Chapter 8 Sophie Finally Notices
716 Words
By now, Sophie was no longer guessing. She knew something was wrong with Lily, or maybe not wrong exactly, but different. Lily had changed ever since Ethan entered her life. At first Sophie thought it was just friendship. Lily finally talking to someone new, finally opening up a little. But now it was becoming too obvious to ignore.
That morning during class, Lily kept smiling at her phone. Not fully smiling, just those small hidden smiles she tried hard to control. Sophie noticed immediately.
“Who are you texting?” Sophie asked quietly.
Lily quickly locked her phone. “Nobody.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “You literally smiled at the screen.”
“I did not.” “You did.”
Lily tried focusing on her notes but Sophie kept staring at her suspiciously.
A few minutes later Ethan walked into class and immediately sat beside Lily like always.
“Morning,” he said. “Morning,” Lily replied softly.
Sophie watched both of them carefully. The way Lily’s face changed when Ethan was around was something she couldn’t miss anymore. Lily looked happier, lighter, less guarded. Even the way she spoke sounded different.
During class Ethan leaned closer to whisper something to Lily and she laughed quietly.
That was it. Sophie finally shook her head slowly and muttered, “Oh my God.” Lily looked at her. “What?” “You like him.”
Lily almost dropped her pen. “What are you talking about?”
“Please,” Sophie whispered. “I’m not blind.”
Lily immediately looked away. “You’re being dramatic.”
“No, you’re in love.”
Lily’s heart skipped after hearing those words. Love sounded too serious. Too big.
“I’m not in love,” she whispered quickly.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Then why do you look at him like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like he personally controls your happiness.”
Lily stayed quiet after that because honestly she didn’t even know how to defend herself anymore. The truth was Sophie was right.
Every time Ethan smiled at her, her whole mood changed. Every time he texted her, she got excited. And anytime he looked sad or distant, she carried it around the whole day like it was her own problem too.
That wasn’t normal friendship anymore.
After class ended, Sophie dragged Lily outside before Ethan could follow.
“Okay tell me the truth,” Sophie said.
“There’s nothing to tell.” “Lily.”
Lily sighed softly and crossed her arms. “Fine.”
Sophie’s eyes widened immediately. “I knew it.”
“But don’t make it a big deal,” Lily said quickly. “Please.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
“You do know.”
Lily looked down at the floor. “Maybe since that day we walked home together in the rain.”
Sophie stared at her for a second before laughing softly. “That is the most romantic thing you’ve ever said in your life.”
Lily groaned. “See why I didn’t want to tell you?”
Sophie smiled a little but then her expression became serious again. “Does he know?”
Lily shook her head immediately. “No.” “Are you going to tell him?” “No.” “Why?”
“Because I don’t want things to become awkward,” Lily replied quietly. “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
Sophie looked at her carefully. “And what if he does?”
Lily didn’t answer because she had never really allowed herself to think about that possibility. It felt safer expecting nothing.
Before Sophie could say anything else, Ethan walked out of class looking around for them. The second his eyes found Lily, he smiled and walked over.
“There you are,” he said casually.
Sophie looked between both of them and shook her head again like she was watching something obvious.
“What?” Ethan asked.
“Nothing,” Sophie replied with a small smile.
But Lily already knew Sophie was going to start paying attention to every little thing now.
And honestly, that scared her a little.
Because once someone else noticed her feelings, it suddenly became more real than before.
- Writer
