Eliana couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. The lightness she felt when she and Zayne shared a quiet conversation the other day seemed to have evaporated. Every time their eyes met now, there was a certain coolness in Zayne's gaze. She couldn't figure out what had gone wrong.
The library was quiet, the faint rustle of turning pages the only sound. Eliana sat alone at her usual table, her notebook open but her thoughts elsewhere. Vanessa's words from yesterday still echoed in her mind. "Zayne's interested in you, Eliana. Don't mess it up."
Was that really true? Was she just being paranoid?
A sudden tap on her shoulder broke her train of thought. Eliana turned to find Clara standing there, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Hey," Clara greeted her with a friendly smile. "Mind if I join you? I noticed you've been sitting alone a lot lately."
Eliana returned the smile, grateful for the distraction. "Of course, have a seat."
Clara slid into the chair across from her. The two of them weren't close, but they'd shared a few conversations over the past few weeks. Clara was one of those people who seemed to effortlessly balance between being friendly and keeping to herself. She was never too forward, never too distant.
"Everything alright?" Clara asked, noticing the frown that had settled on Eliana's face. "You look like you have a lot on your mind."
Eliana hesitated, unsure if she should voice her concerns. She didn't want to seem paranoid or overdramatic, but Clara had an easygoing way about her that made Eliana want to open up.
"I just… I've been feeling weird lately," Eliana confessed, her fingers tracing the edge of her notebook. "Zayne's been acting different, and I don't know why. It's like he's avoiding me, but I don't get why."
Clara's eyebrows lifted, a mix of curiosity and concern. "Zayne? The guy you've been talking about for the last few days? The one who always makes you blush when you talk about him?"
Eliana couldn't help but blush at Clara's teasing tone. "Yeah, him. He's been… distant. And I don't know what I've done wrong. One minute he's all smiles, and the next, he won't even look at me."
Clara leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe he's just… confused?" she suggested. "I mean, sometimes people pull away because they're unsure. Or maybe he's just got a lot going on in his own life."
Eliana sighed, feeling a weight settle in her chest. "But if he's confused, why doesn't he just talk to me? I don't get it."
Clara looked at her sympathetically. "Well, have you tried talking to him about it? I mean, if you're both feeling weird, maybe you need to clear the air. It's better than letting things fester, right?"
Eliana nodded slowly, but the doubt still lingered. Would Zayne even want to talk to her? Or was he simply not interested anymore?
Before she could respond, the library door swung open, and a familiar voice echoed through the quiet space.
"Eliana! Clara!" Vanessa's voice was light, but there was an edge to it that made Eliana stiffen. "Mind if I join you?"
Clara glanced at Eliana, who gave a small nod. "Sure, take a seat."
Vanessa slid into the chair next to Eliana with a bright smile, but Eliana couldn't ignore the strange glint in her eyes. Vanessa's presence had always been like a cloud on a sunny day charming, but with an undercurrent that Eliana couldn't quite place.
"So," Vanessa began, her gaze flicking between Eliana and Clara, "I was thinking, since we've all got a lot of free time this weekend, we could maybe grab some coffee together. What do you think?"
Clara raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure if I'm free, but I'll let you know." She turned to Eliana with a smile, as if to check her thoughts.
Eliana hesitated. She had to admit, the idea of spending time with Zayne sounded appealing yet she wasn't sure if she wanted to bring Vanessa along. She was beginning to feel like she couldn't trust her friend's intentions anymore. The nagging feeling that Vanessa wasn't as supportive as she seemed grew stronger by the day.
"Actually," Eliana said, trying to sound casual, "I was planning to talk to Zayne this weekend. I think it's time to figure things out."
Vanessa's eyes flickered with something Eliana couldn't quite place was it jealousy? Or annoyance? "Oh, well, I guess that's important, right? You don't want to waste time, after all," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Clara's perceptive gaze shifted between the two of them, sensing the tension in the air. "Sounds like a good plan, Eliana," she said, trying to break the awkward silence. "You should definitely talk to him."
Vanessa nodded along, though her smile faltered for a moment. "Well, I guess we'll all be busy then. Let me know if you need any help with that."
After a few more awkward moments, Vanessa excused herself, leaving Eliana and Clara in an uneasy silence.
Clara studied Eliana's face carefully. "What's really going on with you two? Something's off. You know you can talk to me, right?"
Eliana looked away, unsure of how to explain the storm brewing inside her. Vanessa had been acting strange for days, and every time she tried to talk to Zayne, things felt more and more complicated. She wasn't sure who to trust anymore.
"I don't know," Eliana finally confessed. "Vanessa's been acting weird lately. She keeps saying all these things that make me doubt myself, and I don't know if I'm overthinking it."
Clara's expression softened, and she reached out to gently squeeze Eliana's hand. "You don't have to figure everything out alone. Just take things one step at a time. And if you need a second opinion, I'm here."
Eliana gave her a small smile, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Clara. I really needed to hear that."
Later that afternoon, as Eliana walked across campus, her phone buzzed with a new message. She pulled it out, seeing that it was from Zayne.
Hey, Eliana. I was thinking… maybe we could talk tomorrow? I know things have been weird between us, but I think it's time we clear the air.
Eliana's heart skipped a beat. Was this what she'd been waiting for? She quickly typed back, her fingers trembling as she hit send.
I'd really like that, Zayne. Tomorrow sounds good.
She stared at her phone for a few moments, the weight of the decision settling in her chest. Was this the start of something new? Or would it only lead to more confusion?
As Eliana waited for his reply, her thoughts drifted to Vanessa. What was her game? And why did she seem so eager to keep Eliana and Zayne apart? The doubts gnawed at her, but for now, all she could do was hope that Zayne was being honest and that tomorrow, they could finally figure everything out.