Morning arrived quicker than expected. The soft light of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. Dalian stirred, blinking sleepily before stretching her arms over her head.
For a moment, she simply lay there, listening to the faint sounds of Aunt Beatrice moving around the house. Diane was already up, hunched over her desk, scribbling something in her notebook.
"Morning," Dalian mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Diane hummed in response, not looking up.
Dalian pushed herself up, running a hand through her hair before finally reaching for her phone.
Still no message from Jack.
She clicked her tongue, locking the screen as she got out of bed. She told herself it didn't matter. It wasn't like she was waiting for a message. And yet, her fingers lingered over the screen a moment too long before locking it.
Shaking off the unnecessary thoughts, she grabbed her towel and made her way to the bathroom.
It was going to be a long day.
She pulled on her clothes quickly, picking something comfortable but not too casual. She wasn't dressing for anyone, of course. But as she adjusted the hem, her mind looped back to yesterday—Jack hesitating, the interruption, the silence that followed.
She shook her head. Focus. It's just another day.
By the time she entered the kitchen, Aunt Beatrice was already setting the table, her baby in her arms, babbling softly. The comforting aroma of warm bread and tea filled the air.
"You're up early today," Aunt Beatrice noted, glancing at her.
"Dalian shrugged as she sat. 'Woke up early.'"
Aunt Beatrice didn't push, just handed her a cup of tea. "Eat properly. You've got a long day ahead."
Dalian took a sip, the warmth grounding her. Diane joined a moment later, her usual serious expression in place as she sat down and reached for her plate.
Breakfast was quiet, save for the occasional clink of dishes and soft murmurs of morning conversation. It wasn't until Dalian was finishing her tea that her phone buzzed against the table.
A tiny jolt ran through her fingers as her phone buzzed. She inhaled, steadying her hand before flipping the screen over.
Jack: Morning. You good?
Dalian stared at the message for a moment before typing back.
Dalian: Morning. Yeah, you?
She hesitated, debating whether to bring up yesterday, but before she could, another message popped up.
Jack: See you at school.
Simple. Straight to the point.
Dalian exhaled slowly, placing her phone back down. Fine. She could wait.
Aunt Beatrice glanced at her but didn't say anything. Diane, however, arched an eyebrow slightly.
Dalian ignored them both.
After finishing breakfast, she grabbed her bag, ready to head out. The air outside was crisp, the sky painted in soft morning hues as she and Diane walked toward the bus stop.
Lydia was already there, grinning the moment she spotted her.
Lydia nudged her with a knowing smirk. "So. Today's the day."
"Lydia—"
"Nope. No backing out. You said 'after the presentation,' and guess what? It's after."
Dalian dropped her head onto Lydia's shoulder with a dramatic groan. "You're impossible."
"And yet, here you are, still tolerating me." Lydia winked.
Dalian shook her head, but the corner of her mouth betrayed her.as they boarded the bus.
Today was going to be interesting.
As the bus rumbled toward the school, Dalian sat near the window, resting her chin on her palm. Outside, the morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows along the road.
Lydia, sitting beside her, kept glancing over with a knowing smirk. "So, are you nervous?"
Dalian shot her a look. "About what?"
Lydia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that you and Jack still haven't had your talk yet?"
Dalian exhaled, tilting her head back against the seat. "It's not that deep, Lydia. Maybe he wasn't even going to say anything important."
Lydia scoffed. "Oh, please. That boy was nervous. And trust me, Jack doesn't get nervous easily."
Dalian didn't respond, just fiddled with the strap of her bag. She wasn't sure what she expected, but ever since last night, something had been lingering in her chest—a strange mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
Would he bring it up today? Should she?
Before she could spiral further, the bus pulled to a stop in front of the school gates. Students spilled out, chatting and laughing, filling the air with the usual morning buzz.
Dalian stepped off with Diane and Lydia, adjusting the strap of her bag. She glanced around out of habit—and there he was.
Jack leaned against the entrance, hands tucked in his pockets, his laughter fading the moment their eyes met. Something passed between them—quick, uncertain. His lips parted slightly, but whatever he was about to say never made it out.
Lydia nudged her. "Go on, go say hi."
Dalian gave her a pointed look. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Lydia grinned. "Oh, absolutely."
Dalian rolled her eyes but made her way toward Jack, her steps slower than usual.
Jack noticed, straightening a little as she approached. "Morning."
"Morning," she replied.
"The air between them tightened, thick with unspoken words." Jack's fingers twitched at his side before he ran a hand through his hair, eyes flicking away, then back again—like he was weighing something too delicate to say.
Before he could say anything, Alex clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, man, we're gonna be late."
Jack exhaled, looking back at Dalian. "See you later?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
And just like that, he walked off.
Lydia appeared at her side instantly. "Oh, come on—I swear I saw him try to say something!"
Dalian sighed, watching his retreating figure. Yeah… she saw it too.
Dalian adjusted her bag, already knowing Lydia wouldn't let it go.
"That was painful," Lydia said, clutching her chest like a wounded heroine."I swear, if tension could be bottled, you two would have stocked an entire store by now."
Dalian shot her a look. "Lydia."
"What? I'm just saying, he clearly wanted to say something, and you clearly wanted to hear it."
Dalian bit the inside of her cheek. She hated that Lydia was right. Without another word, she quickened her steps, blending into the morning rush of students.
Diane walked ahead, already focused on the day ahead, while Lydia kept step beside her.
The usual morning rush filled the corridors—lockers slamming, footsteps echoing, bits of conversations floating around them.
As they neared their classroom, Dalian finally muttered, "Maybe he changed his mind."
Lydia scoffed. "Oh, please. You don't change your mind about something that makes you look that nervous."
Dalian hesitated before sighing. "Then why didn't he just say it?"
Lydia smirked. "Maybe because you were looking like you'd bolt the second he did."
Dalian opened her mouth to protest but stopped when they stepped into their homeroom. Mr. Collins was already inside, stacking a few books on his desk.
Lydia leaned in one last time. "But don't worry, partner. You will talk today
Dalian shot Lydia a warning glance, but her friend only grinned mischievously before slipping into her seat.
"She exhaled, moving to her desk. Diane was already there, flipping open her notebook." The classroom buzzed with quiet chatter, students still waking up from the early morning drowsiness.
Mr. Collins tapped his fingers against the desk, signaling for the class to settle down. "Alright, everyone, let's get started."
Dalian focused on the front, trying to push aside any lingering thoughts about yesterday. But the moment she glanced to the side, her eyes met Jack's across the room.
It was brief—just a flicker of a moment—but enough to send her heart into an uneven rhythm.
Jack looked away first, scratching the back of his neck before shifting in his seat.
Lydia, sitting nearby, caught it instantly. She leaned in with a smirk, whispering, "See? Tension."
Dalian gave her a pointed nudge with her elbow, whispering back, "Focus."
Mr. Collins started the lesson, his voice steady as he discussed their next literature topic. Despite her best efforts, Dalian struggled to keep her attention from straying.
"No matter how long she avoided it, their unfinished conversation waited—just like he did."
The lesson dragged on, Mr. Collins diving deep into literary themes and character motivations. Dalian tried to focus, scribbling notes in her notebook, but her thoughts kept slipping.
Jack, sitting a few seats ahead, didn't turn around again, but she knew he was there. Knew he probably felt the same unfinished weight between them.
Lydia, on the other hand, kept sneaking glances at her, clearly amused. Every time Dalian caught her, she'd smirk knowingly before pretending to be engrossed in her notes.
Diane, as usual, remained focused, her pen gliding across the page with practiced ease.
Mr. Collins continued, his voice filling the quiet classroom.
"The way a character evolves throughout a story is crucial," he explained, pacing at the front. "Growth, change, realization—these are the marks of a well-written protagonist. Take Pride and Prejudice, for example. Elizabeth Bennet begins with strong prejudices, but as the story progresses, her perspective shifts…"
Dalian tapped her pen against her notebook absentmindedly, her thoughts a tangled mess. Growth, change, realization.
She felt like she was stuck somewhere between all three.
The sound of the bell startled her.
"Alright," Mr. Collins said, closing his book. "Class dismissed. Remember, your essays are due next week."
Chairs scraped against the floor as students gathered their belongings.
Dalian hesitated.
Jack stood, stretching slightly before slinging his bag over his shoulder. He glanced her way—brief, uncertain—before heading toward the door.
Lydia nudged her. "You better go talk to him before I do it for you."
Dalian shot her a glare, but her stomach twisted. She wasn't ready. Not here, not with people lingering around.
Instead, she stayed seated, watching as Jack disappeared into the hallway.
As the students filed out of the classroom, the girls lingered behind, taking their time gathering their things. Lydia stretched her arms above her head, sighing dramatically.
"Finally, that class felt like it lasted forever," she groaned. "I swear, if Mr. Collins gives us another essay, I might just drop out."
Dalian rolled her eyes. "You say that every time, yet here you are."
Lydia smirked. "Miracles happen."
Diane, who had been silently putting away her books, let out a small chuckle.
Lydia turned to her, eyes narrowing in playful suspicion. "Did you just laugh?"
Diane blinked, looking mildly surprised at herself. "No."
"You totally did," Dalian said, raising an eyebrow.
Diane shook her head, but there was a faint hint of a smile on her lips.
Lydia gasped dramatically, grabbing Diane's arm. "Oh my gosh! You do have emotions!"
Diane sighed, finally giving in. "You two are ridiculous."
Lydia grinned. "And you love us for it."
Dalian chuckled, slipping her bag over her shoulder. "Alright, are we heading out?"
"Yeah, let's go before the hallways get too crowded," Diane said, leading the way out of the classroom.
As they stepped into the hallway, the energy of the school buzzed around them—students chatting, lockers slamming, laughter echoing down the corridors.
Lydia nudged Diane as they walked. "So, since you're in such a good mood today, maybe you should treat us to snacks?"
Diane scoffed. "In what world?"
Dalian laughed. "Nice try, Lydia."
Lydia pouted dramatically. "Fine. But one day, Diane, one day, you're going to surprise us all and actually say yes."
Diane smirked. "Don't hold your breath."
The three of them made their way down the hall, blending into the lively crowd of students.
As they walked through the hall, weaving past groups of students, Lydia suddenly hooked her arm around Diane's.
"Okay, but seriously," Lydia started, glancing at Diane with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "What's up with you today? You seem... lighter?"
Dalian glanced over at Diane too, curious now that Lydia had pointed it out.
Diane shrugged, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Nothing's up. Just… a normal day."
Lydia narrowed her eyes. "Hmm, I don't buy it. Maybe you finally had a good dream for once? Or did someone secretly confess to you and you're just playing it cool?"
Diane rolled her eyes. "Lydia."
"Fine, fine," Lydia said, holding up her hands in surrender. "But I'm onto you."
Dalian chuckled, shaking her head. "Lydia, not everything has to be a mystery for you to solve."
"It keeps life interesting!" Lydia grinned.
They stepped out into the courtyard, where students gathered in clusters, chatting or scrolling through their phones while waiting for the final bell to signal the end of the day. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees.
Dalian inhaled deeply, enjoying the cool air. It was one of her favorite times of the day—when everything seemed to slow down just a little before they all went their separate ways.
"So, are we walking home together today?" Lydia asked, looking between Diane and Dalian.
Diane nodded. "Yeah, unless you have other plans."
Dalian hesitated for a second, her thoughts flickering to Jack before she quickly shook it off. "Nope, let's go."
As they started walking toward the gate, Lydia suddenly gasped and grabbed Dalian's arm.
"Oh, wait! We should stop by that new bakery on the way!"
Diane arched an eyebrow. "The one you've been talking about for weeks?"
"Yes! They have this limited-time pastry, and I need to try it before it's gone!"
Dalian smiled at her excitement. "Alright, let's go check it out."
Lydia beamed. "Diane, don't pretend you're not interested. I saw you eyeing the dessert menu last time we went out."
Diane sighed but didn't deny it. "Let's just get going before you start a whole speech."
Laughing, the three girls made their way out of the school, the conversation flowing naturally between them. It felt like an easy, carefree moment—one of those rare times where everything just felt right.