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Tessa didn't realize she was still looking until he disappeared into the crowd.
"…Okay."
Lily's voice cut in beside her.
Tessa blinked, snapping out of it.
When she turned, Lily was already watching her
With a slow, knowing smirk.
Tessa frowned slightly. "What?"
Lily tilted her head. "Nothing."
That made it worse.
"Lily."
"What?" she said lightly. "I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to."
Lily just smiled.
Tessa turned back to her locker, trying to focus on something normal.
It wasn't working.
Her hands felt slightly unsteady, her thoughts louder than they should've been.
"So…" Lily started casually, still leaning against the locker. "You're tutoring him now?"
Tessa paused.
"…Yeah."
"Mm."
That was all Lily said.
But the tone carried more than the word.
"It's just school stuff," Tessa added quickly.
"I didn't say it wasn't."
Tessa glanced at her. "You're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"That thing where you don't say anything but you're clearly thinking something."
Lily smiled faintly. "Maybe I am."
A small pause.
Then
"Where?" Lily asked.
Tessa hesitated.
"…His place."
That was when Lily's expression changed.
The smirk disappeared.
"Yeah, no."
Tessa blinked. "What?"
"No," Lily repeated, straighter now. "You're not going there."
"It's just tutoring...."
"I don't care," Lily cut in. "You don't go to his house."
Tessa shifted slightly. "It's easier..."
"It's not about easy."
The tone was different now.
More serious.
Silence stretched between them.
"We can meet somewhere else," Tessa said after a moment, quieter now.
Lily held her gaze for a second.
Then nodded once.
"Public."
Tessa nodded back. "Okay."
Another pause.
Then Lily leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just a bit.
"If anything feels off… you tell me."
Tessa nodded again. "I will."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
Lily studied her for a second longer.
Then her expression softened just a little.
"Alright."
They started walking again.
But the moment didn't leave.
Because Lily had seen that look.
And Tessa
Tessa didn't even realize she had it.