Rhaine lay in bed long after the world outside her window had gone quiet. The glow of her desk lamp cast soft shadows on the walls, dancing faintly whenever the breeze slipped through the open window. She stared at the ceiling, her mind replaying fragments of the day Sam's laugh, the way her hand brushed against hers, that slight glimmer in Sam's eyes when she spoke.
It was nothing.
It had to be nothing.
She told herself that over and over, as if sheer repetition could make it true. It wasn't unusual to think someone was… interesting. That didn't mean she liked her. It definitely didn't mean she was
Rhaine groaned and buried her face into her pillow, cutting off that train of thought before it could finish.
She hated how her chest felt both tight and warm when she thought about Sam. It was irritating, unsettling dangerous.
"Friends," she whispered to herself, the word tasting almost sour. "She's just a friend."
She turned on her side, hugging her pillow, but every time she closed her eyes, Sam's face appeared. That small smile, the tilt of her head, the way she seemed to see through her excuses.
It wasn't fair.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
---
By morning, the warmth of the sun spilling across her bedcovers felt like it was mocking her for staying up too late. Rhaine groggily sat up, her hair a mess, and rubbed her eyes. She had a full day ahead, and the last thing she needed was to look like she'd been wrestling with her own thoughts all night which, in a way, she had.
Her phone buzzed on her desk.
A message from Maya.
> Maya: Don't be late today. Group meeting before class. Eli says it's important.
Rhaine sighed, already imagining Maya's dramatic scolding if she showed up even a minute behind. She pulled on her uniform, tied her hair into a loose ponytail, and grabbed her bag.
---
The school courtyard was already alive with noise. Students milled about in clusters, swapping notes or gossip. Rhaine spotted Maya and Eli near their usual meeting spot under the old acacia tree. Maya was mid-story, hands waving animatedly, while Eli listened with that patient smile he seemed to reserve only for her.
"You're late," Maya accused the moment she spotted Rhaine.
"I'm on time," Rhaine countered, glancing at the clock tower in the distance. "You just like to be early so you can yell at people."
Maya smirked. "It's called being responsible."
Before Rhaine could respond, a familiar voice cut in from behind her.
"Morning," Sam said casually, stepping into their little circle. Her hair caught the light in a way that made Rhaine's chest tighten again irritatingly so.
She forced herself to look away. "Hey," she muttered, keeping her tone neutral.
Sam, unbothered, smiled and joined the group discussion, effortlessly slipping into their banter.
---
The morning passed in a blur of lectures and notes, but Rhaine was acutely aware of Sam's presence. Even when she wasn't looking, she could feel when Sam's gaze lingered on her.
It was like trying to ignore a song that kept playing in the background you could pretend you weren't listening, but you still knew every note.
By lunch, Rhaine's mental walls were already worn thin.
The cafeteria was crowded, every table buzzing with chatter. Rhaine had just set her tray down when Sam leaned across from her.
"You're quiet today," Sam said, studying her with that same unshakable calm that somehow made Rhaine's pulse skip.
"I'm just tired," Rhaine replied quickly, stabbing at her food like it had personally offended her.
Sam's lips curved slightly. "You stayed up late." It wasn't a question.
Rhaine frowned. "How would you know?"
"You have that look," Sam said simply. "Like your thoughts wouldn't let you rest."
Rhaine froze for a moment, her fork hovering in midair. She wanted to say Sam was wrong, to deny it outright but her voice wouldn't come.
Instead, she looked away, muttering, "You read too much into things."
Sam didn't push, but that small, knowing smile lingered, and it gnawed at Rhaine more than she wanted to admit.
---
After lunch, the hours crawled. Rhaine focused on her notes with mechanical precision, anything to keep from meeting Sam's eyes.
When classes ended, Maya had to leave early for a club meeting, and Eli walked with her. That left Rhaine and Sam heading toward the gates together, the late afternoon sunlight stretching their shadows across the pavement.
"I can walk you home," Sam offered.
Rhaine hesitated. Her instinct screamed to keep her distance. But part of her stubborn, reckless wanted to say yes.
"You don't have to," she said finally.
"I know," Sam replied, tone even. "But I want to."
That simple statement made Rhaine's throat tighten. She nodded, silently berating herself for it.
---
The walk was quiet at first, filled only with the sound of their footsteps and the occasional breeze rustling the leaves. The sky was streaked with orange and pink, the kind of sunset that made everything feel softer, slower.
"You act like being around me is… difficult," Sam said, not accusingly, just observantly.
Rhaine's steps faltered. "I don't," she said, a little too quickly.
Sam glanced at her, eyes sharp yet soft at the edges. "You do. But I'm not going to ask why not unless you want to tell me."
Rhaine felt heat creeping up her neck. "There's nothing to tell."
But she knew that was a lie. There was something. There was the way her heart sped up when Sam smiled, the way her skin prickled when Sam stood too close, the way she felt caught between wanting to run away and wanting to close the distance.
And the worst part the part she refused to say out loud was that it wasn't just about Sam. It was about what it would mean for her. About who she'd have to admit she might be.
"I just…" she began, then shook her head. "Forget it."
Sam didn't push further. She simply walked beside her, close enough for their arms to brush occasionally, each touch sending a jolt through Rhaine's chest.
---
When they reached her street, the air felt heavier somehow, like the conversation had left something unspoken between them.
At her gate, Rhaine lingered. "Thanks for walking me," she muttered, eyes fixed on the ground.
"Anytime," Sam said with quiet sincerity.
Rhaine finally looked at her then just for a second and saw something in Sam's gaze that made her stomach twist. It wasn't dramatic, nothing overt, but it was there.
Something dangerous.
Something she couldn't let herself want.
Sam gave her a small nod before turning to leave, and Rhaine watched until she disappeared around the corner. Only then did she let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She leaned back against her gate, pressing a hand to her chest, trying to will her heartbeat to slow.
She hated how much she didn't want this feeling to go away.