The words that was left unsaid

Chapter 6

The walk home felt longer than usual. Rue's feet dragged against the pavement, each step echoing the heavy weight in her chest. She kept replaying the scene in her head—the way Cara had laughed with Jacob, the way he'd looked at her. It felt like the world was just... shifting, leaving Rue behind.

By the time she reached her front door, the ache inside her had grown unbearable. She tossed her backpack to the side and slumped onto the couch, her eyes staring blankly at the wall. The house was quiet, too quiet. She didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to pretend like everything was fine. So, she stayed there, trying to silence the thoughts that wouldn't stop racing.

It was then that she heard the knock.

Rue hesitated, unsure if she wanted to face anyone, but before she could even decide, the door creaked open, and there stood Cara, her familiar, warm smile tinged with something soft—something Rue couldn't quite place.

"Hey," Cara said gently, stepping into the room. "You weren't answering your texts, so I figured I'd come by."

Rue blinked, surprised by the sudden visit. She hadn't expected Cara to follow her home. She wiped her eyes quickly, hoping Cara wouldn't notice the redness, but Cara was already walking toward her, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Are you okay?" Cara asked, sitting down beside Rue on the couch. "You kinda disappeared after class. I was starting to get worried."

Rue forced a smile, but it felt weak, brittle. "I'm fine, just... tired, you know?"

Cara studied her closely, her gaze gentle but probing. "It's more than that. I know you, Rue. Something's wrong. Did something happen?"

Rue bit her lip, her heart thudding painfully. She had been so good at hiding her feelings before, but now, in the quiet of her own home, with Cara so close, it felt impossible to pretend anymore.

"Did you... did you like Jacob?" Rue's voice cracked slightly as she asked the question, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

Cara blinked in confusion, her eyes softening. "What? Jacob? No, not like that. He's nice, but—" She paused, her expression shifting as she turned to Rue with an almost searching look. "Wait... is that what this is about?"

Rue bit her lip harder, fighting back more tears. She could feel the sting of vulnerability creeping up, and it was hard to breathe, to even look at Cara. "I just saw you with him earlier, and it seemed like... I don't know. Like you were really into him. I just... I thought maybe you didn't need me anymore."

Cara's face softened in understanding, and before Rue could say anything else, Cara reached out, gently pulling her into a hug. "Rue, I—" she started, but the words caught in her throat. "I'm not like that. You know I'm not."

Rue's chest tightened, the weight of everything she'd been holding onto spilling out in a rush. She hadn't meant to make it sound like that. She hadn't meant for her feelings to come out so raw, so desperate. But here she was, with Cara holding her in a way that made her feel both loved and painfully aware of how much more she wanted.

Cara pulled back just slightly, her hands resting on Rue's shoulders. "I didn't know you felt like this. I—I wish you'd told me sooner. But, Rue, you're my best friend. Nothing is ever going to change that. You're not going to lose me, okay?"

Rue looked up at her, eyes red and swollen, and for a moment, everything went still. There was no laughter, no new boy, just the quiet weight of her feelings and the warmth of Cara's presence.

"Are you sure?" Rue whispered, her voice barely audible, as if saying it out loud might make it all too real.

Cara nodded, her expression soft but sincere. "I'm sure."

And in that moment, Rue didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain: Cara wasn't going anywhere. And for now, that was enough.