UNSPOKEN FEELINGS

Morning arrived with a quiet serenity, the sky painted in soft shades of lavender and gold. The birds outside the window chirped in harmony, their melodies light and rhythmic, blending with the gentle rustle of leaves swaying in the morning breeze. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of blooming roses and fresh-cut grass from the expansive garden nearby.

Tasha stirred, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks as she slowly awoke from her sleep. For the first time in a long while, she felt rested—no sudden knocks at the dorm door, no hurried morning routines, no lingering dread of the school's usual chaos. Just peace. A true, undisturbed slumber.

She stretched beneath the thick, velvety blanket, inhaling deeply. The fragrance of nature seeped in through the open window, the morning sunlight casting a golden hue across the luxurious bedroom. It was nothing like her cramped dorm room back at school. Here, everything seemed ethereal, as though she had stepped into a dream.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her moment of tranquility.

"Miss Monroe," a calm voice spoke from the other side. "Breakfast is ready. Master Collins is waiting for you."

Tasha blinked away the last remnants of sleep before sitting up. Her gaze wandered to the bedside clock—she had slept in. A rare indulgence.

"Alright, I'll be out soon," she called back, her voice still groggy.

The butler, ever composed, responded with a courteous, "Very well, miss," before his footsteps faded down the hallway.

Tasha sighed, rubbing her eyes before throwing the blanket off. The cold floor beneath her bare feet sent a shiver up her spine as she made her way to the adjoining bathroom.

The space was enormous—polished marble floors, a glass-enclosed shower, a clawfoot bathtub positioned beneath a grand window that overlooked the estate's garden. The scent of lavender and vanilla filled the air, and the soft hum of running water as she prepared her bath only added to the calmness of the morning.

She sank into the warm water, sighing as the heat relaxed her muscles. It had been a long time since she had indulged in something so luxurious. Her mind wandered as she absentmindedly ran her fingers over the surface of the water.

After a long soak, she stepped out, wrapping herself in a thick, plush towel before drying off and getting dressed in a casual yet elegant outfit provided for her. With her hair slightly damp and cascading over her shoulders, she made her way downstairs.

Collins was already seated at the dining table, waiting for her with his usual smirk. The dining room was grand, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and walls adorned with paintings that whispered of old money. The long oak table was set with an array of food—fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and steaming cups of coffee.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty," Collins greeted, his lips curling into a teasing grin. "I was starting to think you'd hibernated for the season."

Tasha rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "I actually slept well for once. I guess I needed it."

"Of course you did. All those sleepless nights spent worrying about tests and scary headmistresses will do that to you," Collins said, dramatically shuddering before taking a bite of his pancake.

Tasha chuckled as she settled into the seat across from him.

As they ate, Collins kept up his usual antics—making exaggerated facial expressions when the butler wasn't looking, cracking jokes that made her laugh mid-bite, and even attempting (and failing) to juggle grapes.

After they finished, Collins leaned back in his chair with a sigh of satisfaction. "Alright, now that we're well-fed, what do you say we take a stroll through the garden? You know, enjoy the finer things in life before we go back to dealing with all the mess?"

Tasha nodded. "Sounds good."

The two stepped outside, greeted by the sight of an enormous garden stretching endlessly, filled with vibrant flowers, winding stone paths, and towering oak trees. The scent of fresh blooms filled the air, and butterflies flitted between the petals.

As they walked, their conversation turned to their pasts.

"So, what were you like as a kid?" Collins asked, kicking a stray pebble along the path.

Tasha hesitated before shrugging. "I was... happy. Before everything happened."

Collins gave her a knowing look but didn't interrupt.

"My parents were everything to me. They died in a plane crash when I was ten. After that, I had to live with my uncle. He was never outright cruel, but he made it clear I was just a burden. If it weren't for my dad's contributions to the school, I wouldn't even be there on scholarship."

Collins was silent for a moment before he spoke. "You deserved better."

Tasha smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "What about you? You've never really talked about your family."

Collins exhaled sharply. "My parents... were killed."

Tasha's eyes widened. "Killed?"

"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "Some...thing got into our house one night. I was just a kid. I remember hearing my mother scream, and my father yelling at me to stay hidden. I did. I stayed in that closet for hours. When I finally came out, they were both gone."

Tasha felt a lump form in her throat. "Collins, I—"

"Hey," he cut in, forcing a grin. "Enough of the sad talk. Let's play a game. Truth or dare?"

Tasha blinked. "Right now?"

"Why not? Unless you're scared?"

She smirked. "Fine. Truth."

"Alright," Collins grinned. "If you could turn into any animal for a day, what would it be?"

Tasha chuckled. "That's easy. A cat."

"A cat?" Collins feigned disappointment. "Not a fierce tiger or a majestic eagle?"

"Nope. A cat. They sleep all day, demand attention, and get away with anything."

Collins laughed. "Fair enough. Alright, your turn."

Tasha tapped her chin. "What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?"

Collins groaned. "Ugh, there are too many. But if I have to pick one... there was a time I tried to serenade a girl with my 'amazing' singing voice. I tripped over a chair mid-note and ended up knocking over an entire buffet table at a party."

Tasha burst into laughter. "Oh my God, I wish I had seen that."

"It was a tragedy," Collins said dramatically, clutching his chest.

They continued exchanging ridiculous dares—Collins was forced to speak in an exaggerated Shakespearean accent for five minutes, while Tasha had to twirl like a ballerina each time she spoke.

Finally, Collins smirked. "Alright. Truth or dare?"

Tasha hesitated. "Truth."

"What's your biggest secret?"

She hesitated again before taking a deep breath. "I... I have feelings for you."

Silence stretched between them.

Collins' playful smirk softened. "Truth or dare, then?"

Tasha swallowed. "Truth."

"I've been in love with you since the day we met."

Tasha's heart stuttered. The world around them faded—the rustling of the trees, the distant chirping of birds, even the warm scent of blooming roses. Everything paled in comparison to the weight of his confession.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Collins exhaled softly, running a hand through his tousled brown hair before letting out a nervous chuckle.

"You know," he started, his voice lighter now, tinged with amusement. "I had this whole plan to confess to you in a really cool, romantic way. Maybe under the stars, or after some heroic act where I save you from mortal danger."

Tasha blinked. "Oh?"

"Yeah." He grinned, but his fingers were still idly tracing circles against the back of her hand. "But every damn time I tried to tell you, something got in the way. Either the moment wasn't right, or you were too busy being cute and completely unaware of how I was struggling to find the words."

Tasha felt warmth creep up her neck. "You're exaggerating."

"I wish I was." He let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "It's been torture, Tasha. Literal torture."

She bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. "Since when?"

"Since the cafeteria," he admitted, meeting her gaze with a lopsided grin. "Remember? When I was doing my usual thing—making an absolute fool of myself, entertaining the masses—and I tripped over my own feet and nearly face-planted into your lunch?"

Tasha burst into laughter. "Oh my God, I do remember! You made this weird, panicked face right before you almost fell on me."

"Yeah, well, I was trying to impress you," Collins said, feigning offense. "And instead, I almost became a tragic headline: Boy meets girl. Boy ruins girl's lunch. Boy dies of embarrassment."

Tasha laughed even harder, and Collins softened at the sound.

"But then," he continued, voice quieter now, "I saw you smiling. Not laughing at me, not rolling your eyes like half the school does. Just... smiling. Like I wasn't an idiot. Like I was just... me."

Tasha's breath hitched.

Collins shook his head, his fingers tightening slightly around hers. "After that, I knew I was done for. I tried everything to get your attention after that. I'd sit at the table next to you, make the dumbest jokes just to hear you laugh, even pretended I needed notes from you when I barely even take notes myself."

Tasha gasped. "Wait. That was fake? You don't actually have bad handwriting?"

Collins smirked. "Oh no, my handwriting is atrocious. But I didn't need notes. I just wanted to talk to you."

Tasha groaned, playfully pushing his shoulder. "You conned me into doing your work?"

"Hey, I never said that," he defended, grinning. "I just found an excuse to spend time with you. Which, by the way, worked like a charm."

Tasha shook her head, but her heart was thundering against her ribs.

Collins sighed dramatically, looking up at the sky. "The real tragedy here is that I'm Collins Grant. The Collins Grant. I mean, come on, Tasha. I'm every woman's dream. Handsome, funny, athletic. The whole package."

Tasha snorted. "Wow. Humble, too."

"And yet," he continued, ignoring her, "the one girl I actually want—the one girl who haunts my every waking thought—doesn't even notice my suffering."

Tasha laughed again, but something deep within her stirred.

"Well," she murmured, her voice softer now, "you weren't the only one suffering."

Collins' teasing grin faltered. "What?"

Tasha exhaled. "You were my crush too, Collins. Since that first day in the cafeteria, when you stopped that senior from throwing his tray at me."

Collins blinked, his lips parting slightly in surprise. "Wait… seriously?"

She nodded. "I didn't know how to tell you either. You were always so... easygoing. So full of life. I thought I was just another person you joked around with. I never thought you saw me the way I saw you."

Collins stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

Then, slowly, his lips curled into the most genuine smile she had ever seen from him.

"Well," he whispered, stepping just a little closer, "this is a hell of a truth or dare game, huh?"

Tasha let out a breathy laugh. "Yeah... it is."

Collins raised a hand, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was light, barely there, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Tell me something, Tasha," he murmured, voice lower now. "Do I finally have your attention?"

Tasha swallowed, her eyes never leaving his.

"Yeah," she whispered. "You do."

Collins smiled. Then, ever so slowly, he leaned in.

The space between them disappeared.

And then, under the morning sun, amidst the scent of roses and the chirping of birds, their lips met.