Lucas had begun to settle into his new life in the small town, but his growing connection with Lily also brought a new challenge—Ethan.
It wasn't that Ethan was a bad guy; in fact, he was irritatingly polite to Lucas. But it was impossible to ignore how effortlessly Ethan seemed to fit into Lily's world. They were in the same clubs, attended the same events, and had an easy camaraderie that made Lucas feel like an outsider looking in.
The tension hit a peak one sunny Friday afternoon during lunch. Lucas and Nate were sitting on the grass, eating sandwiches and chatting about the weekend, when Lucas's eyes wandered across the yard.
There she was—Lily—perched on the edge of a picnic table with Ethan beside her. A group of students surrounded them, all laughing at something Ethan had just said. Lucas's stomach twisted as he noticed the way Lily leaned slightly toward Ethan, her laugh unrestrained and genuine.
"Mate, you're staring," Nate said, nudging Lucas with his elbow and breaking him out of his daze.
"What? No, I'm not," Lucas replied too quickly, his cheeks burning.
Nate snickered. "Relax. It's normal to feel a bit jealous. But honestly, I don't think Ethan's into her like that."
Lucas frowned, his brow furrowing. "What makes you say that?"
"Because Ethan's into Ethan," Nate said with a smirk. "The guy loves being the center of attention. Lily's just his go-to for school stuff because she's dependable. It's not romantic, trust me."
Lucas wanted to believe Nate, but it didn't make watching them any easier. Something about the ease with which Ethan commanded Lily's attention—and everyone else's—gnawed at him.
---
The following week, Lucas got his chance to spend more time with Lily during another group project, this time for science class. When the teacher announced they'd be working in pairs, Lucas's heart raced, silently hoping for a sign.
"Lucas!" Lily called before anyone else could. Her smile was bright, and her voice carried just enough enthusiasm to make his chest feel lighter. "Want to partner up?"
"Sure," Lucas said, fighting to keep his tone steady.
They spent the afternoon in the lab, measuring chemicals and recording reactions for their project. The tension Lucas had felt watching Lily and Ethan dissolve in the warmth of her laughter and their easy banter.
"So, what do you think this looks like?" Lily asked, holding up a test tube of bubbling liquid.
"Like something that could blow up the school," Lucas teased, earning a snort from her.
"Good thing we're not in charge of anything explosive," Lily said with a grin.
As they cleaned up their station, Lily glanced at Lucas, her expression thoughtful. "I'm really glad we got paired for this," she said. "You're so easy to work with."
"Thanks," Lucas said, feeling a rush of warmth spread through him. "Same to you."
Just as they were packing up to leave, Ethan appeared in the doorway, rugby bag slung over one shoulder.
"Hey, Lily," he said, flashing his signature grin. "I was looking for you. Are you coming to practice later?"
Lily hesitated, glancing briefly at Lucas. "Oh, right. I forgot about that. I might swing by after I finish up here."
"Cool," Ethan said, his eyes briefly flicking to Lucas. "See you around, Walker."
Lucas forced a nod as Ethan walked off, but inside, his stomach churned. He hated how effortlessly Ethan could pull Lily into his orbit, as though she were just another person dazzled by his charm.
As they exited the building, Lily glanced at him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Lucas said quickly, though his voice lacked conviction. "Just tired, I guess."
Lily didn't press further, but the concerned look she gave him lingered in his mind.
---
That evening, Lucas sat at his desk, attempting to focus on homework. But his mind kept circling back to the same image: Lily and Ethan laughing together at the picnic table.
Frustrated, Lucas closed his textbook and flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The jealousy simmering inside him was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. He didn't want to feel this way—it wasn't who he was. But he couldn't help it.
*Why does Ethan always seem to be there?* he thought bitterly. *And why does Lily seem so drawn to him?*
But then another thought struck him, one that made him pause. *Maybe this isn't about Ethan. Maybe this is about me.*
Lucas sat up, running a hand through his hair. If he wanted a real chance with Lily, he couldn't waste time comparing himself to Ethan. Instead, he needed to focus on being the kind of person Lily deserved: someone genuine, thoughtful, and unafraid to show how he felt.
With that resolve, Lucas decided it was time to stop holding back.
---
The next day, Lucas found himself sketching in the park near his house. It was one of the few places where he felt completely at ease, his mind quiet and his thoughts clear. He'd just finished shading in the jagged cliffs of a coastline when his phone buzzed.
It was a message from Lily.
**Lily:** "Hey, what are you up to?"
Lucas smiled, typing back quickly.
**Lucas:** "Just sketching at the park. What about you?"
**Lily:** "Bored. Mind some company?"
Lucas's heart skipped a beat.
**Lucas:** "Not at all. I'm near the big oak tree."
Twenty minutes later, Lily arrived, a light breeze catching her hair as she walked toward him.
"Hey," she said, dropping onto the bench beside him. "So, what are you working on?"
Lucas hesitated for a moment before flipping the sketchbook toward her. The page showed a detailed drawing of the cliffs he'd described to her earlier—the ones overlooking the ocean in Sydney.
"Wow," Lily said softly, her eyes tracing the lines. "This is incredible, Lucas. You're really talented."
"Thanks," Lucas said, feeling a warmth spread through him.
Lily looked at him, her expression serious. "Why didn't you tell me you were this good? You should share your work more."
"I don't know," Lucas said with a shrug. "It feels... personal, I guess. Like putting a part of myself out there."
"I get that," Lily said, her voice thoughtful. "But honestly, you shouldn't hide it. This is amazing, and I'm glad you shared it with me."
Her words sent a quiet thrill through Lucas. For a moment, they simply sat there, the silence between them comfortable and unspoken.
"Hey," Lily said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "Have you ever thought about entering an art competition? I know our school's hosting one next month. You should enter."
Lucas hesitated, the idea both exciting and terrifying. "I don't know…"
"Well, I think you should," Lily said with a smile. "And if you do, I'll be your biggest supporter."
Her encouragement lit something inside Lucas, a spark of confidence he hadn't felt in a long time.
---
That night, as Lucas reflected on the day, the jealousy he'd felt earlier seemed distant and unimportant. Yes, Ethan was part of Lily's world, but Lucas realized that his own bond with her was special—something Ethan couldn't replicate.
For the first time, Lucas allowed himself to feel hope. Maybe he didn't need to compete with Ethan at all. Maybe, just maybe, Lily would see him for who he truly was—and that would be enough.