SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FRIENDS AND FOREVER

The Space Between Three Hearts

Linda’s POV

It was a great morning, and for the first time in a while, I felt genuinely happy. Things between Noah and me were finally okay again. The tension was gone, the silence had faded, and somehow, we had found our way back to each other. Maybe not exactly the same as before, but close enough to feel right again.

I woke up earlier than usual, a small smile already forming on my face. Today felt different. Lighter. I got ready carefully, taking extra time with everything, even though I told myself it didn’t matter. Deep down, I knew it did.

I was going to Noah’s house so we could go to school together.

That thought alone made my chest feel warm.

When I got there, he was already waiting. The moment he opened the door, we both smiled like nothing had ever gone wrong.

“Good morning,” I said softly.

“Morning,” he replied, and before I could think too much about it, we hugged.

It felt natural.

Easy.

Like we hadn’t spent days avoiding each other.

And that made me happier than I expected.

He was already done getting ready, so we left together. The walk to school felt like before. We talked freely, laughed at random things, and even spoke about our holiday, how it went, how boring some parts were, and how much we had missed each other.

I felt comfortable again.

Like I had gotten my place back.

Then everything changed.

“Noah!”

The voice came from behind us.

We both turned at the same time.

And the moment I saw her,something in me shifted.

Noah’s POV

Linda and I had planned to go to school together, and honestly, it felt good. Normal again. Like we had fixed something that was about to fall apart completely.

Talking to her felt easy again. I didn’t have to think too much or be careful with every word.

It was just Linda.

And I had missed that more than I realized.

We were in the middle of a conversation when I heard my name.

“Noah!”

I turned immediately.

And when I saw her, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Bailey.”

She walked toward us, her expression soft but bright.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey,” I replied. “When did you get here?”

“Not long ago,” she said.

Then I remembered Linda.

“Oh, this is Linda,” I said. “My best friend.”

Then I turned back. “And this is Bailey.”

They greeted each other politely, but something about it felt distant.

I didn’t think too much about it at first.

As we continued walking, I noticed something.

Linda had gone quiet.

At first, I thought she was just tired.

But then I realized she wasn’t talking at all.

Not like before.

I glanced at her.

She was there physically, but it felt like she had stepped away from the moment.

Linda’s POV

I tried to act normal.

I really did.

But it was harder than I expected, because I saw it.

The way Noah smiled when he saw her.

The way his voice changed slightly.

The way their conversation flowed so easily.

Like they didn’t need to try.

And suddenly, I felt like I didn’t belong there anymore.

I walked beside them, but it didn’t feel like I was part of anything.

They were talking.

Laughing.

And I was just… there.

Listening.

Pretending.

I told myself I was overthinking.

That it didn’t mean anything.

But the feeling in my chest said otherwise.

It was quiet.

But heavy.

For the first time since we fixed things

I felt the distance again.

Not loud.

Not obvious, but real.

And slowly growing.

Bailey noticed my silence almost immediately and glanced at me with a small, curious smile. “Why are you so quiet?” she asked. I forced a light shrug. “Nothing, I’m fine.” But I wasn’t. Not even close. She didn’t push, instead turning back to Noah, her voice softer as she spoke about their past, how they were each other’s first love, how life pulled them apart, and how she was back now, ready to have him again. I stood there, frozen, watching Noah smile the entire time, and something inside me slowly sank in ways I couldn’t explain.