Chapter 6 Silent Promises

The following days blurred into a routine of exchanged smiles, stolen glances, and moments that neither Layla nor Naomi dared to overthink. Layla found herself lingering by Naomi's desk during breaks, and Naomi, despite her usual indifference, welcomed the company.

One afternoon, while sitting under the old oak tree behind the school, Layla fidgeted with the hem of her uniform.

"Naomi," she began hesitantly, "have you ever... kept something important from someone?"

Naomi, lying back against the tree trunk, glanced at her. "Why do you ask?"

Layla shrugged, avoiding Naomi's gaze. "Just curious."

Naomi's expression softened. "Yeah, I have."

Layla's head shot up. "Really? What was it?"

Naomi smirked. "Wouldn't it defeat the purpose of keeping it a secret if I told you?"

Layla rolled her eyes. "Fine, keep your mystery. But... do you think it's okay to hide things if it's for a good reason?"

Naomi sat up, her gaze serious. "Depends. Are you protecting them, or yourself?"

Layla blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Maybe... both?"

Naomi's lips pressed into a thin line. "Sometimes, hiding something can hurt more than telling the truth. But only you can decide which risk is worth taking."

Layla fell silent, her thoughts swirling. Naomi didn't push her to explain further, and for that, Layla was grateful.

That evening, Naomi sat at her desk, staring at a blank page in her notebook. She wasn't one to write often, but tonight felt different. Picking up her pen, she began to scribble:

"Layla. I don't know how to say this out loud, so I'm writing it instead. There are things I've never told you-things I'm scared to admit even to myself. But every time I see you smile, I feel... home."

She stopped, reading the words over. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she quickly tore out the page, crumpling it into a ball. "Stupid," she muttered, tossing it into the trash.

But as she lay in bed that night, the words lingered, unspoken but undeniable.

The next morning, Layla found Naomi waiting by the gate, holding two steaming cups of coffee.

"Morning," Naomi said, handing one to Layla.

Layla grinned. "What's the occasion?"

"Just thought you'd need a pick-me-up," Naomi replied casually, though her heartbeat betrayed her.

As they walked together, Layla's laughter filled the air, and Naomi thought to herself: Maybe, just maybe, she doesn't need to know everything yet.

The morning was crisp and quiet, the faint chill of early autumn in the air. Naomi and Layla walked side by side, coffee cups in hand. Layla chatted about an upcoming school event, her voice animated and full of energy. Naomi nodded occasionally, her eyes on the horizon, but her thoughts were elsewhere-on the way Layla's laughter filled the gaps of silence, on the warmth of her presence.

"Naomi?" Layla's voice snapped her out of her reverie.

"Huh?" Naomi blinked.

"I said, are you going to the festival this weekend?" Layla repeated, tilting her head.

Naomi shrugged. "I don't know. Probably not my thing."

Layla pouted. "You're no fun. It'll be great! There'll be food stalls, games, and..." She hesitated, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "It's more fun when you're there."

Naomi raised an eyebrow, but the faintest smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. I'll go."

"Really?" Layla beamed. "You won't regret it!"

Naomi smirked. "I'll hold you to that."

That weekend, the festival was in full swing, the air buzzing with energy. Lanterns lit up the evening sky, and the smell of grilled food wafted through the crowd. Layla pulled Naomi from stall to stall, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Here, try this!" Layla said, handing Naomi a stick of fried dumplings.

Naomi took a cautious bite. "Not bad."

Layla laughed. "Not bad? This is amazing!"

As they wandered, Layla spotted a ring toss game and dragged Naomi over.

"Watch this," Layla said confidently, grabbing a handful of rings. She missed every single shot.

Naomi stifled a laugh. "Wow, impressive."

"Hey!" Layla pouted. "Let's see you do better."

Naomi stepped up, her movements precise. She won on her second toss, earning a small stuffed fox. She handed it to Layla without a word.

"For me?" Layla asked, eyes wide.

Naomi shrugged. "Who else?"

Layla hugged the fox to her chest, her smile bright enough to outshine the lanterns.

Later that night, they found a quieter spot by the riverbank. The festival sounds were distant now, the only light coming from the moon and the faint glow of the lanterns.

"Thank you for coming," Layla said softly, her voice almost lost in the breeze.

Naomi looked at her. "You don't have to thank me. I had fun."

Layla turned to face her, the stuffed fox still in her arms. "You don't smile much, but when you do... it makes everything feel okay."

Naomi's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, she considered telling Layla everything-about the looming move, about the nights she spent awake thinking about how to say goodbye.

But instead, she reached out, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from Layla's face. "You're too sappy for your own good, you know that?"

Layla giggled. "And you're too serious. Guess we balance each other out."

Naomi didn't reply. She just watched as Layla turned her gaze to the water, her features soft in the moonlight.

If only things could stay like this forever, Naomi thought.

The days following the festival were calmer but no less meaningful. Naomi and Layla fell back into their routine, sharing quiet moments together. Despite the simplicity of their days, there was an unspoken understanding growing between them-a bond neither could quite put into words.

One late afternoon, they were sitting in the park, the golden hour casting a soft glow around them. Layla was busy sketching in her notebook while Naomi leaned back against a tree, watching the way the sunlight danced across Layla's face.

"You've been staring," Layla said without looking up, a small smile playing on her lips.

Naomi blinked, caught off guard. "No, I haven't."

"You're a terrible liar, Naomi," Layla teased, finally glancing up at her.

Naomi sighed. "What are you even drawing?"

Layla grinned and held up the notebook. It was a rough sketch of two figures sitting under a tree, one leaning back with their arms crossed, the other focused on their art.

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "Is that... supposed to be us?"

Layla nodded enthusiastically. "It's not perfect, but I think I captured your brooding expression pretty well."

"I don't brood," Naomi muttered, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

"You totally do," Layla said, giggling. "But that's okay. It's very... you."

Naomi didn't respond, but her gaze softened.

As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange, Layla closed her notebook and leaned back against the tree next to Naomi.

"Do you ever think about the future?" Layla asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Naomi hesitated. "Sometimes."

"What do you see?"

Naomi glanced at her, the weight of the question pressing on her chest. "I'm not sure. You?"

Layla's smile was bittersweet. "I don't know. But I hope... I hope we'll still be like this."

Naomi's heart ached at her words. She wanted to promise Layla that nothing would change, that they'd always have moments like this. But the truth weighed heavily on her, unspoken.

"Yeah," Naomi said softly. "Me too."

Layla turned to look at her, her eyes searching Naomi's face for something-reassurance, maybe. Whatever it was, Naomi couldn't bring herself to say anything more.

Instead, she reached out and ruffled Layla's hair, earning a playful swat and a laugh from the girl beside her.

"Stop that!" Layla protested, though she was smiling.

Naomi smirked. "You're too easy to mess with."

"Only because I let you," Layla shot back, sticking her tongue out.

They sat there until the sky turned dark, their laughter fading into comfortable silence.