Frappuccino

Kayla

Kayla was ten years old when she met Leon.

Her mom had described Leon as "just a year younger than you, sweetheart. You two will get along so well!" Kayla doubted it. Other rich kids were all the same: spoiled, entitled, and completely unbearable.

But Leon wasn't like that.

His emotional intelligence was immediately striking for his age. More than that, he truly listened when she talked, making her feel understood in a way no one else ever had, and making them closer through conversation.

Over the years, their bond deepened. Everyday after school, they'd play board games together, debate random philosophical questions, and rant about their dreams for the future.

Kayla came to see Leon as more than just a friend—he was her confidant, her partner in adventures, her safe place. 

But at some point, her feelings began to shift. She noticed how his smile could light up a room, how his laugh had a way of making everything seem okay. She found herself wanting to be around him all the time, wanting to tell him everything.

She didn't like how strong her feelings were.

Leon, though, didn't seem to notice. He still called her his "big sister," the one who looked out for him, the one who gave him advice and kept him grounded.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he told her once, after a particularly bad fight at his school, "You're the only one who gets me, Kay."

Because as much as she loved Leon, she didn't want to risk ruining her greatest friendship.

And so, she kept her feelings to herself, locked away in the quiet corners of her heart.

                                                                                         --

Monday night, Kayla sat on the edge of her bed, reminiscing something she had told Leon last Tuesday.

"You could realise you really like someone, and boom—they're gone because you waited too long, overthinking a simple situation."

She felt the irony of it heavy in her chest. 

If Leon found someone in Ann Arbor, he could be gone forever—not just as a love interest, but as the person she'd cherished for years.

The thought of losing him like that frightened her to the core. And then realisations started to pour in.

She couldn't live the rest of her life wondering what could have been between both of them. 

She'd rather risk everything—her friendship, her pride—than keep suppressing her feelings as she has the past 15 years.

Tomorrow, when she saw him, she would tell him how she felt. 

                                                                                         --

Tuesday night, 11:50 PM.

Kayla stood outside Leon's apartment door, her heart hammering. She hesitated before knocking, but the door was already ajar. It creaked open with a gentle push.

"Leon?" she called softly, stepping inside.

She froze at the sight of him on the balcony, sitting next to a girl. It was Ava. The two were laughing. Rain trickled from the sky, but neither of them seemed to care.

Leon was smiling—really smiling, the kind that reached his eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him like that, not even with her.

A floorboard creaked beneath her.

Ava turned, her eyes scanning the room.

Kayla quickly stepped back, hiding behind the wall.

Leon said, chuckling. "You're the first person I've brought out here besides myself, so it's probably just trying to say hi."

The words stung. And yet, it was like she'd never existed in that moment.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she slipped back out of the apartment, closing the door silently behind her. 

As she lay in bed, the image of Leon's smile lingered in her mind. She dreamt it was her he was smiling at.

                                                                                         --

The next morning Kayla opened her phone, her jaw dropped.

Shapiro Oil Mogul Dies at 72.
Leon Shapiro to Inherit Family Fortune.
The Young Heir of New York's Oil Empire.

Kayla immediately dialed Leon's number, her fingers trembling. It went to voicemail. She called again. And again. 

All week, she tried. Every call went unanswered. But she knew Leon wasn't just avoiding her—he was shutting everyone out.

The following Monday night, Kayla was startled awake by the buzz of her phone. She grabbed it, her heart racing when she saw the name on the screen.

"I'm coming over."