Chapter 4

Eliza is completely lost. She would have preferred that Alison stay with her to give her courage, but she realizes that she will have no choice but to fend for herself. As Noah walks towards her, it's still mulling over in his head. Seeing him visit her makes her really happy and she would have liked to hold him very tight against her and place a tender kiss on his lips, but she has to settle for a kiss on the cheek. Trying somehow to hide his sadness with small smiles, the young man nevertheless manages to feel that she is distant with him and he intends to find out what the problem is.

- I heard that you came home early. I thought you were sent home because of the delay, but I found out later that you weren't feeling well. How do you feel?

- It's better. I was able to rest, she lies to him.

- Are you sure?

- I'm sure of it, she replies with a smile.

- May I know what made you cry?

- How do you know I cried? she wonders.

- Your eyes are so red that it's obvious. Someone hurting you?

- I think it's the pressure of studies; we have arrived at the home straight and I still have a lot of things to revise.

- You don't have to stress about that! he told her without realizing that she was lying to him. You are a very smart girl and I'm sure you would be able to pass all the subjects without having to revise.

- I failed last term, I'll remind you! she bounced back immediately.

- Sometimes a brilliant person has days without.

- This was not the time to have days without...

- You just have to pull yourself together!

- "I think it's time to tell him everything" she said to herself before taking a deep breath. I have to tell you something very important Noah.

- Does it have to do with what torments you?

- "I'm not going to make it," she finally changes her mind before trying to find something else to say to him. No, it's unrelated. I have this fear that you won't spend as much time with me when you're in a relationship with Audrey. I even think I'm starting to be jealous of her.

- I told you that it won't change our relationship; you mean a lot to me!

- "If it were true, you'd want to go out with me," she said to herself, looking at the ground. I will always have this fear. I don't know if you realize it, but we've always spent our days together... I don't know if I'm ready to share you.

- Actually, you don't want me to go out with Audrey, do you? deduces the young man.

- That's true, but it would be unfair of me to do such a thing. You've waited a long time for this moment and I don't want to deprive you of it.

- What are you hiding from me, Eliza? suddenly launches the young man. I feel like you're not telling me everything.

- I'm not hiding anything from you.

- Yes, you're hiding something from me, he insists. Don't forget that I know you. I sense that you are not in your normal state.

- "Why don't you feel that I love you in this case?" she wonders when she feels her tears come to her eyes.

- Ah! he says, seeing his best friend's eyes fill with tears. Tell me everything Eliza; you can't cry for no reason.

- I love you! she finally starts, even if it was not in her intentions to reveal it to him.

- I love you too, my dear! he added, leaving the young lady speechless.

Eliza didn't expect this. She mustered up her courage to finally confess her feelings to Noah, but she didn't get the desired return; the young man did not understand the true meaning of his remarks. She was about to explain clearly what she wanted to tell him, but she held back.

- I will always be there for you, even if I am in a relationship. It's true that we spent a lot of time together, but we knew that this moment would come one day. I thought you had already prepared for it!

Not having the strength to answer him, the teenager nods in agreement as tears roll down her cheeks.

- "I have just confessed my love to you and you have understood nothing. What more do I have to do for you to understand that I'm madly in love with you? Listening to you, I have the impression that all I have to do is put a cross on you; you'll never see anything in me but a good friend," she said to herself before crying in front of him.

- It pains me to see you in this state, Eliza. Noah hugs her. I would so love to do something so that you don't suffer anymore... The worst thing is that I don't understand what puts you in this state.

- I don't think you can do anything.

A long moment of silence hovers between the two. Then, after taking a deep breath, Noah speaks again.

- Do you want to continue seeing each other?

Eliza is in shock. She hadn't expected him to ask such a question.

- You don't even want to see me anymore?

- I don't want to see you suffer, Eliza. And there, I have the impression that it is.

- Don't worry about me, Noah, she replies, annoyed. It'll be OK.

Noah still thinks her best friend is also sad because he plans to date Audrey. He hasn't understood that Eliza is in love with him and, seeing how much she is suffering, he prefers to leave so as not to aggravate her condition. Following his departure, Eliza will lock herself in her room. She never thought she would find the courage to confess her feelings to him, but it didn't have the expected result and she doesn't know what to do anymore.

- I love you, Noah! she screams in tears. Why don't you see it?