Between The Lines! (not complete)

part 17

I told myself I was studying.

My laptop was open. Notes highlighted. Pen resting between my fingers.

But nothing stuck.

Every few minutes, my eyes drifted to my phone on the bed beside me-face down, silent, heavy with the things I refused to check.

I hadn't heard from Cooper in days.

And that should have been a relief.

Instead, the quiet felt... loud.

I closed my laptop and lay back, staring at the ceiling. The campus outside my window had gone still, the kind of stillness that let thoughts creep in uninvited.

His voice during the presentation.
The way he'd looked at me afterward-like he wanted to say more but respected the silence I'd built.
The fact that he hadn't chased me.

That part bothered me more than it should have.

My phone buzzed.

I grabbed it before I could overthink it.

Cooper: Are you awake?

My heart stuttered.

I checked the time.

12:47 a.m.

I stared at the message, thumb hovering. I didn't owe him anything. I'd worked hard to create distance.

But it was late.

And honest.

I typed back.

Zaliyah: Yeah. What's up?

Almost immediately, the typing bubble appeared... then disappeared.

I waited.

Cooper: I know it's late. You don't owe me a reply.

I swallowed.

He always did that-left room for me to choose.

I didn't answer right away.

Then my phone buzzed again.

Cooper: I can't get you off my mind.

My chest tightened.

I sat up, pulling my blanket around me like it could steady my breathing.

I stared at the words longer than I should have.

Then I typed.

Zaliyah: Cooper...

I didn't know what else to say.

The dots appeared again.

Cooper: I'm not trying to complicate things. I just-
Cooper: Could I come see you? Just to talk.

I closed my eyes.

This was the line.

Everything I'd been avoiding stood on the other side of that question.

If I said no, I could keep control.
If I said yes, I had no idea what would happen.

I opened my eyes and typed slowly.

Zaliyah: If you come over...

I stopped.

Stared at the blinking cursor.

Outside, someone laughed in the distance. A door slammed. Life kept moving while I sat frozen in my bed, deciding whether to let him back into my space.

My phone vibrated softly in my hand.

Waiting.