Things We're Not Saying
700 Words
The wind was sharp up there, tugging at Micah’s hair, sending it whipping around her face. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear, glancing sideways at Eden.
He wasn’t looking at the city anymore.
He was watching her.
Micah felt her cheeks burn, heart pounding in that uneven, reckless rhythm it always fell into around him.
“What?” she asked, trying to sound casual, but her voice cracked a little.
Eden smirked, though it was softer than usual. “You look like you’re about to jump.”
“I’m not,” she said quickly, pulling her knees up to her chest.
“Good,” Eden replied. “I don’t think I’d survive being blamed for that.”
Micah let out a nervous laugh, hugging her knees tighter.
It was easier to stare at the blinking lights of the far-off train yard than deal with the way his gaze made her feel.
“I don’t get you sometimes,” Micah admitted after a beat, her voice small in the open air.
Eden raised a brow. “Yeah? What’s so hard to get?”
She turned to face him, frowning slightly.
“You’re loud, reckless, and impossible to predict. One minute you’re daring me to kiss you, the next you’re acting like this is… like it means something.”
Eden’s smirk faded, his expression turning serious.
“Maybe because it does.”
Micah blinked.
Eden let out a breath, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe he was saying it out loud.
“I screw things up, Micah. That’s kinda my thing. But you—you’re different. You make me wanna try… I don’t know… not ruining everything for once.”
Her chest tightened.
She hadn’t expected that. Not from him.
Micah looked down at her hands, picking at a frayed thread on her sleeve.
“I don’t know how to do this,” she whispered. “Whatever… this is.”
Eden scooted closer, their shoulders brushing.
“Good. I don’t either.”
A soft silence settled over them, but it wasn’t awkward. It was almost… peaceful.
Micah could hear the steady thrum of music coming from somewhere in the city, the faint buzz of neon signs. The whole world felt far away, and for once, she didn’t mind.
“You know,” Eden said after a moment, “I thought you were boring when I first met you.”
Micah let out a surprised laugh. “Wow. Thanks.”
He grinned, nudging her playfully.
“Not like that. I mean… you were always so quiet, all neat and proper. I figured you’d never break the rules or do something reckless.”
Micah smiled faintly.
“Guess I fooled you.”
“Yeah,” Eden murmured. “You did.”
He reached over, brushing a stray hair from her cheek.
It wasn’t a dare this time. No teasing smirk. No audience.
Just him.
And her.
Micah’s breath caught.
The city, the rooftop, the wind — all of it seemed to disappear.
And for a moment, she thought he might kiss her again.
But then Eden pulled back, looking away with a crooked grin.
“C’mon. I gotta get you home before you freeze to death up here.”
Micah’s chest ached a little at the space between them now.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “Okay.”
---
**Later that night**
Micah lay in bed, staring at her phone.
No new messages. No calls.
But it was fine.
It was better this way.
Right?
She rolled over, pulling her blanket tighter around her, but the warmth didn’t reach the hollow space inside her chest.
Micah knew this wasn’t supposed to happen.
She wasn’t supposed to fall for a boy like Eden Rowe.
But somewhere between the dares, the late-night rooftop talks, and the things neither of them wanted to say out loud — she already had.
And she didn’t know how to stop.
---
**[Incoming Message: Eden]**
**Eden:** *You still awake?*
Micah stared at the screen, heart thudding.
**Me:** *Yeah. What’s up?*
A pause.
Then his reply.
**Eden:** *Can’t sleep. Kinda wish you were still here.*
Micah bit her lip, rereading it three times.
**Me:** *Yeah… me too.*
---
- Writer
