WHEN OUR EYES MEET

The end of the day at the bookstore was quieter than usual. After the unexpected meeting with Blake and the brief but impactful appearance of Josh, I felt the pressure of everything around me—the classes, the bookstore, and now these two guys complicating my thoughts even more.

I looked at Blake and Josh, still trying to understand what was happening between the three of us. Blake seemed so mysterious, with that fearless demeanor, but his eyes revealed something deeper—invisible scars he was trying to hide. Josh, on the other hand, had always been by my side, but since Lynn entered his life, he seemed more distant, as if a part of him was stuck somewhere else, caught in a dilemma he couldn't resolve.

Allie's Thoughts:

"I was there, caught between two universes so different yet somehow connected to me. Blake was enigmatic, as if he held secrets that intrigued me. Josh, however, carried his own burden—his complicated relationship with Lynn, and of course, the confusing feelings he never fully expressed. Was he changing, or was it me who was changing? Why did everything suddenly seem to be transforming in a way I couldn't control?"

I leaned back in the bookstore chair, discreetly observing Blake as he looked at some books on the shelf. He seemed comfortable there, almost as if that environment were familiar to him. Part of me wanted to ask about his life, but it wasn't the right moment. At least not now.

Blake's Thoughts:


I held a random book in my hands, but my mind was elsewhere. The bookstore had a cozy charm, the kind of place where someone could lose themselves for hours. But what really kept me there was Allie. Something about her pulled me in, and it wasn't just her looks or the way she spoke about books. It was the fact that, as much as she tried to hide it, she also carried scars, just like me. Perhaps that was what drew me to her so strongly.

I had promised myself that this year would be different, that I wouldn't let anyone get too close. But from the moment I saw Allie in that literature class, something inside me began to change. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, every time we crossed paths, I felt something stir within me—something I wasn't sure I was ready to face.

The name "Elliot Bookstore" still echoed in my mind. My curiosity about it only grew, and I knew that eventually, I would have to ask. But for now, I continued to watch her from afar, trying to understand how someone could carry so much in silence.

Josh's Perspective:


As Blake and Allie talked about books and events, I felt a little out of place. I knew Allie better than anyone, but suddenly it seemed like she was building a new connection. Of course, I wanted her to be happy, but a part of me felt strange seeing someone new enter her life so easily.

Lynn... just thinking about how everything had fallen apart between us tightened my chest. And now there was Blake. He seemed nice enough, but something about the way he looked at Allie bothered me. Maybe it was just jealousy, or maybe it was because I knew I wasn't being completely honest with my own feelings.

Josh's Thought:



"Is Allie seeing something in him that I didn't? Or is it me who's not seeing what's happening right in front of me? I need to resolve things with Lynn, but every day that seems more complicated... and now, Blake."

Back in reality, I realized that the three of us were somehow connected in that strange moment while also being distant in our thoughts.

"—Allie," Blake interrupted my thoughts with his calm voice, "do you think the reading event will really happen? I'm in if you need help."

I smiled, trying to break the tension. "— Yes, of course! It will be great to have someone like you participating. You seem to understand the essence of books."

Blake nodded, and before I could say more, Josh cut into the conversation. "—I'll help too, Allie. You know I'm always here."

I looked at both of them, realizing that something was changing, but not knowing exactly what to do with that feeling. Between the bookstore, college, and these new and old feelings, my life seemed about to turn an important page.