The words that was left unsaid

Chapter 2

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon as Rue and Cara left the coffee shop, the evening air cool against their skin. The walk home was always the same: the quiet chatter about small things, the occasional silence, the steady rhythm of their footsteps echoing against the pavement. Rue tried to keep her thoughts on the mundane details—what to have for dinner, whether the weather would be nice tomorrow—but Cara's presence felt like an undeniable force at her side.

Clara's laughter broke through the quiet, pulling Rue from her thoughts. "You're so quiet tonight. What's up?".

Rue's heart skipped a beat. She had been trying to keep her gaze fixed on the sidewalk, afraid of what might happen if their eyes met for too long. But Cara always had a way of reading her, like she could see straight through the walls Rue put up.

"Nothing," Rue muttered, her voice small, even to her own ears. She cursed herself for being so obvious, but Cara just smiled that easy smile, like she wasn't bothered in the slightest.

"Sure, sure," Cara teased, nudging her playfully with her elbow. "You know you can talk to me, right?".

Rue felt the weight of those words settle like a stone in her chest. She could talk to Cara. But what would she say? That she'd been thinking about her all day? That her heart raced every time their hands brushed, every time Cara looked at her with that spark in her eyes? No, Rue wasn't ready for that. Not yet.

They walked in silence for a few moments, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze and the occasional hum of a passing car. Rue could feel Cara next to her, the warmth of her close presence, but also the distance. The distance Rue had built. The distance she wasn't sure how to close.

"What's the hardest part about being your best friend?" Cara asked suddenly, her voice light but curious.

Rue blinked, caught off guard by the question. She wasn't sure what to say at first—part of her wanted to say something about the fear of ruining everything, the fear that if she told Cara how she really felt, it might push her away. But that was too much.

"The hardest part?" Rue repeated, her voice coming out quieter than she intended. "Probably... figuring out how to be honest. With you, with myself."

Cara glanced at her, her brows furrowing just slightly, but Rue couldn't bring herself to explain more. The words were there, swirling in her chest, but they were too heavy, too tangled.

"That's really deep, Rue," Cara said, her voice teasing, but there was something softer in it, a gentleness that made Rue's chest tighten. Cara had this way of making everything seem easier than it really was, as if her carefree attitude could solve anything. But Rue couldn't help but wonder if she was just good at hiding her own fears.

They turned onto Rue's street, the familiar rows of houses stretching out before them. Rue's heart was still racing, but now it wasn't from fear of being caught staring at Cara—it was from something else, something uncertain but electric. She wanted to say something. She wanted to tell Cara how she felt, how much she loved her. But there was too much risk.

They stopped in front of Rue's house, the warm light spilling from the windows of her front door. Rue fidgeted with the strap of her bag, feeling the weight of Cara's gaze on her. For a long moment, neither of them said anything.

"Well," Cara said at last, breaking the silence with a smile, "this is me." She gestured to her own street, which was just a few houses down.

Rue nodded, trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest. "Yeah. Guess I'll see you tomorrow?.

Cara's eyes softened, a knowing look passing between them, and Rue felt her pulse quicken. She'd never been good at reading people—at least, not when it came to this. She couldn't tell if Cara was just being her usual warm, friendly self, or if there was something more there. But the way Cara lingered, the way her gaze held Rue's a little longer than usual, made Rue's heart twist.

Yeah," Cara said quietly, a trace of something almost vulnerable in her voice. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rue."

Before Rue could say anything else, Cara leaned in, brushing her cheek lightly against Rue's in a soft, almost fleeting gesture. It wasn't a kiss—nothing more than a touch, a quiet connection that made Rue's breath catch in her throat. Cara pulled back quickly, as if surprised by her own boldness, but Rue couldn't bring herself to say anything. She stood there, frozen, staring at Cara in a daze.

Cara looked at her one last time, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Goodnight, Rue," she whispered, her voice soft and warm.

Rue stood there for a moment longer, watching Cara walk away, her heart pounding. The touch, the way Clara's warmth lingered against her skin, was enough to make Rue wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was something more to their friendship. Maybe Cara had been feeling it too.

But Rue wasn't ready to find out. Not ye

As she walked into her house, she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. Maybe tomorrow, she thought. Maybe tomorrow I'll say something.

But for now, she was content to keep the secret tucked away, hidden in the space between them.