Hearts in Bloom

Chapter 12

A whole week has passed after that library confrontation day. The days after the library confrontation felt different. Something between Aria and Tobias had shifted, like a bridge slowly crumbling under the weight of unspoken words. It wasn't obvious at first. They still saw each other in class, shared the occasional laugh with Mia and Jaxon, but the easy comfort that had always been there was fading.

Aria tried not to think too much of it. Maybe Tobias was just stressed about the upcoming exams—everyone was. Every student was on edge. But the more she told herself that, the more she realized it wasn't just the stress.

It was him.

Tobias no longer waited for her at the bus stop in the mornings, their usual routine of walking to school together, side by side, replaced with silence. He stopped catching the same bus home, too. At first, Aria thought it was a coincidence. Maybe he was studying late at school and need to go to school early, or maybe his schedule had changed. But the excuses didn't hold up when she saw him around, purposely avoiding eye contact, hurrying to class without their usual morning chat.

Every time she tried to approach him, there was always something in the way. A glance that didn't last long enough, a conversation interrupted by someone else, or a polite but distant and cold response that left her feeling even more lost than before.

It hurt.

Now, sitting in her room, Aria stared blankly at her study notes. The words and formulas seemed to blur together, her mind far from the task at hand. She had to focus—exams were just a few weeks away, and this was the time to buckle down. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Tobias.

What had gone wrong?

There was no big fight, no explosive argument. Just silence, creeping in like an unwelcome guest, making its home in the cracks of their friendship. And the worst part was, she didn't know how to fix it. She didn't even know if she could fix it.

The familiar buzz of her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. A message from Mia lit up the screen.

Mia: Hey, study group tomorrow? Jaxon's house?

Aria: Yeah, sounds good. What time?

Mia: 4 PM! We got this! 😊

Aria smiled at Mia's optimism, but her smile quickly faded. She could picture Tobias being there, sitting across the room, probably buried in his books again, avoiding her eyes like he had been for the past week. The idea of facing him in such a small setting made her stomach twist.

She needed to understand why things had gone so wrong between them.

---

The next morning, Aria arrived at the bus stop earlier than usual, hoping that maybe today Tobias would be there, that maybe everything would go back to normal. She leaned against the familiar bench, her breath visible in the cold morning air.

But the bus came and went, and Tobias wasn't there.

The bus ride to school was quiet, her thoughts louder than the hum of the engine. She glanced around, hoping to see him somewhere in the crowd of students entering the school grounds, but there was no sign of him.

By lunchtime, Aria's anxiety had grown. She scanned the cafeteria, spotting Mia and Jaxon chatting animatedly at their usual table. As she walked over, her eyes instinctively searched for Tobias, but she already knew he wouldn't be there.

Mia noticed the frown on Aria's face as she sat down. "You okay?" she asked, a note of concern in her voice.

"Yeah, just tired," Aria replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Jaxon frowned. "Is it the exams? You're probably overworking yourself."

"Maybe." Aria shrugged, poking at her food without much appetite.

Mia glanced around the cafeteria, then leaned in slightly. "Have you talked to Tobias lately? He's been acting kinda... off."

Aria's heart sank at the mention of his name, and she nodded, her throat tight. "Not really. He's been avoiding me, I think."

Mia frowned, her gaze shifting between Aria and Jaxon. "Avoiding you? That's weird. You guys are like... always together."

"I don't know," Aria admitted, her voice low. "Something's different, and I don't know what it is. He's been like this since prom."

Jaxon leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Did something happen at the prom when we were away?"

"I don't know." Aria said making a confused face.

"Maybe he's just stressed. You know how Tobias is—he keeps things bottled up." He said consoling her.

"Yeah, but it's not just that." Aria's fingers tightened around her fork. "He's been distant and cold. He doesn't even ride the bus with me anymore."

"Have you tried talking to him?" Mia asked, her tone gentle.

"I tried," Aria said, feeling the familiar ache of frustration rising in her chest. "He just... brushes me off. I don't know what to do."

Mia sighed, her eyes soft with sympathy. "Maybe give him some space? I'm sure he'll come around. You two have been friends forever."

Aria nodded, but the knot of unease in her chest only tightened. She wasn't sure if space was the answer. Space seemed to be what was pulling them further apart.

---

Later that afternoon, as Aria packed up her things after class, she saw Tobias across the hallway. He was talking to some other classmates, his laughter blending into the noise of the crowded school. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure if she should approach him. Her heart raced, her feet frozen to the spot.

But then, as if sensing her gaze, Tobias glanced up. Their eyes met, and for the briefest second, she saw the Tobias she knew—the one who laughed with her, shared their inside jokes, and had been her best friend for years.

But the second passed. Tobias's expression closed off, his gaze slipping away as quickly as it had landed on her.

Aria's chest tightened, a wave of sadness washing over her.

It was as if they were on two different paths now, slowly drifting further apart, and she had no idea how to stop it.

---

That night, Aria lay awake in bed, her thoughts spiraling. What was she supposed to do? Should she just let things be, hope that Tobias would come around on his own? Or should she confront him again, demand answers to the questions that had been building up inside her for days? Also what about that girl whom he likes? Why is he being so secretive about her? I get that he likes someone but that doesn't mean that he needs to stop talking to me and ignore me. Arghhhh..... These thoughts are killing me..... Maybe I should try to get some sleep."

As Aria closed her eyes to sleep, but it seems like the sleep is not in good terms with her too. She didn't want to lose him. She didn't want to lose Tobias. But maybe be, just maybe, he was already slipping away.

The thought made her heart ache in a way she wasn't ready to confront.

_____________________

My Random Silly Thoughts:

The Dinner Disaster
Kid: "I tried cooking dinner for us!"
Mom: "Why is the kitchen on fire?"
Kid: "Apparently, the food wasn't a fan of heat."
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