The rest of the evening dragged on for Claire, though she tried her best to maintain a casual air as the conversations flowed around her. Her eyes would often drift back to Noah and Olivia, now seated beside each other, their heads leaned together in whispered exchanges. A part of Claire wanted to join in, wanted to laugh and share memories, but she couldn't shake the discomfort that tightened her chest.
The table buzzed with chatter, but Claire felt as if she were floating outside the group, hearing the laughter but not quite being a part of it. Noah and Olivia's quiet, shared moments made her feel like a stranger in her own past.
A few more people arrived, and the atmosphere lightened. Some familiar faces from school were greeting one another with hugs and exclamations, while others were deep in nostalgic conversations. Claire remained in her seat, nursing her drink, not really engaging. It was only when Sarah leaned over and nudged her gently that she snapped out of her daze.
"Claire, you're so quiet tonight. What's going on? You've hardly said a word all evening," Sarah said with a concerned look, her voice laced with playful teasing.
Claire smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just a bit tired, I guess. It's been a long day."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "I see. Well, don't let the reunion pass you by. You're here for a reason, right? To reconnect with everyone?"
Before Claire could respond, Mark, ever the one to break the tension, interrupted. "You know, I was thinking—back in school, everyone always thought Noah and Claire would end up together. You two were inseparable." He shot Claire a wink and then glanced over at Noah and Olivia. "But look at them now. They seem like the perfect match."
The words struck Claire like a punch to the gut. She didn't know how to react. Everyone at the table had been talking so freely, so easily, about Noah and Olivia, and she had been forced to listen. The unspoken past—her feelings for Noah, the bond they once shared—was now hanging in the air, too close for comfort.
Her heart raced. She quickly turned her gaze down, focusing on her half-empty glass. "Things change," she said, her voice softer than she intended, and the words felt hollow.
Sarah looked at her for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if sensing something beneath Claire's composed exterior, but she didn't press further. Instead, she shifted the conversation, drawing everyone's attention to something else. But Claire's mind was still spinning.
She excused herself soon after, needing a moment away from the crowd. The words kept echoing in her mind: Everyone thought Noah and I would end up together. It felt like a dream she had long since buried. Noah, always so distant, always so guarded. She had never had the courage to confess what had been in her heart, and now, seeing him with Olivia, the reality hit her like a cold wave. What was I waiting for?
Stepping outside for some air, Claire found herself standing on the balcony, gazing at the starlit sky. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to clear her mind. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Noah.
She remembered the last time they had been close—before everything changed. The way they used to talk for hours, sharing secrets, laughing about silly things, and how everything had felt so natural between them. She had never imagined that one day he would be sitting with someone else, looking so happy, so together.
"Claire?" A voice startled her from her thoughts.
Claire turned around, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Noah standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He looked every bit as handsome as he had years ago, though there was a new edge to him now, a maturity that made him seem even more distant.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. It was as if they were both waiting for the other to speak first. Claire opened her mouth to say something, but the words seemed to catch in her throat.
Noah took a step forward, his gaze never leaving hers. "You okay?" he asked, his tone quiet but with an underlying intensity.
Claire hesitated. There were so many things she wanted to say—about the past, about what she was feeling now, about the way he had disappeared from her life without a word. But all that came out was a simple, "Yeah. Just needed some fresh air."
Noah nodded, but his eyes flickered briefly toward the gathering inside. "It's strange, isn't it? Seeing everyone again after all this time."
Claire nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She had so many questions, but the weight of years of silence between them made it hard to ask them. Instead, she found herself wondering why she still cared so much.
"You look different," Noah said after a beat, his voice softer than before.
Claire smiled faintly, the compliment landing somewhere deep within her. "So do you," she replied. "You've changed."
Noah's lips twisted into a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I guess we both have." He paused, then added, almost as if to himself, "Some things stay the same, though."
Claire felt a shiver run through her, but she didn't ask him to elaborate. The silence stretched between them again, and for a long moment, they stood there, just the two of them, alone with their memories.
"I should go back inside," Claire finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Noah nodded, taking a step back. But before she turned to leave, he spoke again, this time his tone more serious. "If you ever want to talk… I'm here."
Claire's heart skipped. She didn't know what to say. So, she simply nodded and walked past him, back into the noise and laughter of the reunion, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts she couldn't voice.