Riley woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing on her desk. She glanced at the clock — it was already late. She had promised herself she'd stay up to finish her homework last night, but instead, she found herself tossing and turning, her thoughts swirling around everything that had happened with Zayden.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and reached for the phone.
A text from Zayden.
Zayden: Hey, you okay? I know you've been busy. Just wanted to check in.
She stared at the screen for a few moments, biting her lip. She wasn't sure if she was ready to talk yet. Zayden had been patient, more patient than anyone she had ever known. He seemed to understand her in a way that made her feel both safe and exposed at the same time.
Riley: Yeah, I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure if she should say more, but then decided to leave it at that. She didn't want to drag him into the mess of her thoughts just yet. The uncertainty was suffocating, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep this wall between them.
A few moments later, the phone buzzed again.
Zayden: I'm here if you want to talk. Don't hesitate, okay?
Riley felt a pang in her chest. She had tried to keep things at arm's length, but somehow, Zayden's calm, reassuring presence always seemed to seep through her defenses. There was no denying that she was starting to care for him, but admitting it felt too risky.
She put the phone down and decided to get ready for school, her mind occupied with the conversation she had avoided having. She knew Zayden wasn't going anywhere, but what if she wasn't ready to give him what he wanted? What if opening up only left her vulnerable to heartbreak?