The room was quiet, aside from the soft tapping of Layla's fingers against the edge of her desk. The sun was setting outside, casting a warm golden glow through the window. It was the perfect time for a moment of reflection, and yet, her mind was anything but peaceful. Layla glanced down at her phone, the screen lighting up with a message from Noah.
"Hey, Layla! I found this song I thought you'd like. Let me know what you think when you hear it! 😊"
She smiled at the message. Noah's kindness had been a constant in her life for the past few months. He was thoughtful, always there when she needed someone to talk to. Unlike the other boys in school, Noah wasn't interested in impressing people. He wasn't part of any clique, didn't wear flashy clothes, and wasn't interested in the drama that so often came with high school life. He was simply... kind.
Layla swiped to open the link, and the soft melody of the song began to play. It was calming, soothing even, in a way that wrapped around her heart like a protective blanket. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the music wash over her.
Noah was like the song—gentle, comforting. The kind of boy who would make her feel safe, the kind of boy she knew her parents would approve of. But there was something else she couldn't ignore. Her heart raced when she thought of him, yes—but it wasn't the kind of thrill she felt when she thought of Lucas.
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She was about to type a response to Noah when her phone buzzed again. She hesitated before checking the message, hoping it was something unrelated to Noah. But no, it was a message from Lucas.
"You should come out tonight. I'm getting bored of being alone."
Layla's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the words. It wasn't the first time he had reached out like this. Lucas always seemed to know when she was struggling with something. It was as if he could sense her inner conflict. But why now? She had been doing her best to distance herself from the dangerous allure of his world, the world that had already pulled her in once before.
She had never been the type of girl to fall for bad boys. She'd always believed the stories of heartache and chaos that followed them. But Lucas wasn't just any bad boy—he was different. He wasn't reckless, he was confident. He wasn't just rebellious; he was smart, calculating. He had a way of making her feel like she was the center of his world, even when everyone else seemed irrelevant.
But that didn't change the fact that Lucas was trouble. He had a reputation for being the kind of person who didn't care about anyone's feelings, the kind who played games without thinking about the consequences. He lived in a world where consequences didn't exist, and maybe that's why he was so alluring.
Layla squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the thoughts away. She had a responsibility to herself to make the right choice, the safe choice. Noah was steady. He was reliable. But Lucas? He was exciting. He was unpredictable.
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen to find another message from Noah.
"Don't forget to check out that song. Let me know what you think, okay? :)"
Layla sighed and typed a quick response.
"I'll listen to it later, promise! Just been a bit distracted."
As soon as she hit send, her phone vibrated with another message—this time, from Lucas.
"Don't make me come find you, Layla."
Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at his words. He was teasing, of course. But there was an underlying intensity in his tone that made her pulse quicken. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until that moment. She was so caught up in trying to keep her distance, to make the logical choice with Noah, that she had ignored the pull that Lucas had on her.
A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. "Layla? Dinner's ready!" Her mom called from the other side.
"Coming!" Layla called back, quickly shoving her phone in her pocket. She stood up, taking a deep breath. Her emotions were all over the place, and dinner would be a welcome distraction.
But even as she walked downstairs, she couldn't shake the feeling that her heart was torn in two.