r Lily had grown too heavy to ignore, and the idea of not telling her filled him with dread. What if someone el

in the grass, her backpack beside her, completely engrossed in a novel. A soft breeze stirred her hair, and the sunlight danced throug

her, rehearsing his words for the hundredth time. "He

but then her face lit up with recog

and walking away. But no, he had come this far, and he wasn't about

s heart pounding so loudly he was sure she cou

w, intrigued but calm

"Do you... do you wa

hanging in the air between them. He instantly regretted the rushed deliv

and looked up at him. Her expression was unreadable

that," she said soft

it better. Or maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all.*

l I figured out the right words, but I couldn't. I just... I like you, Lily. I've tr

nse. Lucas's palms were sweating, his heart racing

ps curled into a soft smile, one tha

gentle, "I've been wondering whe

n scrambling to process

liked me that way. I mean, you're always so thoughtful, and we've g

chest feeling lighter than it ha

und like music to his ears.

n't stop the grin that spread across his face. He stoo

oment, Lucas felt like the world had shifted. Everything he had been worrying about-the jealousy

chance," Lily said soft

," Lucas replied, his

-

ng. They spent time together after school, visiting the local coffee shop where they exchanged silly inside jokes and stories about their familie

here was no need for pretense or bravado. She liked him for who he w

e Lily still worked with Ethan on student council projects and other school activities, her focus always ret

ng room, sprawled on the floor with a board game between them. The

e," Lily teased, moving her

ng his head. "I'm ju

y said, rolling her

und himself studying her face-the way her eyes sparkled when she w

denly, his voice qu

her expression

, his tone earnest. "Asking you out, I mean

his hand. "I'm glad you did too," she said. "Som

-

t him or took his hand. He cherished the small moments-the way she would absentmindedly twirl her h

est decision he'd ever made. He realized that life wasn't about avoiding failure or re

The future felt wide open, filled with opportunities for new adventures and shared exp

r hands entwined and their laughter echoing through the quiet afternoon, Lucas knew he had made the ri