Sophie's Life

Chapter 39: The Feelings

The library was packed, but somehow, I'd found a spot away from most of the chaos, just me and my mountain of textbooks. My head was pounding from hours of staring at numbers, words, and charts that were all starting to blur together. I sighed, rubbing my temples. Finals were always brutal, but this year, the weight of everything felt sharper. Or maybe it was because Daniel and James were both around, each adding a layer of distraction I couldn't escape.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daniel slide into the seat next to me, his usual calm confidence putting me a little more at ease. He didn't say anything, just dropped his notes in front of me. I looked at them, then at him, and managed a small smile.

"Thanks," I muttered, leaning closer, our shoulders brushing. I tried to focus on the numbers in front of me, but my mind kept drifting, aware of the warmth of his arm, the slight crinkle in his shirt. Being near him was comfortable, steady, and I'd been grateful for that more times than I could count.

"Anytime," he replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. And that was Daniel—always there, always knowing exactly what I needed without even asking. I hated how much I relied on that, on him, and I felt a pang of guilt. Because no matter how much I appreciated Daniel, there was still James. And that was the problem.

James. He was like a thunderstorm in my life, sweeping in with this intensity that I couldn't ignore, even if I wanted to. Every time I saw him, every accidental glance or brush of his hand, it felt like a rush of something I couldn't explain. He was with Ayla now, and that was supposed to make things simple. It didn't.

I pushed the thought away, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. My eyes skimmed over the notes Daniel had given me, but it was impossible to concentrate with the whirlwind of feelings spinning around inside me.

*Focus, Sophie. Finals first, drama later.*

But no sooner had I decided that than I saw James across the library, laughing with Aadhya. His eyes met mine for just a second, and I swear, my heart twisted in a way I wasn't prepared for. I quickly looked away, pretending I hadn't noticed, hoping he'd just stay over there with her and leave me out of this whole mess. But I knew him too well.

A minute later, he was walking over, leaving Aadhya behind. My stomach tightened as he pulled out the chair across from me. I shot Daniel a quick glance, and he gave me a barely-there nod before turning his attention back to his own work. Ever the gentleman.

James settled in, giving me that familiar look that was somewhere between concern and curiosity. "Hey, Soph. You look like you could use a break."

I wanted to roll my eyes, but something in his tone made me pause. He always did this—swooped in with that look, like he knew exactly what was going on in my head. It made everything so much harder. I forced a tight smile. "I'm fine, James. Just studying. Kind of important right now."

James leaned forward, his expression softer than I expected. "I just wanted to make sure. You seem... different lately."

I bristled. "Different how?"

"I don't know." He hesitated, glancing toward Daniel before looking back at me. "Like you're keeping something from me."

"Well, maybe I am," I snapped, surprised by my own harshness. "You don't need to know everything about me, you know."

The words hit harder than I intended, and I saw the hurt flash across his face before he could hide it. I felt an instant pang of regret, but I couldn't take it back. I couldn't keep letting him mess with my head while he was with someone else.

James took a deep breath, his jaw tight. "Alright, Sophie. I'll leave you alone. But don't think I don't care."

And with that, he stood up and walked away, his shoulders tense, leaving me with a mix of anger and sadness twisting in my chest. I watched him go, and I hated myself for pushing him away, but it was the only way I knew how to protect myself.