The classroom was already filling up with students when Bella arrived. The usual noise of morning chatter, chair scraping, and book bags dropping filled the air. She walked in slowly, her steps light but confident, as if she expected the room to notice her the moment she entered.
She paused briefly at her seat, placing her bag down, then leaned back casually as she scanned the room.
That was when the door opened again.
Bella looked up.
And for a moment, she stopped moving completely.
Lillian and Owen walked into the classroom at the same time.
Not far apart. Not in a group. Not with others.
Just the two of them.
Side by side.
Bella's eyes narrowed slightly as she observed them more carefully. Owen said something low, and Lillian responded with a small nod. Nothing dramatic. Nothing loud. But it was… coordinated. Like they had already spoken before entering.
Bella straightened in her seat.
Since when did they come in together?
Owen pulled out a chair near his desk, then paused. His eyes briefly met Lillian's, and he smiled.
Not his usual playful smile.
This one was softer. Almost natural.
Lillian didn't smile back fully, but she gave him something close to it—a quiet acknowledgment before handing him a book from under her arm.
Bella noticed that immediately.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her phone.
Owen took the book from Lillian, his hand brushing hers for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. He didn't seem to notice—or maybe he did—but he didn't pull away quickly either.
Instead, he opened the book casually like it belonged to him.
Bella blinked once.
Then twice.
Her thoughts slowed.
Why is she giving him a book?
Lillian sat down in front of Owen's desk, already opening her own notebook. She didn't look back. She didn't explain anything. She just… sat like this was routine.
Like it had happened before.
Bella slowly stood up.
Her chair scraped against the floor louder than she intended, turning a few heads in her direction. She didn't care.
Her focus was locked on them.
She walked forward.
Each step was slower than usual, controlled—but her eyes were sharp.
"Hey," she said, stopping right beside Owen.
Owen looked up first. "Oh—hi Bella."
His tone was calm, normal. Nothing suspicious.
But Bella didn't look at him first.
Her eyes went to Lillian.
Lillian had just turned slightly, acknowledging her presence with a small nod.
"Hi, Bella," she said simply, then turned back to her notebook immediately.
That bothered Bella more than she expected.
It wasn't what Lillian said.
It was how naturally she said it… and then ignored her.
Bella forced a small smile and turned back to Owen.
"What's going on?" she asked lightly.
"Nothing," Owen replied, flipping a page in the book Lillian had given him.
Bella's eyes flicked to the book again.
"Where did that come from?" she asked.
Owen didn't look up. "Lillian gave it to me."
Silence.
Just a second.
But it felt longer than that.
Bella blinked slowly.
"Oh…" she said softly.
Then, as if trying to sound normal again, she added, "Why?"
Owen shrugged slightly. "She's helping me with something."
Bella's gaze shifted quickly to Lillian again.
Lillian was writing.
Calm. Focused. Like she wasn't part of the conversation.
Bella's chest tightened slightly, though she couldn't explain why.
She stepped closer to Owen's desk and placed her hand lightly on the edge, leaning in just a bit more than necessary.
"So what are you guys doing?" she asked again, this time more focused.
Owen looked up briefly. "Reading."
Bella gave a short laugh. "Reading what? Together?"
Owen finally glanced at Lillian, then back at Bella.
"Yeah."
That single word landed differently in Bella's mind.
Yeah.
Not "just now." Not "once." Not "for a project."
Just… yeah.
Like it was normal.
Bella forced another smile, but it was starting to feel strained.
She turned slightly toward Lillian.
"You guys came in together?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
Owen answered before Lillian could. "We met outside."
Bella nodded slowly.
"Outside…" she repeated softly.
Her eyes moved between them again.
Something wasn't adding up.
Lillian didn't even react to that question. She just kept writing, her pen moving steadily across the page.
Owen, on the other hand, leaned back slightly in his chair, relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Bella suddenly pulled a chair closer and sat beside Owen without asking. She placed her hand lightly on his desk again, this time a little more intentionally.
"So…" she said, leaning in slightly, "what exactly are you reading together?"
Owen lifted the book slightly. "Chemistry."
Bella raised a brow. "Since when did you care about chemistry?"
Owen smirked faintly. "Since I realized I need help."
Bella let out a soft laugh, but her eyes stayed serious.
"And she's the one helping you?" she asked, tilting her head toward Lillian.
Owen nodded. "Yeah."
That answer should've been simple.
But it wasn't.
Because Bella noticed something else now.
Owen wasn't teasing Lillian like he usually teased people.
He wasn't joking too loudly.
He wasn't showing off.
He was… listening to her.
And every now and then, his eyes drifted toward her like he was checking her reaction.
Bella leaned back slightly, crossing her arms.
She was starting to feel it now.
That strange feeling she couldn't name.
Not anger.
Not jealousy exactly.
Something closer to doubt.
Like she was watching something happen without being invited into it.
She forced herself to smile again.
"Okay," she said lightly, standing up. "I'll leave you two to your… reading."
But her eyes lingered for a second too long on Owen.
Then Lillian.
Then both of them together.
Before she turned away.
As Bella walked back to her seat, she glanced over her shoulder one last time.
Owen was speaking softly now.
Lillian had finally turned slightly toward him.
And they were talking.
Not loudly.
Not obviously.
But comfortably.
Like it was becoming normal.
Bella sat down slowly.
Her smile faded completely now.
And for the first time that morning—
She wasn't sure where she stood anymore.