The Space Between us

7

Chapter Seven: A New Beginning

The next day at school, Eden couldn't shake the memory of the park. The conversations, the way she'd felt seen in a way she hadn't in a long time-by someone who didn't push her to talk, but understood her silence. The thought of Josh stayed with her as she walked through the school halls, her headphones securely in her ears, but her mind far from the music that usually filled her thoughts. She felt... lighter somehow, though she wasn't sure why.

The school day began as it always did, with the hum of chatter and the shuffle of feet. Eden tried to zone it all out, focusing on getting to her first class. She wasn't sure what to expect today. Was yesterday just a fluke? Would Josh be like everyone else-polite, but distant, and then never acknowledge her again? Or had the connection they shared actually meant something?

As she entered her first-period class, her eyes scanned the room. She'd always been the kind of person who would rather find an empty seat in the back corner and settle into her own bubble. But as her gaze passed over the room, it stopped when she saw him.

Josh was sitting by the window, the sunlight casting a warm glow on his face. He was flipping through a notebook, probably jotting down something, but his eyes flicked up when he noticed her.

Eden felt a strange rush of nerves as she walked in his direction, unsure if he would acknowledge her or if it had all been an anomaly the day before. But when she reached the empty seat next to him, Josh looked up with a smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"Hey," he greeted her casually, but there was an ease in his voice, like nothing had changed between them.

"Hey," Eden replied, the small smile that tugged at her lips feeling more genuine than she expected. She set her bag down and slid into the seat next to him, almost automatically. It was like they had already fallen into an unspoken routine, and it felt... nice.

The bell rang, signaling the start of class, but neither of them really paid attention. The teacher began talking about the lesson for the day, but the words just floated around them, both lost in their own little world.

"You're not sitting in the back today?" Josh teased lightly, his voice low enough not to disturb anyone else.

Eden laughed softly, shaking her head. "I usually sit in the back. But it felt... different today. I guess I'll just see how this goes." She shrugged, not really sure why she was opening up, but somehow feeling comfortable with Josh's presence.

Josh raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "So, you're going to take a chance on sitting next to me, huh?"

Eden rolled her eyes, but the smile never left her face. "I guess so." She shifted in her seat, getting more comfortable. "It's not like I'm afraid of you or anything."

Josh chuckled softly, the sound warm and infectious. "Well, good. I'm not that scary, I promise."

They both settled into the rhythm of the class, but the casual banter between them never really stopped. There was an ease in the way they interacted, a comfortable quiet that felt entirely natural. It was a stark contrast to how Eden usually felt at school-isolated, detached, and constantly in her own head. But with Josh, it was different. For the first time in ages, she didn't feel the weight of her thoughts pressing on her chest.

As the class came to an end, Josh turned to her with a grin. "So, lunch today?"

Eden looked at him, surprised. "Lunch? I didn't think you were... into hanging out with people at lunch."

Josh's grin widened, and he leaned back in his chair, stretching a bit. "Well, I wasn't. But maybe you'll change that." He gave her a teasing look. "I mean, it's not like I have anyone else to eat with."

Eden stared at him for a moment, taking in his words. There was a hint of vulnerability in his voice that surprised her. She didn't know why he was saying that-he had a lot of friends, didn't he? Why would he want to hang out with someone like her, someone who always kept to herself?

But when she met his eyes, she saw nothing but sincerity.

"Okay," she said quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Lunch sounds good."

Josh's grin softened, and for a moment, it felt like they shared a secret, a quiet understanding that no one else knew about. Eden wasn't sure why it felt so easy to talk to him, but it didn't matter. It just... was.

At lunch, Eden found herself walking with Josh toward the cafeteria. Her heart wasn't racing the way it usually did when she walked into the crowded lunchroom. She hadn't expected it to feel so natural, walking beside him like this. But as they approached the long lunch tables, Josh immediately led her to a quiet corner, a place far from the usual chaos of high school lunch.

"I hope you don't mind," he said, his voice a little quieter now, "I'm not really a fan of the whole... lunchroom scene."

Eden looked around at the bustling cafeteria, filled with laughter and noise, and nodded. "I get that," she said softly, her gaze landing back on Josh. "It can get a little overwhelming."

They found a small table in the corner, far enough away from the crowd but close enough to still hear the muffled chatter. Josh unzipped his bag and pulled out a sandwich, and Eden did the same, though she was still feeling a little unsure about how to act. Was this what normal people did? Just... hang out?

"So," Josh began, breaking the silence, "how's your day been so far?"

Eden took a bite of her sandwich, trying to think of something that wasn't too heavy to say. "It's been fine, I guess," she said, shrugging a little. "Nothing exciting, just the usual stuff. How about you?"

Josh grinned, the expression almost mischievous. "The same. You know, getting by, trying not to fall asleep in class." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "But I'm actually glad I'm not doing that right now. This is... nice."

Eden smiled, not expecting him to say that. She'd expected something flippant, like everyone else, but instead, he was being genuine. She wasn't used to it.

"Yeah, it is," she said quietly, looking down at her sandwich as if it held some kind of answer she wasn't ready to face. She didn't have to say it out loud, but just being there with Josh, not thinking about all the things that usually weighed on her, made her feel lighter.

They ate their lunch in silence for a while, not awkward or uncomfortable but just... content. It was strange how easy it felt, like they had known each other far longer than just the one day they'd spent together in the park.

"So, what do you usually do after school?" Josh asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Eden thought for a moment before answering. "I usually go home. Nothing special, really."

Josh nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Sounds a lot like me. Maybe we should hang out again after school. I could show you my secret hideaway." He raised an eyebrow, a playful gleam in his eyes.

Eden couldn't help but smile. "Secret hideaway? Is this a... secret club?"

Josh's grin widened. "You could say that. But you'll have to come see it for yourself."

Eden wasn't sure what she was expecting, but something in her stirred at the idea. Maybe she wasn't as alone as she thought. Maybe there was something more to life than just getting by, just existing. Maybe, just maybe, she could start living again.

"Alright," she said, feeling a new sense of anticipation rising in her chest. "I'll check it out."

Josh's eyes lit up, and for a moment, Eden felt like she had just made a decision that would change everything.