EpisodeTwo: The News That Changed Everything
1081 Words
Audrey had barely set her phone down when there was a sharp knock at her door, three quick taps, impatient and familiar.
“Come in,” she called.
The door swung open almost immediately, and Lina Bailey stepped in like she owned the room, her presence filling the small space with energy Audrey hadn’t realized she needed.
“You look like you’ve been arguing with your textbooks,” Lina said, dropping her bag onto the chair and kicking off her shoes.
“I have,” Audrey replied dryly. “And I’m losing.”
“That’s because textbooks don’t care about your feelings.”
Audrey smiled, closing her notebook. “So what’s this urgent news?”
Lina paused.
For a brief second, so brief Audrey almost missed it, something flickered across her face. Excitement… mixed with hesitation.
Then she grinned.
“Okay,” Lina said, plopping down onto the bed. “Promise you won’t react weirdly.”
Audrey raised an eyebrow. “That already sounds suspicious.”
“Just promise.”
“I’ll try.”
Lina took a breath, then said it quickly, like ripping off a bandage.
“I think I like Damian.”
The words landed, and something inside Audrey shifted.
Not loudly. Not dramatically.
Just… enough.
“Oh,” Audrey said.
It came out softer than she intended.
Lina leaned forward, studying her face. “That’s it? Just ‘oh’?”
Audrey forced a small laugh. “What did you expect? Fireworks?”
“I expected at least a reaction,” Lina said. “He’s your best friend.”
“Exactly,” Audrey replied, shrugging. “So?”
“So?” Lina echoed. “Audrey, he’s… I don’t know, he’s different. He listens. Like, really listens. And he’s not trying too hard like most guys. And when he smiles”
Audrey looked away.
She knew that smile.
Better than anyone.
“it feels real,” Lina finished.
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then Lina tilted her head. “Unless… this is weird for you?”
Audrey’s instinct was immediate.
“No,” she said quickly. “Why would it be?”
Lina studied her for a second longer, searching for something Audrey refused to show.
Then she relaxed.
“Okay, good,” Lina said. “Because I was thinking of maybe… talking to him more. Seeing where it goes.”
Audrey nodded.
“That’s a good idea,” she said.
And just like that, she gave permission for something she didn’t yet understand would hurt her.
That night, Audrey lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
She replayed the conversation over and over, trying to figure out why it felt like something important had just shifted.
I think I like Damian.
It shouldn’t have bothered her.
Lina liked people all the time. That was who she was, open, expressive, unafraid of her feelings.
And Damian?
He was her friend.
Her best friend.
That was all.
So why did the thought of them together sit so strangely in her chest?
Audrey turned onto her side, pulling her blanket closer.
“You’re overthinking,” she muttered to herself.
And eventually, she convinced herself she was right.
The next few days felt… normal.
Too normal.
Audrey noticed Lina texting more often, smiling at her phone, occasionally biting her lip like she was holding back excitement.
She noticed, too, the way Damian started checking his phone more frequently during their conversations.
But she didn’t connect the two.
Or maybe she did, and chose not to.
Until Friday afternoon.
They were sitting at their usual spot outside the library when Damian’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and something in his expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
“What?” Audrey asked.
He hesitated. “Nothing.”
She narrowed her eyes. “That’s not a ‘nothing’ face.”
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “It’s Lina.”
Audrey’s heart skipped.
“Oh,” she said, keeping her voice neutral. “What about her?”
“She asked if I wanted to grab coffee later,” he said.
There was a pause.
“And?” Audrey prompted.
“And I said yes.”
The words were simple.
But they felt heavier than they should.
Audrey forced a smile. “That’s good.”
“You think?” he asked, watching her carefully.
“Of course,” she said. “Lina’s great.”
“She is,” he agreed.
Something about the way he said it made Audrey’s chest tighten—but she ignored it.
“So,” she added lightly, “don’t mess it up.”
He laughed. “I’ll try not to.”
That evening, Audrey told herself she didn’t care.
She told herself it was just coffee.
She told herself she had no reason to feel… anything.
So why was she checking her phone every few minutes?
Why did the hours feel longer than usual?
Why did the silence from both of them feel louder than any message?
By the time Lina finally texted, it was almost midnight.
Lina: HE’S AMAZING.
Audrey stared at the message.
Her fingers hovered over the screen before she replied.
Audrey: I told you.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Then
Lina: No, like seriously. We talked for hours. I didn’t even realize how late it was.
Audrey swallowed.
Audrey: That’s good.
Lina: He’s different, Audrey. I think this could be something real.
Something real.
Audrey’s chest tightened again.
She typed, deleted, then typed again.
Audrey: I’m happy for you.
And she meant it.
At least… she wanted to mean it.
The next time she saw Damian, something felt different.
It wasn’t obvious.
He still smiled the same way. Still teased her. Still walked beside her like nothing had changed.
But something had.
“Coffee went well?” she asked casually.
He glanced at her. “You already know it did.”
“Lina told me,” she said.
He nodded, a small smile forming. “Yeah. It was… good.”
Audrey studied him.
There was something new in his expression.
Something softer.
Something she couldn’t quite name.
And for the first time, a strange thought crossed her mind:
He’s not just mine anymore.
The moment the thought appeared, she pushed it away.
Because it didn’t make sense.
Damian had never been hers.
But that night, as Audrey lay in bed again, staring at the ceiling, the feeling returned.
Stronger this time.
He’s not just mine anymore.
And this time…
She couldn’t ignore it.
- Writer
