Unresolved Feelings
927 Words
The morning sun cast long ribbons of gold across the school courtyard as students shuffled through the gates, each one lost in their own world of gossip, assignments, and half-eaten breakfast sandwiches. The air smelled faintly of fresh-cut grass mixed with the scent of coffee drifting from the teachers’ lounge. Backpacks thudded against shoulders, lockers slammed open and shut, and bursts of laughter echoed through the corridors.
Evan was already there.
Much earlier than usual.
He stood by the tall metal gate, leaning lightly against the cold bars with his hands buried in his jacket pockets. His gaze moved constantly across every student entering the school, searching without fully admitting what he was looking for. Each time a girl with long dark hair appeared, his chest tightened briefly before easing again when it wasn’t Bethany.
Minutes crawled by.
The bell rang once. Then again.
Still no Bethany.
Students began rushing in, panic setting in as the final warning rang through the air. Evan’s jaw tightened slightly, disappointment settling quietly in his chest.
Then he saw her.
Bethany stepped through the gate.
The sunlight caught in her hair as she brushed it back, her expression calm, almost distant. For a moment, Evan forgot to breathe.
Their eyes met briefly.
Just a flicker.
Then she looked away and continued walking, as though she hadn’t seen him at all.
As though he didn’t exist.
Something sharp twisted in his chest.
Before he could think, he pushed off the gate and moved quickly through the crowd until he reached her. He gently caught her wrist.
Her skin was cold from the morning air.
“Hey, Bethany… I’m sorry. And I mean it,” he said softly.
His voice carried something fragile, almost breaking.
Bethany turned slowly.
Her expression was no longer warm.
It was guarded.
Cold.
She pulled her wrist away sharply.
“Let go of me.”
She didn’t wait for a response. She simply turned and walked away.
Evan stood frozen in place as students passed him by. The hallway suddenly felt wider, emptier, and far too loud.
For the first time, he wondered if he had already lost her.
Break Time – The Cafeteria
The cafeteria was loud and crowded, filled with laughter, clattering trays, and the smell of fried food.
Evan didn’t feel hungry.
He only wanted to see her.
He stood near the entrance, partially hidden beside a vending machine, scanning the room.
Then he found her.
Bethany sat with Ava and Cal.
Ava was laughing loudly, leaning forward as she spoke. Cal sat close beside Bethany, relaxed and joking about something that made her laugh too. Her smile was bright, open… different.
Something in Evan’s chest tightened painfully.
He stared longer than he should have.
Cal leaned slightly toward her as he spoke again, still smiling.
Evan’s eyes narrowed.
“Seriously?” he muttered under his breath.
To him, it looked wrong.
Too close.
Too familiar.
He didn’t know them.
He didn’t know they were just friends.
All he saw was Bethany laughing with someone else.
“I don’t even care,” Evan whispered, turning away.
But he did.
And he hated that he did.
After a few seconds, he left the cafeteria without eating.
Moments Later..
Cal was still talking when Sarah and Nelson arrived at the table.
Sarah dropped her bag onto the chair. Nelson followed, slightly out of breath.
Cal looked up. “Where were you guys?”
Nelson groaned as he sat down. “This one here,” he said, pointing at Sarah, “decided to turn me into a delivery guy. I had to carry her books all the way to the teacher’s office.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “You’re exaggerating.”
Ava laughed. “Of course you two are late again.”
Bethany smiled lightly but remained quiet.
Cal leaned forward. “You missed all the entertainment.”
Nelson frowned. “What entertainment?”
Sarah tilted her head toward Bethany.
“Oh right,” she said casually. “What about the new boy we’ve been seeing you hang out with lately?”
Bethany froze slightly.
Ava immediately smirked.
Nelson’s eyes widened. “Ohh… what did I miss?”
Bethany leaned back in her chair.
“Let’s not bring him up, please.”
Cal grinned instantly.
“Did you get dumped already?”
A beat of silence.
Then all of them burst into laughter.
Bethany sighed but smiled faintly, shaking her head.
“You people are annoying.”
Ava nudged her. “Aww, don’t be shy.”
Bethany groaned. “I said drop it.”
But her cheeks were faintly warm.
Evan was already gone.
After Break – Class
The bell rang and students slowly returned to class.
Bethany walked in with Ava and Cal still joking behind her.
The classroom settled into its usual noise—chairs scraping, books opening, pens clicking.
Bethany paused for a second.
Evan’s seat.
Empty again.
Her eyes lingered longer than she expected.
Ava dropped into her seat beside her. “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about him.”
Bethany quickly shook her head. “I’m not.”
But her voice lacked certainty.
Cal walked past, stretching as he sat down. “Who’s thinking about who?”
Ava smirked. “Secret matters.”
Bethany groaned softly. “Ava, please.”
But even as she opened her book, her attention drifted back to the empty seat.
And somehow, it felt louder than the entire classroom.
Somewhere else in the school, Evan sat alone, silent, confused, and thinking about something he didn’t yet understand.
- Writer
