Chapter 78 - Friend

Lucas felt a strange warmth in his chest. For all her wild antics and shameless flirting, Cindy had this way of catching him off guard, of reminding him that there was more to her than the confident, teasing persona she showed the world.

Lucas: "Hey, no need to thank me. You're not so bad yourself, you know."

Cindy: "Careful, Lucas. Keep talking like that, and I might start thinking you actually like me."

He rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but grin. "Maybe I do. You ever think about that?"

Her response took a little longer this time, and when it came, it was simple but surprisingly sincere:

Cindy: "You're my secret, you know? No one else knows about you."

Lucas tilted his head slightly, rereading her message. "Your secret? What's that supposed to mean?"

Cindy: "I mean, you're my real friend, but no one else knows we talk like this. It's kinda… nice, having someone who's just mine."