Chapter 3: Shadows of What Could Be
1887 Words
Chapter 3: Shadows of What Could Be
It was late afternoon, the sun casting long golden shadows across the Riveras’ front lawn, when I arrived at Nathalie’s house. I knocked on the door and waited, nervously smoothing the pleats of my school uniform.
It was Lucas who answered.
“Ellie,” he greeted with his usual casual smile, leaning against the doorframe. He was wearing a simple gray T-shirt and jeans, but somehow, he made it look like a fashion statement.
“Hi,” I replied, trying to sound normal. My heart was already racing, and I hadn’t even stepped inside yet.
“Nat’s upstairs,” he said, stepping aside to let me in. “Probably making a mess of her room again.”
I laughed, clutching my schoolbag tighter. “Thanks.”
“Good luck dealing with her,” he added with a wink before heading toward the living room.
That wink. It was such a small thing, but it made my entire day.
---
Upstairs, Nathalie was sprawled on her bed, surrounded by a mountain of books and papers.
“Ellie!” she exclaimed, sitting up. “Thank God you’re here. I need help with this science project before my brain explodes.”
I dropped my bag on the floor and joined her. “What’s the topic again?”
“Photosynthesis,” she groaned. “But honestly, who cares how plants make food? I’d rather eat pizza.”
I laughed. “Same, but we still need to get this done.”
As we worked, Nathalie started humming a pop song under her breath. It was one of the things I loved about her—how she could make even the most boring tasks feel fun.
“By the way,” she said suddenly, looking up from her notebook, “Lucas is planning to take Mia to that new Italian restaurant downtown this weekend.”
My stomach twisted. “Oh?” I said, trying to sound indifferent.
“Yeah,” she continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “He’s been saving up for weeks to treat her. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Yeah,” I murmured, focusing on my notes. “Sweet.”
---
Later that evening, I stayed for dinner with the Riveras. Nathalie’s mom served adobo and rice, and the whole family gathered around the table.
“Ellie,” Mr. Rivera said, smiling warmly at me, “you’ve been coming here so often, we should start charging you rent.”
“Papa!” Nathalie protested, laughing.
I blushed. “Thank you for always having me over. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Rivera said. “You’re practically part of the family now.”
Across the table, Lucas looked up from his plate. “Yeah, you’re like Nathalie’s shadow these days.”
I forced a smile. “Well, someone has to keep her out of trouble.”
Nathalie stuck her tongue out at me, and everyone laughed.
---
After dinner, Lucas offered to drive me home. I hesitated, but Nathalie nudged me.
“Come on, Ellie,” she said. “You know you’re safer with him than walking alone.”
“Okay,” I agreed, my heart pounding.
The car ride was quiet at first, the only sound coming from the soft hum of the engine. I stared out the window, trying to calm my nerves.
“You don’t talk much, do you?” Lucas said suddenly.
I glanced at him. “What do you mean? I talk plenty.”
He smirked. “Not around me, you don’t.”
I swallowed hard. “I guess… I just don’t know what to say sometimes.”
“Well,” he said, his tone teasing, “you can always start with ‘Lucas, you’re the coolest guy I know.’”
I laughed despite myself. “Is that what you want to hear?”
“It wouldn’t hurt,” he replied, grinning.
For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like if this ride meant more—if Lucas could see me the way I saw him. But as we pulled up to my house, reality came crashing back.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said, opening the door.
“Anytime,” he replied.
As I walked up the driveway, I couldn’t help but glance back. Lucas was still sitting in the car, watching me with an unreadable expression.
---
That night, I lay awake in bed, replaying the evening in my mind. Every smile, every word, every glance—it all felt like a lifeline, even though I knew it was foolish. Lucas had a girlfriend. He was older, out of reach.
But my heart didn’t care about logic.
---
After Lucas dropped me off that night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the image of him watching me as I walked into my house. That unreadable expression haunted me, teasing my imagination with questions I couldn’t answer.
What did it mean? Did it mean anything? Or was I just reading too much into something completely ordinary?
I sighed, turning over on my side. It wasn’t the first time Lucas had unknowingly made my heart race, and it wouldn’t be the last. But I couldn’t help but remember the first time I’d seen him, the moment that started it all.
---
It was six months ago, on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I’d been so nervous about visiting Nathalie’s house for the first time that I nearly turned back three times on the way there. When I finally worked up the courage to knock on the door, it was Lucas who answered.
He looked like something out of a dream, standing there in a plain white T-shirt and jeans, his hair slightly messy like he’d just rolled out of bed.
“Hi,” I’d stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Hi,” he’d replied, smiling. “You must be Nathalie’s friend.”
I nodded, too shy to say much else.
“Come on in,” he said, stepping aside.
As I walked past him into the house, I could feel my cheeks burning. It was the first time in my life that someone had made me feel that way, and I knew in that moment that I was in trouble.
---
Back in the present, I shook my head, trying to push the memory aside. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lucas.
“Ellie, get up!” Ethan’s voice called from the hallway, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. “Five more minutes!”
“Nope,” Ethan said, barging into my room. “Mom says if you’re late for school again, she’s not writing you another excuse note.”
“Fine,” I muttered, sitting up. “I’m up.”
As Ethan left the room, I glanced at the clock. I had exactly twenty minutes to get ready.
---
At school, Nathalie was waiting for me by the front gate.
“Finally,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I was about to leave without you.”
“Sorry,” I said, adjusting my backpack. “Ethan wouldn’t stop pestering me this morning.”
“That’s what little brothers are for,” she replied with a grin.
As we walked to class, Nathalie started talking about the upcoming school festival.
“We should totally set up a booth together,” she said. “Maybe a bake sale or something. What do you think?”
“Sure,” I said, though my mind was elsewhere.
“Earth to Ellie,” Nathalie said, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’re zoning out again.”
“Sorry,” I said again, forcing a smile.
Nathalie narrowed her eyes at me. “Let me guess. You’re thinking about Lucas.”
“What? No!” I protested, though the heat rising in my cheeks betrayed me.
“You’re such a terrible liar,” she said, laughing. “But seriously, Ellie, you’ve got to get over him. He’s taken, remember?”
“I know,” I said softly.
“Good,” Nathalie said, looping her arm through mine. “Because you’re way too amazing to waste your time on someone who doesn’t see you that way.”
Her words were meant to be comforting, but they only made the ache in my chest worse.
---
That afternoon, I went over to the Riveras’ house again, as usual. Nathalie and I had planned to work on our booth idea for the festival, but when I arrived, she was nowhere to be found.
“Ellie,” Mrs. Rivera said when she opened the door. “Nathalie ran to the store to grab some supplies. She should be back soon. You can wait inside if you want.”
“Thanks,” I said, stepping into the house.
As I walked toward the living room, I saw Lucas sitting on the couch, his laptop open in front of him.
“Hey, Ellie,” he said, looking up.
“Hi,” I replied, my heart skipping a beat.
“What’s up?” he asked, closing his laptop.
“Not much,” I said, sitting down in the armchair across from him. “Nathalie told me to meet her here, but I guess she’s not back yet.”
“She should be back soon,” he said. “In the meantime, want some coffee? Or water?”
“I’m okay,” I said, fidgeting with the strap of my bag.
Lucas leaned back on the couch, studying me with a curious expression. “You’re awfully quiet today. Something on your mind?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’m just tired.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “If you say so.”
For a moment, we sat in silence, the sound of the clock ticking filling the room.
“Lucas,” I said suddenly, surprising myself.
“Yeah?”
I hesitated, unsure of what I wanted to say. “Do you ever think about… what you want to do in the future?”
He smiled. “All the time. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know,” I said, looking down at my hands. “I guess I’ve just been thinking about it a lot lately.”
“Well,” he said, his tone thoughtful, “I think the key is to figure out what makes you happy and go after it.”
“Even if it’s scary?”
“Especially if it’s scary,” he said with a grin.
His words stuck with me, long after Nathalie came home and we got back to work on our festival booth.
---
As the days passed, I found myself replaying that conversation in my mind. Lucas had a way of making even the simplest moments feel meaningful, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he saw me as more than just his sister’s friend.
But deep down, I knew the truth. To Lucas, I was just Ellie—Nathalie’s quiet, awkward best friend. And no matter how much I wished things were different, some things were just meant to stay the same.
Or were they?
---
- Writer
