Chereads / Unrequited love series 1:The Invisible Heart / Chapter 8 - Chapter eight: The Acceptance

Chapter 8 - Chapter eight: The Acceptance

_"Bestfriends are forever, even when they are apart, reconciliation help them find their way together "

Hannah POV

I picked up the framed picture of Elodie, gazing at her bright smile and carefree eyes. It was taken before everything fell apart, before the betrayal and heartache. I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing now, if she was happy, and if she ever thought of me.

As I grabbed my school bag, my mind raced with questions. Would she be coming to school today? Would I finally get to see her, to talk to her, to apologize and make things right? Or was she still angry with me, still hurting from the pain I caused?

I made my way down the hallway, my heart pounding with anticipation. I stopped by Elodie's classroom, scanning the room for a glimpse of her. But she wasn't there. I approached one of her classmates, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil inside me.

"Excuse me, do you know where Elodie is?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The classmate looked up from her book, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "She just stepped out now," she replied, her voice neutral.

My heart skipped a beat. Elodie was here, and she was nearby. I felt a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and hope. Maybe, just maybe, today would be the day we could start to heal and move forward.

The rest of my classes dragged on, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't focus on the lessons, couldn't absorb the words of my teachers. All I could think about was Elodie, and the possibility of seeing her, talking to her, making amends.

My thoughts swirled with memories of our friendship, of laughter and adventures shared, of secrets and dreams confided. I replayed our last conversation, our last argument, wondering what I could have done differently.

As the hours ticked by, my anxiety grew. What if she didn't want to talk to me? What if she'd moved on, forgotten about me? The uncertainty gnawed at my heart, making it hard to breathe.

I went through the motions of taking notes, participating in discussions, but my heart wasn't in it. My mind was stuck on Elodie, on the what-ifs, on the hope of reconciliation. The bell rang, signaling the end of the last class, and I felt a mix of relief and trepidation. Now, I'd have to face whatever came next.

I walked past Elodie's classroom again, but she was still nowhere to be found. With a disappointed sigh, I headed to the cafeteria, lost in thought.

"Hannah, we need to talk," Daniel said, catching up to me and gently holding my arm.

I turned to face him, wondering what he wanted to discuss. "What's up, Daniel?"

"It's about that day you came to my place," he said, his eyes searching for answers. "Did you break up with me?"

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, Daniel."

He looked at me intently. "Because of Elodie, right?"

His question caught me off guard. I hadn't expected him to connect the dots so quickly. I nodded again, feeling a mix of emotions guilt and regret.

Daniel's expression softened. "I figured as much. You two have been inseparable since forever. I knew I couldn't compete with that."

His understanding tone surprised me. I had expected anger or hurt, but instead, he showed empathy. Maybe, just maybe, we could remain friends after all.

"Thanks, Daniel," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

As I turned around, my heart skipped a beat. Elodie was walking out of a nearby classroom, her eyes scanning the hallway as if searching for someone. Our gazes met, and for a moment, time stood still.

"Elodie," I called out, my voice trembling with emotion.

She hesitated, her expression unreadable. Then, she took a deep breath and began walking towards me. I could feel Daniel's eyes on us, but I didn't turn around. My focus was solely on Elodie.

As she approached, I could see the mix of emotions on her face - uncertainty, hurt, and a glimmer of hope. My heart raced with anticipation. What would she say? Would she forgive me? The questions swirled in my mind like a vortex, pulling me under.

"Hey," Elodie said softly, stopping in front of me.

I smiled, trying to appear calm. "Hey."

"Want to grab something to eat in the cafeteria?" Elodie asked, her eyes locked on mine before flicking past me to acknowledge Daniel's presence. "Or am I interrupting?"

I was taken aback by the invitation, my mind racing with excitement. "You mean me?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite my inner turmoil.

"Yeah, you, Hannah," Elodie replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

I felt a surge of hope at her words. Was she really willing to put the past behind us and start anew? I glanced at Daniel, who was watching us with interest, before turning back to Elodie.

"Sure, I'd love to," I said, trying to sound calm despite my racing heart.

Elodie nodded, and we began walking towards the cafeteria together, leaving Daniel behind. The silence between us was comfortable, a sense of familiarity and ease that I had missed dearly.

Elodie POV

I walked into the classroom, scanning the room for a familiar face. That's when I saw Hannah, her back to me as she chatted with Daniel. "What was she doing here?" I whispered to myself, curiosity piqued.

My seatmate Annie noticed my gaze and leaned in. "Oh, yeah, she was here for you," she whispered back, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.

I turned to Annie,my brow furrowed "Thanks"

"Uh-huh, Elodie," she said, her voice low.

"Yes, Annie?" I replied, my tone neutral.

"Are you two fighting?" Annie asked, her eyes darting between Hannah's retreating back and me.

I raised an eyebrow, playing dumb. "What do you mean, Annie?"

Annie hesitated before speaking. "I mean, normally you two are inseparable, always walking together, sharing lunch... but now, it's like... you don't even walk anywhere together anymore."

Her words struck a chord, and I felt a pang of regret. Had our friendship become so strained that even classmates noticed? I forced a nonchalant smile, trying to brush off Annie's concerns. "We're fine, Annie. Just busy with our own stuff." But deep down, I knew that wasn't entirely true.

After classes, I set out to find Hannah, but it seemed I had just missed her. Her classroom was empty, and I wondered if she had already headed to the cafeteria for lunch. I decided to join her there, hoping we could finally talk and clear the air.

As I walked down the hallway, I spotted Hannah standing with Daniel. They were deep in conversation, but Hannah's body language screamed discomfort. She fidgeted with her hands, her eyes darting around the hallway as if searching for an escape route.

I slowed my pace, observing the scene unfold. Daniel seemed oblivious to Hannah's unease, gesturing animatedly as he spoke. Hannah's responses were brief, her smile forced. It was clear she wanted to extricate herself from the conversation.

I hesitated wondering if I should interrupt or give them both space, but something about her body language made me uneasy... I quickened my pace calling out her name as I approached them with a casual smile

"hey Hannah, fancy running into you here"

Hannah's eyes widened in surprise as I called out her name, and her expression transformed into one of utter astonishment when I asked, "Want to grab lunch together in the cafeteria?"

She looked like she'd been caught off guard, her eyes darting between Daniel and me as if seeking an escape or a reality check. Daniel, too, seemed taken aback by my sudden invitation, his eyes narrowing slightly as if wondering what I was up to.

For a moment, Hannah hesitated, her gaze lingering on Daniel before finally settling on me. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head, weighing her options. Then, to my surprise, she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah, sure," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daniel looked like he'd been dismissed, his face falling as Hannah turned to walk with me. I could sense his confusion, but I didn't care. I had Hannah's attention now and maybe just maybe I could make things right again.