Mikey glanced across the hallway, catching a glimpse of Lila near her locker. It was one of those rare moments between classes when everyone was busy rushing to the next period, heads down, backpacks slung, but all he could see was her. For a second, he thought about just walking up and starting a conversation like he used to. But lately, it didn't feel so easy. Every word seemed heavier, like he was carrying around weights that he couldn't shrug off.
He took a breath, feeling the hesitation creep in again. It was stupid, really. Why couldn't he just go up to her and say, Hey, how's it going? But every time he tried to imagine it, it felt wrong. Forced, almost.
Before he knew it, he was standing next to her, his mouth halfway open. She looked up, her eyes meeting his for a split second. And that was all it took for him to realize something was off. Her gaze wasn't the usual warm look he remembered; it was guarded, like there was something between them neither wanted to name.
"Hey, Lila," he started, but the words barely left his mouth when the bell rang. The hallway burst into noise, and she gave him a quick nod, muttering something like, "See you around, Mikey," before slipping into the crowd. He stood there, staring after her, his chest tight, the words he wanted to say buried somewhere deep, unreachable.
Mikey found himself looking for her more than usual. Between classes, in the cafeteria, even in the library where he rarely went. It was like he was waiting for the perfect moment to try again, but every time he caught sight of her, something held him back.
During lunch, he spotted her at a table with some friends, laughing at something. It was such an ordinary moment, the kind he used to be part of. Now, watching her from a distance, it felt like he was seeing her from a different world. The laughter didn't reach him, and the warmth he felt watching her turned to an ache in his chest. He knew he couldn't just sit and watch forever.
He walked over, his heart pounding a little harder with each step. Just as he reached her, one of her friends turned, noticing him. Lila looked up, her smile fading slightly. She gave him a polite nod, as if they were barely more than acquaintances. He opened his mouth, searching for the right words, but the moment felt heavy, awkward.
"Hey, Lila. Do you… uh, have a minute?" he asked, his voice quieter than he meant it to be.
She glanced at her friends, then back at him. "Right now?" she asked, her tone neutral.
"Yeah… if you're not busy or anything."
She sighed, almost too quietly to notice, but he caught it. "Actually, I am, Mikey. Maybe later?"
It wasn't a harsh rejection, but it was enough to leave him standing there, feeling foolish. He nodded, giving her a small, forced smile. "Sure. Later."
He walked away, ignoring the curious looks from her friends. His hands clenched and unclenched by his sides as he tried to shake off the frustration building inside. Talking to Lila used to be the easiest thing in the world. Now, every word felt like a minefield. And he couldn't understand what had changed.