Sarah was waiting for her by the campus fountain, a soft grin lighting up her face as Izuko approached. They found a bench under a nearby tree, hidden just enough from the dorms. The air was cool, and the quietness of the night made everything feel more intimate.
"Rough day, huh?" Sarah asked, her voice gentle.
Izuko nodded, exhaling deeply. "You have no idea. It's like everyone's dealing with something heavy, and I'm just... caught in the middle."
Sarah reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Izuko's ear, her fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary. "Well, maybe you're meant to be that anchor for them," she said softly. "You have this way of making people feel safe."
Izuko's cheeks warmed at her words. She looked down, a shy smile playing on her lips. "You think so?"
"Absolutely," Sarah replied, scooting a little closer. "You're pretty amazing, Izuko. And not just because you're a good friend. You... you make me feel safe too."
Izuko glanced up, meeting Sarah's gaze. The vulnerability in her eyes was so unlike the confident, playful Sarah she knew. For a moment, the world seemed to shrink, leaving just the two of them.
A Confession Under the Stars
"I'm glad you're here," Izuko whispered, her voice barely louder than the breeze. "Sometimes... it's hard to feel like anyone really gets me. But with you, it feels different."
Sarah's lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes searching Izuko's face. "I feel the same, Izu. You're like this calm in my chaos."
The distance between them felt almost nonexistent, and for a heartbeat, Izuko wondered if Sarah could hear her racing heart. She could feel the words on the tip of her tongue, words she wasn't quite ready to say yet.
Instead, Sarah leaned in, her voice a soft murmur. "You know, I don't just flirt with you because it's fun. You're... kind of special to me."
Izuko's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching. She managed a small smile, her heart fluttering. "You're pretty special too, Sarah."
They sat in silence, a warmth growing between them that made the cool night air feel distant. Sarah shifted closer, and for a moment, Izuko felt something else and she knew what it was...but instead, she just gave Izuko's hand a squeeze, her thumb brushing over Izuko's knuckles in a comforting rhythm.
Back in the Dorm
Later, after Sarah walked her back to the dorms, Izuko lay in bed, a small, giddy smile on her face. She replayed the moment under the stars, Sarah's words echoing in her mind.
Her phone buzzed one last time before she drifted off to sleep.
Sarah: Sweet dreams, princess. Can't wait for more nights like this with you ❤️
Izuko's heart fluttered as she typed out a reply.
Izuko: Goodnight, Sarah. Same here...❤️
YOU ARE READING
ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ
RomanceIn Echoes of Us, Izuko and Sarah start as best friends, but a misunderstanding drives them apart for a year. When they reconnect in their last year of high school and college at 18, they discover the love that has always been there. As Sarah, the ol...
