The library was my sanctuary. A place where I could escape the world and focus on my studies, where the only sounds were the rustle of turning pages and the quiet hum of concentration. I was trying to catch up on some readings for my history class, but my mind was wandering. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing out on something.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Liam.
"Hey, man, you around? Mark and I are having a little get-together. Come join us!"
I was surprised. Liam rarely invited me to anything these days, especially not something with Mark and his new girlfriend.
I looked up and saw Liam and Mark waving at me from across the room. Mark was with his new girlfriend, Sarah, and she was laughing with Liam over something he'd said.
I smiled back and waved, feeling a pang of loneliness. I realized how much I'd been isolating myself since Kyle left, and I was starting to miss the company of friends.
As I walked over to their table, I saw Kyle approach. He looked hesitant, his eyes darting between me and Monica.
"Hey, Chase," he said, his voice a little strained. "I didn't know you were here."
"Yeah, Liam invited me," I said, trying to sound casual. "I figured I could get some work done."
"Right," Kyle said, his eyes still fixed on me. "Well, this is Monica. She's a friend of Mark's."
Monica smiled at me, and I smiled back. But I couldn't help but notice the way Kyle was watching us, his expression unreadable. He seemed a bit confused, almost as if he was trying to figure something out. There was a flicker of something else in his eyes, too, something that made me feel a little uneasy.
"It's nice to meet you," Monica said. "I'm a big fan of your debate skills. Mark told me all about your win last week."
"Thanks," I said, feeling a little awkward. "I appreciate that."
The conversation continued, and soon, the group was laughing and catching up. Liam suggested a game of truth or dare, and everyone seemed to be up for it. I felt a little hesitant, but I didn't want to be the only one sitting out, so I agreed.
The game went on for a while, with silly dares and harmless truths. But then, it was Kyle's turn to ask a question. He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and something else.
"Chase," he said, his voice low. "If you could ask me one question, anything at all, what would it be?"
I felt a chill run down my spine. I knew that this was a moment of truth, a chance for him to reveal something he'd been holding back.
"I...I don't know," I said, my voice wavering. "What do you want to know?"
Kyle hesitated, his eyes fixed on mine. "Do you...do you ever think about us?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Do you ever think about what could have been?"
I felt a wave of heat rush to my face. I didn't know how to answer. This wasn't the kind of question I was expecting, and it made me feel uncomfortable.
To be continued...