When friendship blossoms into love, but ego and pride get in the way, two souls must navigate the delicate balance between heartache and longing. Can they find their way back to each other, or will pain be the only constant?
As we strolled through the mall, I snuggled closer to Emily, grateful for our quality time. "I really missed shopping with you, Sissy. You've been away too long," I said.
Emily smiled, pecking my cheek. "Aww, I'm sorry, little worm. Work's been hectic."
We window-shopped until we passed John Craig, where I spotted William. My face flushed, and Emily noticed.
"Are you okay, love? You look flustered," she asked, concerned.
I glanced at William, then Emily, whose curious eyes followed my gaze.
"Is that the guy from the library?" she whispered.
I nodded shyly, my cheeks growing hotter.
Emily smiled knowingly. "I think we need to go into this store, little worm."
Before I could protest, Emily dragged me into the store, my stomach twisting into knots. Inside, she did the one thing I dreaded: she walked up to William with a devilish smile.
"Hi, I'm Emily, Lydia's sister," she said, extending her hand.
William's confused expression turned warm as he saw me. "I'm William. Nice to meet you," he replied, shaking Emily's hand. His eyes locked onto mine, and he smiled. "Hi, Lee." He opened his arms for a light hug.
Emily beamed mischievously. "Well, you two love birds need to talk. My baby sister can't stop talking about you. She really likes you." I ground my teeth, silently begging her to stop, but she ignored me.
With a wink, Emily said, "See you at home, Lydia. Don't worry about Mom," and walked out of the store, leaving me mortified and on the verge of panic.
William's voice broke the silence. "Looks like we're alone now." He chuckled.
I stood frozen, my face ablaze.
I panicked, but William's gentle touch on my shoulders calmed my racing heart. I cleared my throat, "Ah, William, please don't believe my sister. Emily's just a bit dramatic."
William chuckled, his eyes sparkling. "So, Lydia Davis doesn't like me? Ouch, I'm wounded," he teased, placing a hand on his chest.
"Come on, let's get ice cream and talk," he suggested, leading me out of the store to a nearby shop. We sat outside, ordering our treats. I opted for vanilla, while William chose mint tart sundae.
I smiled at his unique choice. "You didn't think I'd order that flavor?" he asked, his warm smile matching mine.
"Actually, that's Emily's favorite too," I shared. "She shares everything, but never her mint tart sundae."
We both laughed softly, our tension dissipating as we waited for our orders.
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Our order arrives, and we savor our treats in comfortable silence for a while. William breaks the silence, his expression serious.
"To be honest, Lydia, I really like you. I've been busy, and I thought I didn't have time for relationships. I didn't want to disrupt your studies. But if you're willing, we can try. It has to be on your terms, though."
His solemnity makes me uneasy, but he notices and smiles, easing the tension. My stomach flutters, and my cheeks flush crimson.
"I like you too, William. Like, a lot," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was waiting for you to make a move, but my sister just had to interfere, haha."
William chuckles, relief washing over his face. "I guess Emily's meddling worked in my favor, then."
He reaches out, gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. The gentle touch sends shivers down my spine.
WILLIAM'S POV
As I gaze at Lydia, I'm struck by her youth and innocence. She's probably never been in a relationship before, and I've vowed to respect her boundaries until she's eighteen. Her guileless face melts my heart, and I'm captivated by the way she fidgets with her hands when nervous. Her silky hair beckons me, but I must resist.
Touching her as I brush a strand behind her ear fills me with guilt and joy. She's my little jewel, and I'll cherish her forever.
"I should take you home before your mom gets worried," I say, trying to sound casual.
Lydia's gray eyes sparkle mischievously. "Actually, you can't take me home. My parents will start asking questions."
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Okay, I'll request a cab for you."
I pull out my phone and book her ride. When the cab arrives, I open the door and plant a gentle kiss on her cheek. As the cab drives away, I'm left longing for her.
EMILY. -AT HOME-
I settled into my bed, phone in hand, after convincing Mom that Lydia was out with friends in town, enjoying ice cream. My mind wandered as I texted Maxwell, my boyfriend of six months.
"I missed you," he wrote. "When are you coming back to Cape Town?"
I smiled, thinking of his caring nature and meticulous attention to detail. "Just two more days, love."
Maxwell, a renowned lawyer in Cape Town, always knew how to make me feel special.
"Bring me something nice, okay?" he teased. "My heart can barely survive without you."
I giggled. "Haha, you got it, handsome. I'll bring something special."
As I sent the message, I hugged myself, reminiscing about his strong arms around me.
My reverie was interrupted by Lydia bursting into my room, radiating excitement. She flung herself into my arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
My heart swelled, seeing her so happy. "What happened?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Lydia settled onto the bed, bubbling with excitement as she recounted every detail. I listened, beaming with happiness.
"I'm so happy for you, my little worm," I said, "but make sure this doesn't affect your school work, or else Dad will kill us both."
Lydia nodded vigorously, still grinning. "Sooo, what were you doing before I came in?" she asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
I hesitated, unsure how to share my news. "Well, I'm thinking of heading back sooner than expected. Something came up."
Lydia's face fell, her voice tinged with sadness. "Aww, okay. That means you won't be here when Mia arrives."
I felt a pang of guilt. "I'll make it up to Mia, and I'll give her a call later to catch up."
Lydia nodded, her expression resigned. "When are you leaving?" she asked.
"The day after tomorrow," I replied.
She hugged me tightly and walked out of my bedroom, leaving my heart heavy. As I watched her go, I couldn't help but think about our scattered family. I was in Cape Town, working as a nurse; Mia was in the Eastern Cape, married and working as a doctor; Kelly was traveling the world as a fashion designer... and Lydia was stuck here, alone, with our stubborn parents.
