nd endless. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything it touched. Bi

er the water. Daniel was there, of course, wearing sunglasses and laughing at something Nathan said.

to scroll through her phone

usual, soft blue with thin straps. It was simple, nothing e

ike just Sophia. She'd felt

ught her sleeve on a low-hanging bran

ud, but it felt li

running from her shoulder to her

oward her insta

look at him

he wa

x it and hurried toward the nearest res

uld swallow her whole. Her reflection looked ridiculous. One side of the dress clung stubbornly to

aniel would say if

he l

he tea

t to notice how har

ly all

er eyes, inh

pposed to be h

osed to cry ove

be cool, mature, m

s - hiding in the ba

came at

voice was soft. G

d. "Yeah. Just...

stling sound. A plastic bag

said gently. "Just try i

re slowly pulling out a simple white sundress -

to a store

he stepped out, Daniel was still there, leaning ca

sked, not lookin

barely above a w

time, there was something different in his expres

hide," he said quie

art sk

ng anymore, that she wished he'd look at her dif

and walked past him, trying to

dn't

see her the way

the firs

arting to notic

-

home, Sophia found herself sitting by the edge of the lake, watc

ide her, nudging her

ay?" sh

rugged. "

ng look. "It's the dr

ophia admitted, staring at t

d her head

He saw I was upset and did something about it

we're analyzing every

r eyes. "You mak

d. "Because you're reading into every

"It wasn't tha

p, bought you a dress, and waited outside the b

He probably just

aned in. "You're sti

ding the car with Nathan and their friends. He looked relaxed

d. "It's

t is

sweet like that and not ev

"Then maybe you should stop

ned. "What

he notices you," Lena said. "Stop

away. "I don't

y n

he sees me... even a little...

's wrong

sadly. "Becaus

r going to move on if you keep tr

to move on," S

nked. "Y

r this time. "I know it's stupid. I know. it's point

slowly. "You

didn't

se sh

as so

-

ophia stood in front of her mirror, h

the soft fabric, tracin

r expensive. No lace. No frills. J

ng thou

nt more than any gran

k of her drawer - not because she planned to wear

e p

ced her, even if o

aybe - he wasn't complete

d Daniel already in the kitchen, pou

up when sh

p early,"

eplied, taking a se

ffee addiction.

, grabbing a muffi

few moments - not awkwar

nd said, "You looked goo

ly choked o

" she

e dress. You loo

o her cheeks.

s coffee. "I

im. "Are you givin

"Is that s

y. "You usually call me

"Well, you

ully, and he caught her w

holding her hand lig

inked.

he clarified. "You

ed her throat.

er hand and leaning ba

not to stare at where h

-

nversation in her head - not just the part where he told h

't a co

a declarat

was som

, something

eling that she was teetering on

r more - the idea that he might neve

ing possibilit