Selene adjusted the collar of her shirt for the third time as she looked in the mirror. It wasn't supposed to be a date. Lyra hadn't made it clear that it wasn't anything formal but she can't help but to expect more, just a simple dinner between two people who enjoyed each other's company. And yet, everything about it felt like a first date. The way her heart raced, the butterflies in her stomach, and the way she kept wondering what to wear; it all felt like something bigger.
She had spent so many nights thinking about Lyra; the way she carried herself, the way her eyes seemed to hold secrets, and how she'd opened up in the past few weeks. But tonight, something felt different. Tonight, Selene felt like it could be the beginning of something new, something real. The idea of spending time with Lyra outside the library, in a quiet setting where they could actually talk, really talk, was a welcome change from the brief, stolen moments they had shared before.
When she arrived at the restaurant, a small but cozy spot on the corner of a bustling street, Lyra was already seated, looking elegant and composed as always. Her dark hair fell in soft waves around her face, and her eyes had a distant, thoughtful quality to them as she stared down at the menu. She was the picture of poise, but Selene noticed the subtle tension in her posture, the way her fingers tapped lightly on the table, as though she was waiting for something; maybe for Selene to arrive, maybe for something else.
"Hey," Selene greeted, her voice soft but warm, as she walked toward the table. The moment Lyra looked up, a small smile tugged at her lips, and for a second, it felt like the world had paused around them.
"Hi," Lyra said, her smile reaching her eyes. "You look nice."
Selene felt the color rise in her cheeks, but she couldn't help but smile back. "You look great too."
She sat down across from Lyra, suddenly aware of the space between them, the empty chairs, the table that felt both like a safe distance and a barrier she wanted to overcome. The waiter came by to take their drink orders, and for a brief moment, the tension lifted as they both looked over the menu.
As the conversation started, it was light, easy; just the two of them, enjoying the normal rhythm of getting to know each other. They talked about books, about their childhoods, about the little things that made them who they were. Lyra had always been reserved, but tonight she seemed different; more open, more present. Selene could tell she was trying, trying to make this work between them, even if she didn't quite know how to break through the walls she had built over the years.
The food arrived, and they continued to talk, sharing stories about their lives. Lyra mentioned how she had always loved literature, how she had spent her childhood reading in quiet corners of libraries, much like the one they now found themselves in. Selene couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. There was something about Lyra's quiet passion, her way of keeping parts of herself hidden, that fascinated Selene.
"Did you always know you wanted to work here?" Selene asked, sipping her wine. The questions were casual, but underneath them, there was a deeper curiosity; a desire to learn more about the woman across from her.
Lyra hesitated, then nodded slowly. "In a way. I think books have always been a part of me, even when I didn't know where I was going. Working here; it's not just a job. It feels like I'm in the right place."
There was a quiet weight to her words, and Selene couldn't help but admire how Lyra was willing to open up, even just a little. She felt the bond between them strengthening, despite the uncertainty that still hung between them like a veil.
They continued eating, and the conversation flowed more easily. The noise of the restaurant around them faded into the background, and for a while, it felt like it was just the two of them in the world. Selene found herself laughing more than she expected, her nerves slowly melting away.
And yet, through all of it, Lyra was still holding something back, as if there was a part of her she wasn't ready to share. Selene could sense it in the way Lyra would sometimes look away when the conversation got too personal, or the brief pauses before she would speak again. It wasn't that Lyra wasn't trying; Selene could tell she was; but there was a hesitancy, a fear of letting someone else in completely.
"Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you just let go?" Selene asked softly, her voice a little tentative. The question had been on her mind for a while, but now that they were here, it seemed like the right time to ask.
Lyra looked at her, surprised, as if she hadn't expected the question. "Let go?" she repeated, her voice distant, as though she were searching for the right words. "I think I've let go of a lot already."
Selene watched her, sensing that there was more to the story than Lyra was willing to share. "What do you mean?"
Before Lyra could answer, the sound of the restaurant door opening interrupted the moment. Selene turned her head, and there, standing in the doorway with a grin on her face, was none other than Eliza.
"Selene!" Eliza grinned, leaning in as if she owned the place. "I was hoping to catch you! I know you said you'd be busy, but you're still here, right?" Her eyes flicked over to Lyra with a hint of curiosity. Lyra didn't return the smile; her lips pressed together in a thin line as she looked at Selene.
"Hey, Eliza," Selene said, her voice a little too light, trying to smooth over the awkwardness. "Yeah, just dinner with Lyra."
Eliza's smile didn't fade, but there was an almost knowing glint in her eyes. She wasn't the type to be easily deterred, and she could clearly sense the tension in the air. "Well, how about I join you both? I could use a bit of company. It looks like you two are in deep conversation."
Before Selene could respond, Eliza slid into the booth next to Selene, her presence immediately filling the space. Lyra shifted slightly, a subtle movement, but it wasn't lost on Selene. Lyra had always been calm and composed, but now she seemed tense; her fingers tapping lightly on her glass.
Selene glanced at Lyra, hoping for some kind of cue, but Lyra didn't look up. She had already turned her attention back to her half finished drink, her expression distant. Selene could feel the discomfort radiating off of her, but Eliza was still talking, still eager to engage, and Selene found herself trapped between the two worlds.
"Sure," Selene finally said, not wanting to cause more tension. She turned to Lyra, her gaze soft. "We can grab another round, if you're up for it?"
But Lyra didn't respond immediately. Instead, she smiled faintly, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She lifted her glass, taking a slow sip before placing it back down on the table.
"I think I'll pass for now," she said quietly. "You two enjoy yourselves."
The words stung, though Lyra said them with such casual politeness. Selene felt an overwhelming rush of guilt. She didn't want to hurt Lyra, but at the same time, she didn't want to be rude to Eliza, either. Eliza had been so persistent, and now that she was here, she wasn't about to leave without getting what she wanted.
As the night wore on, Selene found herself caught in an uncomfortable dynamic. Eliza continued to chat animatedly, her words flowing freely, while Lyra seemed to retreat into herself more and more. The conversation between Eliza and Selene felt forced, like they were both trying to keep things light despite the tension simmering beneath the surface.
Eventually, the meal came to an end. Selene could tell that Lyra had already checked out emotionally. Eliza had successfully pulled Selene's attention away, and Lyra seemed to have withdrawn into a place where Selene couldn't reach her.
When the check arrived, Selene glanced at Lyra, hoping for some kind of acknowledgment, but Lyra had already stood up, her coat slung over her arm, ready to leave.
"I should get going," Lyra said, her voice softer than before. "It's late, and I have work tomorrow."
Selene nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle between them. She stood up too, but as she did, Eliza was already making her move, pulling Selene's attention back.
Selene's gaze followed Lyra out of the restaurant and she stole one last glance at her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, but neither of them said anything. Lyra's expression was unreadable, distant, and in that moment, Selene knew she had lost something, even if she didn't understand exactly what it was.
In the back of her head, a voice whispered, Girl, why did you not walk her out? She came back to reality when Eliza asked her, "Can I drive you home?" and she agreed, brushing off the ideas she had in mind.
Lyra's POV
Lyra sat in her car parked beside the coffee shop, ready to turn on the engine, but she saw Selene leave with Eliza and walk to a parked car in front of her. She couldn't explain it; the tightness in her chest, the sudden wave of emptiness that washed over her as she watched Selene walk away. She told herself she should have expected it. Selene had always been so kind, so willing to accommodate everyone around her. But watching Selene follow Eliza, the easy confidence Eliza carried with her, made something inside Lyra twist.
She had tried, hadn't she? She had let herself be vulnerable, opened up more than she ever had. But now, sitting in her dimly lit car, she realized that maybe it wasn't enough. Maybe she wasn't enough.
The car door closed softly behind Selene and Eliza, and Lyra sat frozen for a moment longer. She didn't know how to fight this feeling, this knot in her stomach that seemed to tighten every time she thought about Selene and the way she had been pulled away by Eliza.
Lyra sighed, rubbing the back of her neck as she finally started the car and drove away. The soft hum of the engine felt too loud, too empty now. She had let her walls down, and Selene had walked away. It wasn't Eliza's fault. It wasn't even Selene's. It was her own fear that had pushed them both away.
And now, it was too late to change it.