The following week dragged on, each day blurring into the next as Jake tried to navigate his feelings for Amy. Every time he saw her in the halls, his heart raced, but so did the anxiety that came with it. How could he continue to be her friend when every interaction reminded him of the gulf between them?
Their second project meeting was set for Friday after school. As he sat in his room the night before, Jake fidgeted with his notes, flipping through the pages he had meticulously written. Each line brought back memories of their last conversation—the way Amy’s eyes lit up when she talked about her passions, her infectious laughter that made everything else fade away.
Yet, beneath the joy lay an unshakeable weight of dread. The truth was, he was falling for her. Hard. And with that came an internal battle. Could he keep his feelings hidden? Or was it only a matter of time before he blurted everything out, ruining what little connection they had?
The next day, as he walked into the library for their meeting, Jake’s heart thudded in his chest. Amy was already there, her long hair cascading over her shoulders as she flipped through a stack of books. She looked up, a smile breaking across her face that momentarily quelled his nerves.
“Hey, Jake! I’m glad you could make it,” she said, her enthusiasm genuine and bright.
“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it,” he replied, trying to sound casual despite the tension in his gut.
As they settled into their work, Jake was hyper-aware of every detail: the way Amy chewed on her pen when deep in thought, how she would occasionally glance at him with that bright smile that made his heart flutter. They dove into their project, but Jake’s mind was elsewhere, plagued by his feelings.
An hour into their work, they took a break. Amy stretched her arms above her head and let out a content sigh. “I can’t believe how much we’ve accomplished. I really enjoy working with you, Jake.”
“Me too,” he replied, but the words felt hollow. The more time they spent together, the more he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
Just then, the door swung open, and in walked Tyler, flanked by a couple of his friends. Jake’s stomach dropped. Tyler scanned the room, and when his eyes landed on Amy, they lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Hey, babe!” Tyler called out, striding toward her with a swagger that only added to Jake’s discomfort.
Jake felt the air leave his lungs as he watched the scene unfold. Amy’s face lit up as she turned to greet Tyler. Jake’s heart twisted painfully as he saw her smile grow wider, the way she leaned into him when he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Hey, Tyler! I didn’t expect to see you here,” Amy said, her voice bright and cheerful.
Jake’s chest tightened as he forced himself to look away, pretending to focus on his notes. The laughter from Tyler’s group echoed in the library, cutting through the quiet like a knife. The camaraderie and easy affection Tyler and Amy shared were a stark reminder of Jake’s place in this story: the friend, the spectator, forever on the outside looking in.
“Just came to see what my girl was up to,” Tyler said, his voice dripping with possessiveness. “You need a break, Amy. Let’s grab some food.”
“I’m almost done here. Just a little more time with Jake, okay?” Amy replied, her tone playful but firm.
Tyler shrugged, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. “Fine, but don’t take too long. You know I don’t like waiting.”
Jake tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that coursed through him, but it was impossible. How could she not see what he felt? How could she not know that every time he saw her with Tyler, it felt like a dagger in his heart? It was an unwelcome reminder of how unattainable she was, how he would always remain the friend, never the one she desired.
As Tyler left, Jake took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. He forced a smile, looking at Amy, but it felt strained. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your plans.”
“Don’t apologize! I wanted to finish this first,” Amy said, her eyes sparkling with determination. “We’ve got a good rhythm going.”
“Right,” he said, trying to focus on the project, but his mind was racing with thoughts of Tyler and what could never be.
The rest of the afternoon was a blur. They finished their project with surprising ease, but Jake’s heart wasn’t in it. He laughed at Amy’s jokes, contributed to their work, but felt hollow inside. The weight of his unspoken feelings felt heavier than ever, a burden he didn’t know how to share.
As they packed up their things, Amy’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it, and her face lit up. “Oh, it’s Tyler! I should probably text him back.”
“Yeah, of course,” Jake said, his voice barely above a whisper.
As they walked out of the library together, Jake felt the distance between them grow. He wanted to reach out, to tell her how he felt, to at least confess the truth of his heart, but the fear of losing her friendship held him back.
“See you Monday?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Definitely,” he replied, forcing a smile. But as he watched her walk away, the nagging realization settled in again: he was falling deeper into a love that he knew could never be reciprocated.
The weekend was a blur of thoughts and feelings, and as he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, Jake wrestled with his emotions. He wanted to be brave, to tell Amy the truth, but every time he imagined it, the fear of rejection sent chills down his spine. What if it ruined everything?
Jake drifted off to sleep, wrestling with the weight of secrets that felt like they would crush him.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing What Could Be
RomanceJake has always loved Amy, his best friend and confidante, but the more their lives intertwine, the more distant she seems. Set against the backdrop of college life, Jake silently yearns for more as Amy pursues her own ambitions, unaware of his hidd...
