WHEN HE LOOKED AT ME

CHAPTER 7

The next afternoon, the sun dipped low behind the bleachers, painting the empty sports field in soft, golden light that made everything look warmer, quieter than usual. I sat alone on the low concrete edge behind the gym, my new favorite hiding spot ever since last night’s whirlwind with Ethan. It was peaceful here, removed from the chaos of the hallways, the cafeteria, and the constant chatter of students. My mind kept replaying every single moment from last night: the way he had looked at me under the streetlights, the warmth in his voice when he said my name, and that almost-kiss moment the memory of it still tingling across my lips and sending shivers down my spine.

I wasn’t expecting anyone to find me here.

So when footsteps crunched against the gravel, I stiffened instinctively, my heart jumping.

“Bella?” a familiar voice said gently.

I turned, and there he was. Collin. Ethan’s cousin. Calm, steady, with that same quiet presence that always seemed to appear at just the right or wrong time. His hands were shoved deep in his hoodie pockets, his curls messy like he’d been running his hands through them all day, and yet somehow he looked composed, thoughtful, grounded in a way I wasn’t sure I could ever be.

He stopped a few feet away, shifting from one foot to the other. “Hey… I, uh… wanted to talk to you.”

My shoulders tensed automatically. “About what?”

He let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Yesterday… I shouldn’t have shown up when you were with Ethan. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

My heartbeat slowed slightly. “It’s fine, Collin. You didn’t know.”

He shook his head, his expression folding into something heavier. “No, I did. I mean…” He paused, glancing down at the ground, as if weighing his words carefully. Then he looked back up at me, his eyes softer than I had ever seen them. “I usually come out here to cool off. I wasn’t expecting you two.”

“Oh.” I said nothing, unsure of what to say.

Silence stretched between us not awkward, exactly, but heavy, charged with unspoken thoughts. My chest tightened, a strange mix of curiosity and caution.

Finally, he spoke again, quietly. “I’m glad you were there, though.”

I frowned slightly. “Why?”

He swallowed hard, his gaze flicking to the ground for a moment before returning to mine. “Because… I got to see a different side of you.” His voice dropped even lower, honest and unguarded in a way that made my stomach twist. “And it made something click in my chest that I’m not sure I can ignore anymore.”

My breath caught, and my fingers dug lightly into the edge of the concrete beneath me. I wanted to respond, wanted to say something, anything but the words froze in my throat.

Before I could think of anything to say, footsteps echoed on the far side of the building.

Collin stepped back almost instinctively, eyes darting to the shadows. “Please… don’t tell Ethan I said that,” he murmured, his voice tight with nervous energy.

I nodded, too stunned to speak, watching him retreat slowly, my mind buzzing with every word he had just said. The golden light of the afternoon wrapped around me, warm and soft, but inside I felt an entirely different heat rising, a mix of confusion, curiosity, and something I wasn’t ready to name.