The next day, Tessia woke up feeling conflicted. Her mind kept replaying the conversation with Lucas from yesterday—the soft sincerity in his eyes, the way his hand had lingered on her wrist, the weight of his words. For the first time in what felt like forever, someone had gotten past her defenses, and it scared her.
But there was something else, too. She felt… lighter. As if letting even a little bit of herself be vulnerable had lifted a weight she didn’t realize she was carrying. Still, that didn’t mean she was ready to open up completely. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
She sighed, sitting up in bed and running her hands through her hair. The sunlight streaming through the curtains did little to brighten her mood. She had plans to meet Lucas again today, but after yesterday, she wasn’t sure how to act around him. Would things be awkward? Would he expect her to talk about her feelings again?
Tessia groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Why does everything have to be so complicated?”
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, interrupting her internal monologue. She picked it up, half expecting it to be Lucas, but it was just a message from her friend, Kara.
**Kara:** *Hey, are we still on for lunch later? Don’t forget, we’ve got plans!*
Tessia had completely forgotten. She and Kara had made plans for lunch earlier in the week. Now, the thought of juggling time with Kara and meeting Lucas made her head spin. She couldn’t just cancel on Kara, but she also didn’t want to ghost Lucas after everything that had happened.
**Tessia:** *Yeah, we’re still on. See you at noon!*
She hit send, then stared at her phone, debating whether to message Lucas. After a minute of internal back-and-forth, she decided to just rip off the band-aid and text him.
**Tessia:** *Hey, are we still meeting later?*
His reply came almost immediately.
**Lucas:** *Of course. Can’t wait to see you.*
Her heart did a little flip at his words. Why did he have to be so… nice? It made things harder.
---
Later that afternoon, Tessia met Kara at their favorite café, a cozy little place with mismatched chairs and colorful murals on the walls. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries filled the air, comforting in its familiarity.
“Tessia!” Kara waved her over from a table near the window, already halfway through her iced latte. “You’re late.”
Tessia gave her a sheepish smile as she slid into the seat across from her. “Sorry, I got caught up with… stuff.”
Kara raised an eyebrow, smirking. “*Stuff,* huh? Does this have anything to do with a certain guy?”
Tessia’s cheeks flushed. “What? No!”
Kara laughed, clearly not buying it. “Oh, come on. You’ve been acting all weird lately, and now you’re blushing. Spill the tea, girl. What’s going on with you and Lucas?”
Tessia groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Nothing! I mean… something. I don’t know.”
“Wow, that’s descriptive.” Kara took a sip of her latte, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Okay, start from the beginning. What happened?”
Tessia hesitated, but Kara had a way of prying things out of her, and before she knew it, she was recounting everything that had happened between her and Lucas—the accidental feeding, the heartfelt conversation, and the confusion swirling in her chest.
By the time she finished, Kara was practically bouncing in her seat. “Oh my God, Tess! This is huge!”
Tessia frowned, slumping in her chair. “I don’t know. I’m just… confused. I don’t want things to get complicated.”
“Tess, things are already complicated,” Kara said, leaning forward. “You like him, don’t you?”
Tessia opened her mouth to protest, but the words wouldn’t come. She didn’t know what she felt. Maybe she did like him, but it was scary—scary to admit, scary to feel.
Kara grinned knowingly. “See? You totally do.”
Tessia groaned again, covering her face. “What do I do?”
“First of all, stop overthinking it,” Kara said with a chuckle. “Just go with the flow. If he likes you too—and let’s be real, it sounds like he does—then why not see where it goes?”
Tessia stared at her, biting her lip. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
Kara softened, reaching across the table to pat her hand. “You don’t have to be ready for everything at once. Just take it one step at a time.”
Tessia nodded, her mind still spinning, but Kara’s words helped ease some of the tension in her chest.
As they continued talking, Tessia’s phone buzzed again. She glanced at it and saw a message from Lucas.
**Lucas:** *I’m at the park near your place. Wanna meet me here?*
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected him to message her so soon.
“Tessia,” Kara said with a smirk, noticing the way her friend was staring at her phone. “Is that Lucas?”
Tessia quickly shoved her phone into her pocket, her face flushing. “Yeah, he’s… waiting for me at the park.”
Kara raised an eyebrow, grinning mischievously. “What are you waiting for then? Go!”
Tessia hesitated. “But we’re in the middle of—”
“Tess, it’s fine. Go meet him,” Kara said, waving her off. “You can thank me later when things get all romantic and cute.”
Tessia laughed despite herself, feeling the knots in her stomach loosen. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m *right,*” Kara corrected with a wink. “Now, go before I drag you there myself.”
---
When Tessia arrived at the park, she spotted Lucas sitting on a bench under a large oak tree, his face relaxed as he watched the leaves sway in the gentle breeze. He was wearing his usual casual jeans and a simple hoodie, but something about the way he sat—comfortable, confident—made her heart do a weird little flip.
Lucas noticed her approach and stood up, waving her over with a warm smile. “Hey! You made it.”
Tessia smiled awkwardly, walking up to him. “Yeah, I did.”
As they sat down together, Tessia could feel the tension between them from yesterday lingering in the air. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, unsure of what to say or how to act. But Lucas seemed relaxed, as if the awkwardness from before didn’t faze him.
“Thanks for meeting me,” he said casually, his tone light.
Tessia shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “No problem.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of birds chirping and kids playing in the distance filling the space between them. Tessia fidgeted with her hands, stealing glances at Lucas when she thought he wasn’t looking.
Finally, Lucas broke the silence. “You seem… different today. Is everything okay?”
Tessia blinked, caught off guard by his question. She quickly composed herself, shaking her head. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Why do you ask?”
Lucas smiled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re fidgeting. You only do that when something’s on your mind.”
Tessia’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, mentally cursing how well he seemed to know her. “I’m not fidgeting. You’re imagining things.”
Lucas chuckled, leaning back against the bench. “Right. So you don’t want to talk about it?”
Tessia bit her lip, debating whether to tell him the truth. But before she could respond, Lucas changed the subject, his tone light and teasing.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” he said, glancing at her with a mischievous grin. “That whole thing at the café? Where you fed me? That was pretty bold, Tess.”
Tessia’s eyes widened, her face turning bright red. “Oh my God, not this again!”
Lucas laughed, clearly enjoying how flustered she was. “What? It was cute.”
“I told you, it was an accident!” Tessia groaned, covering her face with her hands.
Lucas leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. “Sure, sure. But it’s okay if you want to admit that you like me.”
Tessia’s heart skipped a beat, her hands dropping from her face as she stared at him, wide-eyed. “W-What?!”
Lucas grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “What? I’m just saying. You don’t have to be shy about it.”
Tessia felt her mind go blank, her heart racing in her chest. She didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or run away. Instead, she just sat there, speechless and flustered beyond belief.
Lucas, noticing her reaction, burst out laughing. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”
Tessia let out a shaky breath, glaring at him. “That’s not funny, Lucas!”
Lucas grinned, his laughter dying down but the playful glint in his eyes still there. “Maybe not for you, but it was hilarious for me.”
Tessia crossed her arms over her chest, still glaring at him. “You’re such a jerk
.”
“Hey, you’re the one who fed me in public,” Lucas teased, poking her in the side. “I’m just saying, actions speak louder than words.”
Tessia rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. “Whatever. Can we just forget that ever happened?”
Lucas chuckled, leaning back against the bench with a satisfied grin. “Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Tess.”
---
As the afternoon wore on, their conversation gradually shifted from teasing to more lighthearted topics—school, hobbies, funny stories from their past. The tension from earlier melted away, replaced by the comfortable banter they’d always shared.
At one point, Lucas told her a story about a time he’d accidentally worn mismatched shoes to school and didn’t realize until halfway through the day. Tessia laughed so hard she nearly choked on her water, and Lucas grinned, clearly pleased with himself for making her laugh.
“You’re ridiculous,” Tessia said, wiping away tears of laughter.
“Hey, at least I’m entertaining,” Lucas replied with a wink.
Tessia shook her head, smiling despite herself. For a moment, she forgot all about the confusion, the tension, the fear. She was just Tessia, sitting in a park with her best friend, laughing and enjoying the moment.
But as the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the park, reality started to creep back in. Tessia’s laughter faded, replaced by a quiet sense of uncertainty.
As the golden rays of the setting sun bathed the park in a soft, warm glow, the atmosphere around Tessia and Lucas shifted. The lightness from their shared laughter faded into a more thoughtful quiet, and Tessia couldn’t help but feel the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them.
Lucas broke the silence, his voice softer than before. “You know, I like this. Just hanging out with you like this.”
Tessia’s heart did a little flip at his words, and she glanced over at him, trying to gauge his expression. His face was relaxed, but there was something serious in his eyes—a softness that made her feel vulnerable.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s… nice.”
Lucas smiled, a small, genuine smile that made Tessia’s chest tighten. “I mean it, Tess. I’ve missed this. You and me, just… talking. It feels like we haven’t really done this in a while.”
Tessia looked away, feeling her cheeks heat up under his gaze. “Yeah, well, things have been busy, I guess.”
Lucas let out a soft chuckle, his eyes still on her. “Busy avoiding me, maybe.”
Tessia’s head snapped up, her eyes wide in surprise. “What? No, I wasn’t—”
Lucas raised an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. “Tess, come on. You’ve been distant. I can tell when something’s bothering you.”
Tessia opened her mouth to deny it, but the words got caught in her throat. He was right—she *had* been distant, but not because she didn’t want to be around him. It was because being around him made her feel things she wasn’t ready to deal with.
“I wasn’t… avoiding you,” she said, her voice softer now. “Not on purpose, at least. I just… I don’t know.”
Lucas’s expression softened, and he reached out, placing a hand on her arm. The simple gesture sent a shiver down her spine, and Tessia had to fight the urge to pull away, afraid that if she did, she might never want to let go.
“You can talk to me, you know,” he said quietly. “Whatever’s going on in that head of yours, you don’t have to keep it all to yourself.”
Tessia bit her lip, her mind racing. She wanted to tell him everything—to admit that she liked him, that the idea of getting closer scared her more than anything. But how could she say that? How could she risk ruining everything by opening up about feelings she wasn’t even sure how to handle?
Instead, she forced a small smile and said, “I know. It’s just… complicated.”
Lucas’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t push her. Instead, he gave her arm a gentle squeeze before letting go, leaning back against the bench with a sigh.
“I get that,” he said after a moment. “I’m not gonna pretend like I know what’s going on in your head, but I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk. No pressure.”
Tessia felt a pang of guilt in her chest. Lucas was always so patient with her, always understanding, even when she wasn’t sure she deserved it. The least she could do was try to meet him halfway.
“Thanks,” she said softly. “I appreciate that.”
For a while, they sat in silence, watching the last of the daylight fade as the sun dipped below the horizon. The soft hum of cicadas filled the air, and the park, once bustling with families and joggers, was now quiet, with only the occasional passerby strolling along the path.
Tessia fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, stealing glances at Lucas out of the corner of her eye. He seemed relaxed, but there was something in his expression—something she couldn’t quite place. Was he… disappointed? Frustrated? She wasn’t sure, and that uncertainty gnawed at her.
Before she could overthink it any further, Lucas spoke again, his voice breaking the quiet. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”
Tessia turned to him, her heart skipping a beat. “About what?”
He glanced at her, then back out at the darkening sky. “About us.”
Her heart nearly stopped. *Us?* Was he really going to bring it up? Was this the moment where everything would change?
Tessia swallowed hard, her hands clenching into fists in her lap. “W-What about us?”
Lucas was quiet for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I guess I just… I feel like things have been different between us lately. And I don’t mean just the last few days. I mean… for a while now.”
Tessia’s heart pounded in her chest, and she felt the familiar panic rising in her throat. She wanted to tell him that everything was fine, that there was nothing to worry about, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie.
Instead, she forced herself to ask, “Different how?”
Lucas looked at her then, his eyes searching hers. “I don’t know. Like… we’re drifting apart or something. Like you’re always holding something back.”
Tessia felt her chest tighten, the weight of his words settling heavily on her shoulders. He was right. She *had* been holding something back, but how could she explain it to him without making everything worse?
“I just… I don’t want to lose you, Tess,” Lucas said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re important to me. More than you probably realize.”
Tessia’s breath hitched, and she looked down at her hands, her heart aching. She wanted to say something, to reassure him, but the words wouldn’t come.
After a long moment, Lucas let out a soft chuckle, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Look at me, getting all serious. I probably sound like an idiot, huh?”
Tessia shook her head quickly, her voice barely a whisper. “No, you don’t.”
Lucas gave her a small smile, though there was a hint of sadness in it. “I just want things to go back to the way they were, you know? When everything was simple.”
Tessia’s chest tightened even further. She missed those days, too—the days when everything between them had felt easy and uncomplicated. But things had changed, and no matter how much she wished she could, she couldn’t go back.
“I miss that too,” she admitted quietly.
Lucas glanced at her, his expression softening. “Then why do we have to let things get so complicated?”
Tessia didn’t have an answer for that. All she knew was that the more time she spent with Lucas, the more complicated her feelings became. She was afraid of ruining their friendship, afraid of getting hurt, afraid of opening up and letting someone in.
“I don’t know,” she said finally, her voice barely audible.
Lucas was silent for a moment, then he let out a soft sigh. “Yeah. Me neither.”
They sat in silence again, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging heavily between them. Tessia could feel her chest tightening, the anxiety and fear building inside her like a storm. She didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to make things right without risking everything.
Finally, Lucas stood up, brushing off his jeans. “It’s getting late. I should probably head home.”
Tessia looked up at him, her heart sinking at the thought of him leaving. But she didn’t know how to ask him to stay without sounding desperate, so she simply nodded.
“Yeah. I guess so.”
Lucas gave her a small, sad smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Tessia nodded again, though the knot in her chest only tightened. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
As Lucas turned to walk away, Tessia felt a surge of panic. She couldn’t let him leave like this—not with so much left unsaid. Without thinking, she jumped to her feet, calling after him.
“Lucas, wait!”
He turned around, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Yeah?”
Tessia hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to say something—*anything*—to stop him from walking away. But the words stuck in her throat, and all she could do was stare at him, her mind racing.
Lucas watched her for a moment, then his expression softened. He took a step closer, his voice gentle. “Tess, whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Tessia bit her lip, her hands trembling at her sides. She wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that he wouldn’t leave if she opened up to him. But the fear of losing him—of ruining everything—was too strong.
“I… I just…” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas waited patiently, his gaze never leaving hers. Tessia took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. She knew this was it—her chance to finally be honest, to stop hiding behind her fear.
But just as she opened her mouth to speak, a sudden loud crash echoed from behind them, followed by the sound of someone shouting.
Both Tessia and Lucas turned toward the noise, their moment of vulnerability shattered by the unexpected commotion. Across the park, a group of kids had knocked over a trash can, and one of them was now chasing after a runaway soccer ball, laughing as they did.
Lucas let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “Well, that was unexpected.”
Tessia blinked, still dazed from the sudden interruption. The tightness in her chest eased slightly, and she couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle of her own. “Yeah. Definitely.”
For a moment, they stood there, watching the kids run around the park. The tension from earlier seemed to dissipate, replaced by a lighter, more comfortable energy.
Lucas turned back to her, his smile returning. “Come on. Let’s walk for a bit.”
Tessia hesitated for only a second before nodding, falling into step beside him as they made their way down the path. They didn’t talk much, but the silence between them was no longer heavy with unspoken words. Instead, it felt peaceful, like they were finally finding their way back to the comfort they used to share.
And as the stars began to twinkle overhead, Tessia couldn’t help but feel that maybe—just maybe—everything would be okay after all.