Teen Crush

g stood out: his connection with Lily was growing. It wasn't just the English project that brought them together anymore-

denly closed her notebook and leaned back in her chair. "Okay, enough about Ellie and her surviv

. "Uh, I like drawing," he said after a pause.

est. "That's so cool! Do you

back of his neck. "I mostly draw in my s

tanding smile. "But now you've made me

"Maybe," he said, a small grin t

ily asked, her curiosity

and I used to go a lot when we lived in Sydney. There's this spot called Bu

t sounds incredible. I've never been to

said earnestly. "The

htful. Lucas couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking the same thing

-

walking to the bus stop after school

! Wait

ng toward him, her backpack

htly out of breath. "

to ignore the sudden rush of nerves

step beside him. "For helping out at the fundraiser.

ked, raising an ey

. "You didn't have to get involved, bu

g his face heat up. "I

g to look at him. "You're a good g

ng in the air like a

cing a smile to mask the

-to tell her how much she meant to him, how being her friend was both a joy and a quie

run. See yo

aid, watching as she dis

-

awings of cliffs and crashing waves-a memory of Bundeena from when he and his dad last visited. But it wasn't the sce

ings for Lily were growing stronger with each passing day, but her words earlie

end

ng he wanted, but

-

in and out of the library. Their conversations flowed more easily now, fille

d, resting her chin on her hand. "Okay, I've got another question for

I'd love to see the cherry blossoms and the t

too! My cousin went last year and sent me the mos

, even though he knew she probably didn't mean it that w

o shift the focus to her. "Where would

liché, I know, but I've always wanted to see the

Lucas said. "I can tota

cheeks tinting pin

-

o the small moments he shared with Lily. On Friday afternoon, as

?" she asked, tucking a str

" Lucas repl

in town. It's kind of a tradition, but i

ond, caught off guard by the invitation

ng. "We can meet at the m

is chest tightening with a m

-

ell of fresh bread and flowers filling the air. He spotted Lily almo

alled, wavin

ade jams, browsing colorful stalls, and sharing laughs over the quirky trink

g small potted plants. Lily picked up a tiny

been wanting to add som

get it," L

but only if you pick one too. That

nk flower blooming at the top, and as they paid, he couldn't help but fe

-

ly turned to him with a warm smile. "Thanks

as said, his

ken passed between them-a quiet understanding th

onday?" Li

id, watching as

dn't stop smiling. Lily might see him as a friend for now, but with each passing day,