UNLOVED? or be loved?

Chapter 8:A Confession in the Making

                                   -Jake Romano-

Jake felt a wave of relief wash over him as Lily smiled at him. Finally, he had gotten it off his chest—that he'd noticed her, seen her for the amazing person she was. He had been so afraid that it would come out wrong, that she'd think he was just saying it to be nice. But seeing that smile—genuine and soft—was enough to make his heart flutter.

But there was something else he needed to say. Something bigger, something that had been weighing on him for longer than he wanted to admit.

His feelings.

Jake swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as he thought about it. He had realized it a while ago—that what he felt for Lily wasn't just some passing crush. It was deeper than that. Every time he saw her, something in him shifted. His heart raced, his chest tightened, and he couldn't stop thinking about her. She wasn't like the other girls he had met before—Lily was different. Quiet, sure. Kind, absolutely. But there was more. There was something about her that pulled him in, something that made him feel protective of her in ways he hadn't experienced before.

He couldn't stop watching out for her, noticing her in the smallest of ways. How her eyes lit up when she was focused on something in class. How she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was deep in thought. How she'd bite her lip when she was nervous. Every little thing about her had etched itself into his mind, and before he knew it, she was all he could think about. From the moment he saw her at school to when he lay in bed at night—Lily was there, in his thoughts, filling up every space.

Jake took a breath, glancing at her as they walked. She seemed so calm now, like a weight had been lifted from both of them. But his mind was racing. He needed to tell her. He needed to let her know that this wasn't just about noticing her. It was about how much he cared for her.

His hand twitched at his side, an urge to reach out to her, to hold her hand, but he stopped himself. Not yet. He had to do this right.

"Lily?" he began, his voice quieter than before, more serious. She looked up at him, curiosity in her eyes.

"Yeah?" she asked, her tone soft, but there was something in her gaze that told him she knew he had more to say.

Jake hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. His heart was pounding now, and he could feel the nerves building up in his chest. He had never felt this nervous before—not about anything. But this was Lily. And he didn't want to mess it up. He couldn't.

"There's something else," he said, his voice steady but laced with emotion. He looked at her, trying to convey everything he felt through his eyes. "It's not just that I've noticed you, Lily. It's more than that."

Lily's brow furrowed slightly, and she tilted her head, waiting for him to continue. Jake could see the slight tension in her shoulders, like she was bracing herself for whatever he was about to say.

Jake took a deep breath, his heart racing. This was it. "I've been... thinking about you. A lot," he admitted, his voice low but honest. "More than I realized, at first. And it's not just because I notice you in class or in the halls. It's because I care about you, Lily. I've been... caring about you for a long time now."

Lily's eyes widened, and Jake could see the surprise written on her face. But she didn't say anything, so he continued, the words spilling out faster now, like he couldn't hold them back any longer.

"I think about you all the time," he confessed, his voice soft but filled with intensity. "When you walk past me, when I see you sitting alone, when I'm not even at school... you're in my head. And it's not just because I like you. It's because I want to be someone who's there for you. I want to protect you, to make sure you're okay, to be the one who—" He stopped, the emotion swelling in his chest. "Who loves you."

Lily's breath caught, and Jake watched as a mix of emotions crossed her face—shock, confusion, something else he couldn't quite place. She was quiet, and for a moment, Jake felt his heart tighten in fear. Maybe he'd said too much. Maybe she wasn't ready to hear it.

But he had to keep going. He had to lay it all out there.

"I know this might be sudden," Jake added quickly, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. "But I've been feeling this for a while, and I didn't know how to say it. I've never felt like this before, Lily. I don't want to scare you off or make things weird, but I can't keep pretending like it's not there."

Lily stood there, staring at him, her eyes wide and searching his. Jake could see the emotions swirling behind them, and for the first time, he realized how truly fragile this moment was. He had put his heart in her hands, and now... it was up to her.

"I... I don't know what to say," she whispered finally, her voice trembling slightly.

Jake's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to smile, to stay calm, even though he felt like his whole world was hanging in the balance. "You don't have to say anything," he said gently. "I just wanted you to know. I care about you, Lily. And I'll be here, no matter what. Whether you feel the same way or not... I'll be here."

Lily looked down, her hands fidgeting slightly as she processed his words. Jake stood there, watching her, waiting, his heart thudding in his chest. He didn't know what would happen next. But for the first time, he had told her the truth.

And now, he just had to hope she felt the same way.