Eliza tried to push the uneasy thoughts away. It wasn't easy — every time she convinced herself she was overthinking, a new wave of doubt crashed in, dragging her right back to that awful, sinking feeling.
She wasn't ready to give up. Not yet.
It was his birthday, after all.
She buried the ache beneath forced smiles and laughter that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Maybe she hadn't been obvious enough. If he didn't realize how she felt, maybe she just wasn't being clear.
So she tried something different.
She laughed a little louder at his jokes — even the dumb ones. She leaned in closer when they talked, close enough to feel his arm brush against hers. She touched his hand when she didn't need to, let her gaze linger on his a second too long, hoping he'd notice.
But to him, nothing seemed different. He smiled, laughed, teased her like always — like she was just Eliza.
It wasn't fair.
---
The school day blurred by. She barely noticed the classes, the noise, the people. The weight of the small, wrapped box in her bag felt heavier with every passing minute. She'd picked his gift out weeks ago, before everything felt so complicated.
After school, she waited for him like she always did.
When he appeared, looking half-awake and lazy-eyed, her heart skipped the way it always did. He grinned the second he saw her.
"Waiting for me, Princess?"
"Obviously." Her voice was light, but it didn't feel that way inside.
They fell into step together, the afternoon sun warming their backs as they walked the familiar route home. The streets were quiet, the sky painted soft shades of pink and orange. Their shadows stretched ahead of them, side by side — like they always were.
Lucifer was rambling about practice, complaining about the coach and laughing at his own jokes. She barely heard him. Her mind wouldn't stop spinning.
She gripped the strap of her bag tighter, the gift pressing into her side. Her chest ached. She needed to say something — anything — to break the tension building inside her.
"Luc?" Her voice came out softer than she meant it to.
He looked over at her, his eyes warm. "Yeah?"
She swallowed hard. "Do you ever think about… the future? Like, after high school? Where we'll end up?"
Lucifer blinked, surprised. "I dunno. I guess I don't think that far ahead."
She bit her lip. "But do you think we'll still be friends?"
His expression softened, like he thought the answer was obvious. "Of course we will. Why wouldn't we?"
Her throat tightened. "People change. What if you meet someone? What if you… forget about me?"
He stopped walking, turning to face her fully this time.
"Eliza," he said quietly, his voice steady and sure, "I could never forget about you. You're my best friend. You always will be. no one could replacing you"
Her heart twisted painfully.
Best friend.
It should've been comforting. It wasn't.
"Yeah," she forced a smile. "Right. Best friends."
They walked the rest of the way home in silence.
The gift stayed in her bag.
She didn't give it to him.
---
That evening, Eliza sat by her window, the small box still sitting on her desk, untouched. It was wrapped neatly — navy blue paper, tied with a silver ribbon. His favorite colors.
She stared at it, her chest hollow and aching.
It wasn't supposed to feel like this.
Her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it faster than she wanted to admit.
Lucifer:
Hey, thanks for the wish. I know I talk too much, but it's nice having you there to listen. Don't know what I'd do without you.
Her heart squeezed.
She wanted to tell him. To say something — anything — that could make him realize what she felt.
Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard.
But the words wouldn't come.
Instead, she typed:
Eliza:
You'd probably survive. You're annoying, but you're not helpless.
The reply came faster than she expected.
Lucifer:
Nah. Pretty sure I'd be lost without you, Princess.
She stared at his message for a long moment. Her eyes burned, but she refused to let the tears fall.
Because no matter how sweet his words were, deep down, she knew.
She wasn't losing him to Lily.
She was losing him to the truth.
He didn't see her that way.
Maybe he never would.
And the worst part?
She wasn't sure if she'd ever stop hoping.
To be continued....
💬 AUTHOR'S NOTE
My heart is in shambles after writing this...
I felt Eliza's pain. Did you?
It actually kinda hurts — no, it really hurts — when someone calls you their friend…
when you never wanted to be just their friend.
When every smile, every moment, every heartbeat meant more to you than it ever did to them.
Have you ever loved someone like that?
Quietly.
Deeply.
Silently hoping they'd see you — really see you — but they never do.
So tell me…
How do you feel right now?
Are you crying with Eliza?
Screaming with me?
Still hoping, even when it hurts?
You're not alone.
We're in this together.
And maybe — just maybe — the story still has something beautiful waiting.
Don't let go just yet.