace for that kind of thing right now. I’ve got school, and well… other things.”

Blake didn’t pry further, sensing that Ella had more on her mind than she was letting on. “No problem at all. I’ll let him down easy. Just focus on what you need to do, and if anything changes, you know where to find us.”

They shared a comfortable silence for a moment before Blake added with a grin, “Besides, you’re too good for James anyway. You’d probably run circles around him in any debate.”

Ella laughed, grateful for Blake’s humor in easing the situation. But as the conversation shifted, her thoughts once again returned to Lucien and the complexity of her feelings, knowing that no one else could fill the void she was trying to navigate.

As Ella’s laughter faded, her phone suddenly buzzed on the table, the familiar ringtone cutting through the comfortable atmosphere. She glanced down and saw her father’s name flash across the screen. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Dad…” she whispered to herself, surprised. It wasn’t often that he called, especially given how busy his work kept him halfway across the world. He had been stationed in China for months now, and their conversations had become infrequent.

She quickly answered, a mix of excitement and longing filling her voice. “Hi, Dad!”

“Ella, sweetheart! How are you doing?” her father’s deep voice echoed through the phone, warm but distant, like the connection between them had been stretched thin over time and distance.

“I’m good! I’ve been studying hard, exams are coming up soon,” she replied, trying to keep her tone upbeat, though she felt a pang of sadness. She missed him more than she liked to admit, and the fact that he was rarely home made their relationship feel strained at times.

“That’s my girl,” her father said proudly. “I know you’re going to ace those exams. I’ve been following your progress whenever I can.”

Ella smiled, appreciating his words, but couldn’t ignore the ache in her chest. “I miss you, Dad. It’s been a while.”