22

I yawned and tossed in my bed, feeling the soft fabric of the sheets beneath me. The early morning light filtered through my curtains, casting faint streaks of gold across the room, but I had no energy to get up. It was Sunday, after all—a day to relax, stay in bed, and avoid the world.

Rolling over, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, hoping for something—anything—to distract me. I unlocked the screen, scrolling through my notifications. There was nothing particularly interesting, just the usual spam emails and a couple of social media updates. With a sigh, I tossed the phone aside, its familiar weight landing on the pillow next to me.

But even though I tried to ignore it, one question lingered at the back of my mind: Why wasn't there a text from Levi?

I frowned, my thoughts betraying me. Why was I expecting a text from him? It wasn't like we had agreed to talk after what happened last night. But here I was, staring at my phone like an idiot, waiting for something that probably wasn't going to come.

I let out a frustrated sigh, pressing my palms to my eyes in an attempt to block out my own thoughts. Why did I care so much?

Levi had his own life, his own friends—and clearly, he had other people, like Mia, to spend time with. He didn't owe me anything. And yet, I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something. Like I wanted something more.

But what was I expecting, really? Even if he had texted me, what would I have said? Hey, Levi, why didn't you notice that Mia's presence bothered me that night? Oh, and by the way, I think I'm starting to catch feelings for you despite how much you drive me insane.

Yeah. That would go over really well.

I groaned, flopping onto my back and staring at the ceiling. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, a swirling storm of confusion and emotions that I wasn't even sure how to sort through.

Are we even friends? I wondered, my stomach twisting uncomfortably at the thought. Sure, Levi and I had shared some moments recently that felt like... more than friendship. But we hadn't defined anything. In fact, half the time, it felt like we were still locked in our old rivalry, constantly pushing and pulling, always on the edge of something but never quite crossing the line.

Maybe that's why I was so frustrated. Maybe I wanted something definite —something concrete that told me where we stood. But Levi wasn't the type to make things simple. He thrived in the gray areas, always keeping me guessing, always keeping me just far enough away to make me doubt everything.

I bit my lip, turning over the memory of last night in my mind. Seeing Mia with Levi had been... hard. I hadn't expected it to hit me like that, like a punch to the gut. I had felt invisible, like an afterthought, and it wasn't a feeling I was used to. I wasn't sure how to handle it.

Spencer's words from last night echoed in my mind. She had told me to be upfront with Levi, to talk to him about how I was feeling. And I knew she was right—she usually was. But the idea of confronting Levi about something so personal, so raw, made me anxious. What if he didn't take it seriously? What if he laughed it off or worse—what if he didn't feel the same?

I closed my eyes, willing the thoughts to go away. But it was no use. The confusion, the frustration, and— ugh —the jealousy, all gnawed at me, refusing to let go.

Eventually, I dragged myself out of bed, figuring that lying there wallowing in my thoughts wasn't going to help. The day was still young, and I needed to clear my head. Maybe some fresh air would help.

I threw on a hoodie and some leggings and made my way downstairs. I grabbed my keys and slipped out the door.

The neighborhood was peaceful, the crisp autumn air biting at my cheeks as I walked down the familiar path. The trees were a vibrant mix of orange and red, their leaves swirling around in the breeze. It was calming, in a way, to lose myself in the rhythm of my footsteps, the cool wind clearing away some of the fog in my mind.

But even as I tried to focus on the moment, my thoughts kept circling back to Levi. I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. That things were different now, even if neither of us wanted to admit it.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking me out of my reverie. I hesitated for a moment, my heart skipping a beat. Was it Levi?

I quickly pulled the phone out, and my heart sank when I saw it wasn't him. It was just Spencer, checking in again. I unlocked the screen and read her message: Hey, you feeling any better this morning?

I smiled, appreciating her concern. I typed back: Getting there.

A few moments later, her reply came: Good. Just take your time, okay? And remember, if you want to talk to him, I'm here to help you figure it out.

I sighed, leaning against a tree as I read her message again. Spencer was right—I knew I had to talk to Levi eventually. But today wasn't the day. Today, I needed to figure out how I felt, without the complication of his response hanging over me.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket, taking a deep breath as I continued my walk. Maybe I wasn't ready to face Levi yet, but I was getting closer. And when the time came, I knew I'd find a way to say what needed to be said.

For now, though, I just needed some space to breathe.