The Love We Left Behind

Cousin Shock, Silent Steps

The Distance Grows

The morning bell rang, and the school corridors filled with the familiar rush of students slamming lockers, shouting greetings, and the faint aroma of cafeteria coffee drifting through the hallways. Sneakers squeaked, backpacks zipped and unzipped, and the chatter of classmates blended into a familiar symphony of high school life. Evan moved through it all silently, earlier than most, keeping a careful distance from Bethany. He chose a seat near the back of the classroom, away from his usual spot beside her. From this vantage, he could see her laughing with Ava near the window, their heads bent together over a textbook. A pang of something unfamiliar twisted in his chest—jealousy, confusion, and regret tangled like messy strings of headphones left forgotten in a pocket.

He watched Bethany animatedly explaining something to Ava, gesturing with a pencil, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Evan’s chest tightened. Every laugh, every tilt of her head, seemed magnified in his mind. He couldn’t help the swirl of guilt and frustration creeping in—he had acted distant, been cold, and now, watching her laugh with someone else, he hated himself for it.

Ava nudged Beth and whispered conspiratorially, “Hey Beth, your cousin is outside.”

Bethany’s face lit up instantly, eyes sparkling with surprise. She practically jumped out of her seat, nearly knocking her notebook to the floor, and bolted toward the school entrance. Her sneakers slapped the hallway in rapid rhythm, drawing amused stares from a few students.

Evan froze for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden excitement. Curiosity surged through him. He slipped into a nearby stairwell, keeping low, moving quietly so Beth wouldn’t notice. He followed, his mind racing with questions: Who was this cousin? Why was she so eager to see him? Could this be the “boy” from the stadium he had misjudged her with?

“Jakey!” Bethany’s voice rang out as she neared the entrance, cutting through the cluster of students waiting by the gate. Jake, tall with a friendly grin, turned toward her, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “Hey, Bluey,” he said warmly, using a nickname from their childhood that made Bethany chuckle.

“Dad asked me to drop this off for you,” Jake continued, producing a neatly packed lunch box from his bag. Bright orange against the dull gray of the school walls, it looked cheerful and thoughtful. “I thought you might forget again.”

Beth’s eyes widened. “Oh, my lunch! I knew I was forgetting something when I left the house. Thanks, Jakey!” she replied, taking the pack and giving him a quick hug. The warmth of the brief embrace seemed to fill the space around them.

At that precise moment, Ava appeared, strolling up with a bright, eager smile. She had already known Jake was there and seemed to have rehearsed her entrance in her mind a hundred times.

“Hi, Jake!” she called, waving a little too energetically. Her face flushed instantly, and she fiddled with the strap of her backpack, hands shaking slightly.

Jake’s gaze softened at the sight of her. “Hey, Ava! How are you? How’s your mom?”

Ava froze for a heartbeat, then stammered, “I… I’m fine… she’s… fine.” Her voice cracked ever so slightly, betraying her nerves.

Bethany, noticing the blush spreading across Ava’s cheeks and the way she avoided Jake’s eyes, laughed quietly. “Oh wow… look at you! Heart racing much?”

Ava’s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, and she tried to hide her face with her hands. “Beth! Stop it! It’s nothing!”

Beth’s grin widened. “Nothing? Uh‑uh, I know that flustered look anywhere. Totally in love, Ava.”

Ava groaned, half hiding her embarrassment, but her lips twitched in a guilty smile. “I can’t help it! He’s… ugh!”

Beth teased, nudging her lightly. “Relax, it’s cute. But seriously, you’re going to combust if you don’t calm down.”

Ava rolled her eyes, still smiling despite herself. “Shut up, Beth! You’re just jealous you didn’t get the lunch hug too.”

Beth laughed, shaking her head. “Jealous? Nah, I’m just observing human behavior. You’re hilarious.”

Ava’s grin returned, playful. “Anyway, Jake brought your lunch? He’s so hot and a gentleman too. I could die!”

Beth laughed harder. “Wake up, Ava! Jakey’s never going to date you!”

“Why not?!” Ava asked, feigning indignation.

“Because he has a girlfriend, Ava!” Beth replied, still laughing.

Ava’s grin turned wicked. “I hope she gets hit by a bus! Then I can have Jake,” she said jokingly, and both girls burst into laughter, the sound echoing down the hallway and drawing a few curious glances. Their friendship, a safe haven for both of them, bounced back to its usual rhythm after the morning’s tension.

Evan’s eyes widened as he took in the scene. Relief flooded him, followed by guilt. He had misjudged Bethany, letting jealousy cloud his judgment, and for a moment, the weight of his mistakes pressed down heavily on him. But seeing her laugh, carefree with her friends, reminded him why he valued her friendship so much.

As school ended and the courtyard filled with students collecting their bags, chatting, and planning after‑school activities, Bethany walked home alone, her backpack slung over one shoulder. Evan, spotting her, felt a surge of urgency. He couldn’t let another moment slip by without trying to reach her.

“Hey, Bethany!” he called, voice cutting through the noise of the crowd.

Bethany turned slowly, wary, as Evan hurried toward her, hair slightly ruffled from the wind, eyes holding a mix of determination and uncertainty.

“Why are you walking alone? What about Ava?” he asked, trying to sound concerned but casual.

“Ava had somewhere to go,” Beth replied, her tone unfriendly, her shoulders tense. She quickened her steps, as if trying to put as much distance as possible between them.

“Hey, Bethany, I’m sorry,” Evan called after her, his voice barely rising above the chatter.

“Sorry for what?” she asked, suspicious, eyes narrowing, anger flickering behind them.

“For being mean to you,” Evan said quietly, hands shoved into his pockets.

“Being mean to me? Nah, you seriously have a problem, Evan, and you should work on that,” she said sharply, her words cutting through the air like a knife.

“I know, and that’s why I’m apologizing,” he replied, trying to keep his tone steady.

“Well, sorry to say, but I don’t want your apology. I’d be happy if you could just leave me alone. I’m done trying to be friends! All you’ve ever done is push me away. Now I get it. I’ll stop bothering you, so just continue ignoring me like you always do.” With that, she began walking away, stride firm and purposeful.

“Hey, Beth!” Evan reached out, hand falling back to his side as she continued moving, ignoring him completely.

Bethany disappeared into the crowd, leaving Evan standing there, chest tight, heart pounding. He watched her vanish down the sidewalk, the sunlight fading behind buildings, casting long shadows across the emptying street.

A cold breeze swept past him, carrying the faint echoes of laughter from Ava and Beth, a reminder of the distance he had created with his own actions. Evan’s mind raced. Each memory of her laughter, each glance he had misread, each harsh word he had uttered—it all piled together, heavy and stinging.

He clenched his fists, thinking of the countless moments they had shared, the trust he had broken, and the times he had pushed her away for reasons that now seemed so small, so insignificant. The regret settled deep in his chest, a weight he couldn’t shake. He had to fix this. Somehow, he would find a way to show her that their friendship was worth more than his pride, worth more than his jealousy, worth more than a single mistake.

Evan stood there, rooted to the spot as the last students trickled out of the courtyard, watching Bethany’s figure disappear into the distance. The golden hue of the late afternoon bathed the school grounds, but to him, it felt like a shadow hung over the day. His thoughts swirled: apologies to make, explanations to give, a bridge to rebuild—but most of all, the desperate hope that Bethany would let him back into her life.

The silence stretched around him, filled only by the distant hum of traffic and the whisper of the wind through the trees. He remained there, thinking, planning, willing himself to be better, to do better, to mend the rift he had caused. He didn’t move for a long time, letting the weight of the moment sink in.

Bethany was gone, but Evan knew this wasn’t the end. It would never be the end. And he vowed silently, fiercely, that he would do everything in his power to restore the friendship he had almost lost.