The cookies

Lena smiled at Ryan, happy that he gave in to her. Then the two sat in silence for a moment. It took a few moments for Ryan to begin.

"Lena, I-"

'Beep!''Beep!'

Lena shot out of her seat when she heard the alarm. "Cookies are ready." She began walking to the kitchen, and Ryan was about to follow. "Don't," Lena said, looking at Ryan, "you should wait here, I'll bring them out."

She went to the kitchen alone, and Ryan's gaze followed her until she was out of sight. He was lost in thought.

A few minutes later, Lena came back with a tray of cookies. "Here they are." She said with a bright smile. She placed the tray on the table and carefully took a cookie. Then she looked up at Ryan, "would you like one?"

Ryan took a cookie, and the sweet taste filled his mouth. But the cookie had a slight bitter taste to it, not from the ingredients themselves, but the bitter taste seemed to come from Lena's feelings.

"Are they good?" Lena asked, smiling at Ryan.

Ryan smiled back and said, "Delicious. I didn't know you could bake so well."

Lena was pleased with his answer, but acted a little annoyed. "Of course I could bake this well. What do you take me for, an idiot?"

"No. No, I wasn't saying that." Ryan rushed his words a little. "I meant to say that the cookies are unbelievably delicious. Best cookies I've ever tasted."

This answer satisfied Lena. She sat down across from Ryan, and stared blankly at the cookies. Ryan was also staring blankly, but he was staring at Lena.

Neither asked what the other was thinking, nor did they say their own thoughts. The two just sat in silence for a long time, lost in their own thoughts.

Eventually, night had arrived. Ryan looked at the window for a moment and realized it was time for him to leave. He stood up, and only then did Lena snap back to reality.

"You're leaving?" She asked, looking blankly at Ryan.

"It's time for me to go."

Lena stood up to walk him out, but Ryan stopped her. "You don't need to walk me out. I know the way out."

Lena returned to her seat, and stared back at the cookies. Ryan left unnoticeably, after he stared at Lena a moment longer. The stare contained an unknown, heartbreaking sadness. One that Ryan never wanted to reveal.