Chapter 4

" I've tried to fight it, to ignore these emotions, but it's impossible. You mean so much to me, and I am unable to imagine my life without you. His confession left me stunned, and tears welled up in my eyes. "Alex," I said quietly, "I feel the same way." You've always had a special place in my heart." Right from kindergarten also but I was too scared to express myself because people thought I wasn't good enough, I thought to myself. Alex leaned forward, taking my lips in a delicate, passionate kiss, before I could say anything else. It was a kiss that included years of friendship, love, and unspoken emotions.At that time i was overwhelmed with emotions but for some reason i only thought about liam at this point. Was I just using Alex as a rebound was this the right thing to do? I questioned myself. Our foreheads touched together as we pulled back, and a gentle grin flickered over our lips. Alex stated in a happy voice, "I'm so glad I found the courage to finally express how I feel.I said, "Me too," as I felt complete in his warm hug.Alex kissed my forehead and whispered, "Goodnight, Gemma."I said with a smile, "Goodnight Alex." i got into my house and closed the door quietly and walked to the dining were i saw my mum"Hey honey how was the fair " she asked "Well it was fine i guess" i answered, as i sat next to her and resting my head on her shoulder "So tell me about everything" my mom said as she played with my hairSo i told her about the fair and what happened at the front door"Mom, I keep thinking of Liam, why can't I move on? What am I missing?" i asked"Whoa honey slow down take a deep breath" "Mom i really don't know what to do" "Well baby sometimes you just have to give yourself some time to think" she said well she made sense also."But it's very hard now that Nat and Liam are together" i blurted out i really didn't tell her the real reason we broke up i just told her we broke up because i needed to focus on my studies."Wait, what? And you're okay with it? Well you were a mess when you guys broke up so i think the answer is no you're not okay look. Honey you don't have to please people all the time i get she's your friend but still it doesn't make any sense" my mom said "Yes, ma, I know," I held her tightly. My mother was my therapist, and I adored her. She was always there for me through my phases, and even after my first heartbreak, with Liam. I wish I could go back in time and feel what I felt when I was with Liam. I still loved him, and my best friend stole him away. I looked at the pendant Nat gave me, but she was the only one who ever saw me, and she always wanted me to feel like I belonged here."Do what you think is right, honey, whatever you do, as long as it's not illegal, I support you and will continue to support you." she said, and i chuckled "Yes, ma," I said, "and now it's time for bed, honey," before standing up and saying, "Thanks, mom."*********************************I had no idea the day would take such an unexpected turn when I stepped into the packed cafe for my shift. I'm used to the routine, the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee, the clinking of dishes, and the background hum of conversations. I had no idea that today would be different.I was given the task of cleaning the tables, and as I neared one corner, I noticed him - Liam. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt an odd mix of excitement and nervousness. He was sitting with his friends, laughing and speaking loudly. A wave of nostalgia flooded over me, recalling the moments we spent together. When Liam's friends noticed me arriving, they began taunting him. "Hey, Liam, isn't that your ex-girlfriend, Gemma?" One of them said, a sly smirk on his lips. Liam's cheeks flushed slightly, and he tried to disguise his embarrassment by covering his face with his palm. It was a simple act, yet it touched my heart in unexpected ways. I continued wiping the table, pretending to be preoccupied while stealing glances at Liam every now and again. His attempt to cover his blush only made him more appealing, and I couldn't help but smile. Time didn't appear to have removed the impact he made on me.Just when I thought things couldn't get much more fascinating, Liam abruptly stood up, followed by his friends. They all gave me knowing looks as if they could read my mind "see you next time Gemma" one mouthed to me and winked with a smile on his face. Liam mumbled something about the need to go, his voice barely audible over the noise of the cafe. His friends shared amusing glances with me and they all waved me good bye before following him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.Before I could grasp what had just happened, my phone buzzed in my apron pocket. It was a phone call from Alex. His joyful voice filled my ear as I replied. "Hello, Gemma! What do you think? I took your sister Tory shopping, and she's having a great time!"Tory's laughter could be heard in the background, and it made my heart warm. "We found this amazing little boutique, and I think Tory is going to try on half the store," Alex continued. She's quite excited."I couldn't stop laughing as I imagined my sister spinning about in clothes. "Thank you, Alex. You are a lifesaver. Tory deserves to have a good time.""That's fine, Gemma. "Anything for you and Tory," he cheerfully said. "Oh, and by the way, did you have an interesting day at the cafe?" I overheard some spicy co-worker gossip."My cheeks reddened, and I couldn't help but laugh at his silliness. "Oh, you know how it is. "Just another day at the busy little cafe."We talked for a little more, his casual banter relieving the strain in my body. It was reassuring to have someone who was familiar with me and could put me at ease even in the face of unexpected interactions. I could hear Tory's voice at the background "do you like it Alex" she asked and alex told her to do a little spin and he said it was just fine and she laughedI couldn't help but contemplate about Liam's eager exit from the cafe as I hung up the phone. What had caused him to depart so quickly? Did he still think of me the same way I thought of him? My mind was racing with unanswered questions, emotions, and memories from my past.The cafe continued to bustle with activity around me, but I felt trapped in my own thoughts. Liam's flushed face, his friends' taunting, and Alex's phone call all seemed to be intertwined in ways I couldn't quite understand.Liam's POV***********As I sat with my friends in the cafe, my gaze was drawn to a familiar person cleaning the tables. Gemma. Just seeing her again triggered a flood of memories: laughter, shared experiences, and the way her eyes lighted up when she smiled. It was as if time had stopped, and all the emotions I thought I'd buried came flooding back with an intensity I couldn't ignore.I tried to concentrate on the conversation with my buddies, but my mind kept returning to Gemma. Her presence drew my attention, as it had done from the start. My cheeks rose as I remembered my friends' snide remarks about her It was all in good fun, but I knew there was truth to their statements. I felt a thrill of energy rush through me when Gemma glanced in our location, her eyes briefly connecting with mine. It seemed as if the bond we had shared in the past was still as strong as it had always been. I couldn't help but blush, and my efforts to hide it only made me feel more self-conscious.When I saw her grin, a genuine and comforting smile, it was like a remedy for my soul. Her beaming face had always been a source of weakness for me, a memory of the joy we had previously had. And it still had the ability to make my heart race after all this time.I found myself reluctant to meet Gemma's eyes as my companions taunted me and stood up to leave. I was too embarrassed to show her the effect she had on me, how her mere presence could make me weak on my knees. I hurried out of the cafe, their laughter resounding in my ears as they followed me.I couldn't shake the sensation that I had squandered an opportunity as I walked away. I should have stayed, accepted my state of discomfort, and spoken to Gemma normally. But my emotions had taken over, and all I could think about was getting away before I made a fool of myself. I couldn't stop thinking about the incident as I drove. Gemma's smile, the way she handled herself with a grace of her own - it was all engraved in my memory. I knew that seeing her again had triggered something within me that I had been trying to repress for far too long.My phone rang, interfering with my thoughts. It was a joking remark regarding my reaction to Gemma's presence from one of my friends. "You do know we're in the same car" i said and they continued teasing me I couldn't help but laugh as I realized they'd seen right through me. But I knew deep down that their mocking had a grain of truth in it.I couldn't help but smile as I continued going. Gemma was back in my life, and even though I had rushed out of the cafe, I knew this was only the beginning. There was something about her that I couldn't shake, a connection that time couldn't erase.I found myself admitting the truth in the simplest and kindest manner possible: I still had feelings for Gemma, and seeing her again had made me realize how much I had missed her.Gemma's POV***************As the day progressed, I found myself buried in thought. The echoes of the past blended with the uncertainties of the present, and I understood that the road ahead was more difficult than I had anticipated. The feelings I thought I'd buried began to return, and I couldn't deny that my heart still had a soft spot for Liam. As I went out of the loud cafe, a sense of calm washed over me. The frantic shift had come to a conclusion, and the cold evening air was a welcome reprieve from the heat and excitement within. The scent of coffee lingered on my clothes, a familiar reminder of the events of the day.The golden glow cast across the downtown streets as the sun began to set below the horizon. I wrapped my jacket around me like an embrace, the soft cloth wrapping around me. With each step, I felt the weight of the day softly lift from my shoulders, replaced with a growing sense of peacefulness. The sound of rustling leaves and birds singing filled the air, creating a symphony of nature's peace. I took comfort in watching youngsters play on the swings, their laughter booming throughout the park. I couldn't help but be glad for this brief break from the chaos of life as I strolled along the meandering road. The peace of the evening was enhanced by the sound of rustling leaves in the breeze and distant childish laughter.