Chapter 7
"We're Just Friends"
After that night…
things didn't feel the same.
The photo.
His eyes.
The way he looked at me.
It stayed.
And unfortunately…
so did Ella.
The next day—
"JAYYYYY."
I didn't even turn.
"I'm not answering."
"You WILL."
"No."
She grabbed my arm.
"Spill."
"Spill what?"
"Everything."
I sighed.
"There is nothing."
She stared at me.
Dead serious.
"Don't lie."
"I'm not lying."
"You went missing with him."
"So?"
"You came back smiling."
"I always smile."
"Not like that."
I froze.
Oh.
Before I could say anything—
Another voice joined.
"Wait… are you guys talking about Keifer?"
I turned.
Two more of my friends.
Oh no.
"Nothing," I said quickly.
Ella crossed her arms.
"Everything."
I glared at her.
"Jay…"
one of them leaned closer.
"Are you guys dating?"
My heart skipped.
"No."
Too fast.
Too quick.
They exchanged looks.
"Then what?"
"Friends."
"Just friends?"
"Yes."
"Then why does he only look at you like that?"
I blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Ella jumped in immediately.
"EXACTLY what she means."
I felt cornered.
"He doesn't look at me."
"Jay."
"He doesn't."
"Then why was he staring at you the whole night?"
I stayed silent.
Because I didn't have an answer.
Because I noticed it too.
But I couldn't say it.
"Okay fine," another one said.
"Let's say you're just friends."
I nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"Then call him right now."
"What?!"
"Put it on speaker."
My eyes widened.
"No way."
Ella smirked.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to!"
"Or because you can't?"
Silence.
They all stared at me.
Waiting.
Watching.
I looked away.
"See?" Ella said softly.
"That's not 'just friends'."
"It is."
"Then prove it."
"I don't need to prove anything."
"Jay…"
her voice softened now.
"Do you like him?"
My heart stopped.
The question.
So simple.
So dangerous.
I looked at them.
Then looked down.
"…no."
A lie.
A quiet one.
But it still hurt.
Because deep inside…
something shifted.
Something real.
Something I didn't want to face.
"Then why do you smile when he texts?"
I didn't answer.
"Why do you wait for his calls?"
Silence.
"Why did you take a picture with him?"
My fingers tightened.
"I don't know…"
That was the only truth I could say.
Because I really didn't.
I didn't understand what this was.
It didn't feel like friendship.
But it wasn't something I could name either.
And naming it…
felt dangerous.
So I chose the safest answer.
"We're just friends."
Even if my heart…
was starting to say something else.
Across the corridor…
He stood there.
Leaning against the wall.
Looking at me.
Like he heard everything.
Like he knew.
Our eyes met.
And for a second…
I felt it again.
That pull.
That silence.
That something.
But I looked away.
Because if I didn't…
I might stop lying.
And I wasn't ready for that.
Not yet.
Because once I accept it…
there's no going back.
And maybe…
some feelings are better left unnamed.
Even if they grow…
right in front of you.
To be continued… 😏💔