Chapter 26: Unspoken Truths
The tension had been building in Riley's chest for days now, maybe even longer. It wasn't something she could ignore anymore. She could only bury it for so long before it bubbled up, demanding attention. The way Elena had looked at that guy at the club. The way Riley felt a spark of jealousy, of possessiveness, even if it was unwarranted. It was all so confusing, so new, but there was no denying it any longer.
Riley had always admired Elena-hell, she'd had a crush on her since middle school. From the moment they met, there was something magnetic about Elena that Riley couldn't quite explain. Back then, it was just a shy, innocent admiration from afar. But over the years, as they grew closer, as they became friends, it became more than that. It became an undeniable feeling that Riley couldn't shut off, no matter how much she told herself it was better to keep things platonic. She had been content with their friendship, with their easygoing dynamic. But lately, that was getting harder to maintain.
Elena, for her part, had always intrigued Riley. From the way she carried herself to the way she thought, there was something magnetic about her. A calm, almost mysterious energy that Riley found irresistible. But Elena, unlike Riley, had never openly acknowledged the tension between them. Not in words, at least. It was clear, though, that she wasn't completely immune to the pull.
Riley didn't expect anything to change. She wasn't foolish enough to think Elena had feelings for her in return. But as the days wore on, as the unease in her heart grew, Riley found herself unable to ignore it. And today, she couldn't let it go anymore.
She had to talk to Elena.
Riley paced around her room for a while, trying to steady her breath, trying to calm the storm in her chest. She couldn't just sit there, not when everything felt so... off. She couldn't pretend that everything was fine when it wasn't. So, after a few more minutes of internal debate, she grabbed her jacket and headed out the door.
As she made her way to Elena's room, Riley's heart pounded in her ears. She had no idea what she was going to say, or even how to start. But she knew that she couldn't avoid it any longer. She had to confront this, whatever this was, before it consumed her.
When she reached Elena's door, she hesitated for a moment, fingers hovering over the doorknob. Then, without overthinking it, she knocked softly, a little more than a tap, but loud enough to get Elena's attention.
There was a soft shuffle from inside, and Riley's heart skipped a beat when the door creaked open, revealing Elena standing there in comfortable loungewear, her hair pulled back in a loose bun. Elena looked surprised, though a smile played at the corners of her lips as she greeted Riley.
"Hey, what's up?" Elena asked, her voice light but with a hint of curiosity in her gaze.
Riley swallowed, the words caught in her throat. This was it. This was where it either ended or started something entirely new. She could feel the weight of it all pressing down on her.
"I need to talk to you," Riley said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Can we... can we just talk for a second?"
Elena's expression softened, sensing the seriousness in Riley's tone. "Of course. Come in."
Riley stepped inside, the door closing quietly behind her. She glanced around the room quickly, noticing how neat and organized everything was, as if Elena was someone who thrived in order and calm. It was a small detail, but it somehow made Riley's stomach flutter.
Elena motioned to the bed, offering her a seat. Riley sat down, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The silence stretched between them for a few moments before Elena spoke again.
"What's on your mind?" she asked, her voice gentle, but there was something else in it too. Something unreadable that made Riley feel even more vulnerable than before.
Riley took a deep breath. "I don't know how to say this... but I think I need to get something off my chest. Something that's been bothering me for a while."
Elena leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued, her gaze never leaving Riley's face.
"I've had a crush on you for years," Riley said before she could stop herself. The words spilled out all at once, the confession hanging in the air like a heavy weight. She winced as the truth of it settled between them, but she didn't regret it. She couldn't hide it any longer.
Elena blinked, her eyes widening slightly in surprise, but she didn't speak immediately. Instead, she sat back, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression thoughtful. Riley could see the wheels turning in Elena's mind, but she couldn't read her face. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad one.
"Riley..." Elena finally said, her voice quiet, measured. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
Riley shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Because I've always been fine with us just being friends. I didn't want to risk ruining it. But lately, I can't stop thinking about you, and I don't know what to do with it. And then... then when I saw that guy talking to you at the club, I felt something I didn't want to feel. I didn't like it."
Elena stayed silent for a long moment, her gaze steady. It was as if she was considering Riley's words carefully, weighing them in her mind. Finally, she spoke again, her voice softer now.
"I've always thought you were... interesting," Elena said, the corners of her mouth lifting just a little in a small, knowing smile. "You've always been this book I wanted to study. I didn't know what it meant back then, and I still don't really know now. But there's something about you that draws me in."
Riley's heart skipped, a flutter in her chest at the admission, but she didn't speak immediately. Instead, she took a steadying breath, trying to keep herself from overthinking it. The confession from Elena-however indirect-was enough to make her pulse quicken.
"So..." Riley began, her voice quieter now. "What does that mean? What do you think this is? Or... what could it be?"
Elena stood up slowly, pacing for a moment before turning back to face Riley. Her eyes held something Riley couldn't quite place-curiosity, perhaps, but also an undercurrent of something deeper. She took a step closer to Riley, her gaze fixed on her as if she were trying to make sense of the sudden clarity that had come between them.
"I don't know," Elena said finally, her voice soft but steady. "But I think I want to find out."
Before Riley could process the words, Elena's hand reached out, cupping Riley's face gently. The touch was soft, tentative, but it felt like an invitation. Riley held her breath, her pulse racing as the space between them shrank.
Then, without any more hesitation, Elena leaned in, her lips brushing against Riley's. The kiss was slow, gentle at first, as if they were both testing the waters. Riley's breath hitched in her throat, and for a moment, she forgot everything around them. There was no confusion, no questions-just the simple, undeniable truth of the kiss that they had both been avoiding for so long.
When they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested together, and neither of them spoke. But in that moment, it didn't matter. Everything they had been hiding from each other, all the unspoken truths, seemed to fade away in the quiet aftermath. They didn't need words. Not yet. But this was the beginning of something new, something that neither of them could deny anymore.