The words that was left unsaid

Chapter 7

Saturday afternoons were always the best kind of lazy—endless hours of hanging out with Cara, no agenda, just time to spend together. Rue had never been one for plans, not when it came to Cara. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, like they'd known each other forever, and today was no different.

They were sprawled out on Rue's bed, the sunlight filtering through the window and casting soft beams across the room. Cara was flipping through a magazine, her legs stretched out lazily, while Rue sat cross-legged on the floor, her back against the bed, not really looking at the pages but listening intently as Cara pointed out some ridiculous fashion trend.

Rue couldn't help but watch her, the way her fingers idly traced the pages, the way her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulder. There was a quiet beauty to Cara that Rue had always admired, but today, it felt different. Maybe it was the way she laughed a little louder, or the way her eyes sparkled when she told a story. Rue realized, with a sudden, heart-wrenching clarity, how much she was in love with this girl.

Cara caught her gaze for a moment, raising an eyebrow. "What?" she asked, half-smiling.

Rue quickly looked away, a soft blush creeping up her neck. "Nothing," she muttered, trying to distract herself by picking at the hem of her hoodie.

Cara, always so attuned to Rue's moods, tilted her head. "You're being weird. What's going on?"

Rue gave a small, self-deprecating laugh, trying to play it off. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Cara asked, sitting up slightly, concern flickering in her eyes.

Rue swallowed, unsure if she should say anything. She had been hiding this for so long, and even though Cara had reassured her last night, Rue still wasn't sure if she could really be that vulnerable. But then Cara was right there, looking at her with those soft, unassuming eyes, and the words just... came out.

"About how much I love being around you," Rue said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cara blinked, her gaze searching Rue's face as if trying to read her. "Rue, I—"

"I mean, I know you're my best friend, and nothing's going to change that," Rue quickly added, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. "It's just... I don't know, I guess I don't always tell you how much you mean to me. I'm not always good with words."

Cara's expression softened, and she moved to sit on the edge of the bed, her voice gentle as she spoke. "You don't have to tell me, Rue. I already know. I've always known how much you care." She paused, letting the quiet settle between them for a moment before adding, "I care about you too, you know."

Rue felt a strange mix of relief and longing bubble up inside her. Cara cares about me. It was the truth, but it didn't necessarily mean it was the same way Rue cared about her. Still, the simple affirmation made Rue's chest tighten, and she forced herself to smile.

"I know," Rue replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "I guess I just get... nervous sometimes. I don't know what to do with all this feeling."

Cara laughed softly, that familiar, comforting sound that always seemed to ease Rue's anxiety. "I get that. You're not the only one who's a little complicated."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the kind that only best friends could share. Rue's mind kept circling back to her feelings for Cara, but she couldn't help but let herself bask in the simple joy of being together. They weren't talking about anything deep or life-changing, but that was the beauty of it. Just being in the same space, the same moment, felt enough.

After a while, Cara stretched out on the bed again, tossing the magazine aside. "So, what should we do today? You're the one who always has the best ideas."

Rue smiled, leaning back against the bed, her heart a little lighter than before. "I was thinking we could just walk around the park. Maybe grab some ice cream after?"

Cara grinned. "Ice cream sounds perfect."

As they left the house a little later, heading to the park with no destination in mind, Rue couldn't stop glancing at Cara, the way her laughter seemed to fill the air, the way her presence made everything feel a little brighter. For now, Rue wasn't thinking about what the future held. She was simply enjoying the moment—Cara's easy smile, their shared jokes, the feeling of having her by her side.

And, for now, that was enough.