Unspoken Affection

03

From Lia's point of view, the cafeteria felt busier than usual, though it wasn't the noise or the crowd that was making her uneasy. She sat at the table, waiting for William and Nicholas to come back with snacks. She had agreed to sit with them, grateful for the company, but her mind was somewhere else. Every time she glanced across the room, she noticed Jake and his friends at their usual spot, talking and laughing. But this time, it felt different.

As much as she tried to focus on the present, her thoughts kept drifting back to the past couple of days—especially the strange encounter with Jake the night before. The kiss on the cheek, his whispered words, and the awkwardness of it all still lingered in her mind. She hadn't expected him to come to her house, and she definitely hadn't expected that moment to happen. But now, sitting in the cafeteria surrounded by her friends, it was hard not to think about how things had shifted between them.

She sighed softly, resting her chin on her hand, feeling conflicted. Jake had always been a close friend, someone she could rely on, but after that night, she wasn't sure where they stood anymore. He had Emily, and Lia had always respected that. She'd kept her feelings to herself, understanding her place in Jake's life as just a friend. But after what happened last night, she wondered if she had crossed a line. Maybe this was why she felt the need to distance herself—she didn't want to make things more complicated than they already were.

Lia's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of chairs scraping as Mia and Hannah approached her table. Their familiar faces brought her some comfort, but there was a hint of curiosity and concern in their expressions.

"Hey, Lia," Mia said, sitting down across from her. "We were looking for you earlier. What's up with you hanging out with William and Nicholas?"

Hannah slid into the seat next to Mia, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, you've been quiet today, and now you're all buddy-buddy with them. Everything okay?"

Lia forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, everything's fine. William and Nicholas just invited me for snacks, that's all."

Mia exchanged a look with Hannah before responding. "Are you sure? It seems like something's been bothering you. And you know... you can always talk to us, right?"

Lia hesitated. She wanted to confide in them about everything that had happened, but a part of her wasn't ready to unpack all the emotions swirling inside her. Not yet. Not while things still felt so messy.

"I'm fine," she said softly, avoiding their concerned gazes. "Just... a lot on my mind, I guess. Exams and all that."

Hannah leaned back in her chair, still unconvinced. "Well, you know we're here for you, right? Even if it's not about exams."

Lia nodded, appreciating their concern, but before she could respond, William and Nicholas returned with their snacks. William placed a drink in front of Lia and smiled. "Got your favorite."

Lia smiled gratefully, though her mind was still distracted. "Thanks."

As they all sat down, Mia and Hannah exchanged another glance, but didn't push the topic further. Lia appreciated that they were giving her space, even if they didn't fully understand what was going on.

Across the cafeteria, she noticed Jake's friends, Evan and Steve, whispering something to Jake, who was keeping his head down, seemingly focused on his notes. There was something about the way he glanced up every so often, as if checking on her without making it obvious. But Lia saw it. And every time their eyes met for a brief moment, she felt that familiar tension rise up inside her.