I told myself I was being dramatic.
Alex never promised me anything. He didn't owe me space in his life. I was just the quiet girl who happened to share a memory with him.
Still… it hurt.
The next few days, I pulled back. Short answers. Avoided eye contact. Chose different paths home.
Alex noticed.
"Did I do something?" he asked one afternoon, catching up to me near the lockers.
"No," I said quickly. Too quickly. "You didn't."
He looked unconvinced.
"You're lying."
I shrugged. "You have a lot of friends. I don't want to get in the way."
His brows knit together. "Lily… you're not 'in the way.'"
I wanted to scream Then why does it feel like I am?
But I didn't.
I never did.