Melanie walked out of the school gates, feeling a spring in her step. Karl had asked her to meet him at the coffee shop near the school, and she couldn't wait to see him again. She had been thinking about him all day, wondering what they would talk about, and whether he would ask her out on a proper date.
As she walked down the street, she ran into Liam, who was leaning against his car, looking cool and casual. "Hey, Melanie! Where are you off to?" he asked, eyeing her bright smile.
Melanie hesitated, unsure if she should share her secret. "Just grabbing a coffee with a friend," she said vaguely.
Liam's eyes narrowed slightly, but he just nodded. "Cool, have fun!"
Melanie didn't notice Liam's fleeting expression of jealousy, but Sophia, who was walking with them, did. She shot Liam a knowing look, but he just shrugged it off.
As Melanie arrived at the coffee shop, Karl was already there, looking handsome and charming. They spent the next hour laughing and chatting, getting to know each other better. Melanie was having the time of her life, feeling like she had finally found someone who understood her.
Meanwhile, Liam was across the street, watching them from his car. He tried to focus on his phone, but his eyes kept drifting back to Melanie and Karl's cozy table. He couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy, wondering why Melanie was spending time with this new guy instead of him.
Sophia pulled up beside him, raising an eyebrow. "Liam, what are you doing? You're not even trying to hide it!"
Liam started, looking guilty. "I was just... admiring the coffee shop's decor."
Sophia chuckled. "Sure, Liam. Keep telling yourself that."
Liam sighed, rubbing his temples. He didn't know why he was feeling so possessive about Melanie. She was his friend, and he wanted her to be happy... but not with Karl, apparently.
As Melanie and Karl said their goodbyes, Liam drove off, feeling a little ashamed of his secret jealousy. He knew he needed to get over it and be happy for Melanie... but it was harder than he thought.
Over the next few weeks, Melanie and Karl's relationship blossomed. They went on long walks, had deep conversations, and laughed together until their sides hurt. Melanie had never felt this way about anyone before, and she couldn't help but wonder if Karl was the one.
Liam, on the other hand, was struggling to come to terms with his feelings. He was happy for Melanie, but a part of him wished he was the one she was spending time with. He knew it was selfish, but he couldn't help how he felt.
One day, Sophia confronted him about it. "Liam, you need to talk to Melanie about this. You can't keep bottling it up inside."
Liam sighed, knowing she was right. But he was scared of ruining his friendship with Melanie... and maybe even losing her forever.
"Sophia, what if she doesn't feel the same way? What if she thinks I'm just being silly?"
Sophia put a hand on his shoulder. "Liam, you'll never know unless you try. And even if it doesn't work out, at least you'll know where you stand. You can't keep living in limbo like this."
Liam nodded, knowing Sophia was right. He took a deep breath and made a decision. He would talk to Melanie, no matter how scary it was. Little did he know, his confession would change everything.