Eliza didn't mean to disappear from Lucifer's side.
It just… happened.
The group project was a convenient excuse — one she clung to harder than she expected. She wasn't avoiding him, not really. She still smiled when they crossed paths. She still answered his messages, short and sweet.
But she wasn't around him anymore. Not like before.
And maybe that was for the best.
---
The library felt colder than usual, even with the late afternoon sun peeking through the windows. The scent of old paper hung in the air, comforting in a way Eliza didn't expect.
She sat at the end of a long table, her notebook open, pen tapping lightly against the edge of the page. Her eyes skimmed over the same paragraph for the third time, but the words refused to stick.
She wasn't thinking about the project. She was thinking about him.
Stop it. Focus.
"Earth to Eliza."
Ryan's voice cut through her spiral. She blinked, snapping back to reality.
"Sorry," she murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "What were you saying?"
Ryan leaned on his elbow, watching her with an amused tilt to his head. "I was asking if you've found anything useful, but you looked like you were plotting world domination."
Eliza let out a small, breathy laugh. It felt foreign, like it didn't quite belong to her anymore.
"Not much luck on the world domination front," she joked lightly. "Just trying to figure out how to make World War II sound interesting for a ten-minute presentation."
Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, good luck with that one. Maybe throw in some explosions to keep people awake."
Eliza smiled faintly, but her heart wasn't in it.
She wanted to care. About the project. About the jokes. About the way Ryan was easy to talk to.
But the truth was, she was too busy trying not to feel anything at all.
---
Meanwhile…
Lucifer sat at the usual table in the cafeteria, a half-empty soda can in front of him. Ava was talking about something — her weekend plans, maybe? He wasn't really listening.
His eyes wandered.
The seat beside him was empty again.
Eliza's seat.
He didn't like how wrong it felt.
He wasn't used to looking for her. She was always just… there. Except now she wasn't.
His gaze flickered toward the cafeteria doors out of habit, but he already knew she wouldn't walk through them. She was probably still in the library with Ryan.
Ryan.
Lucifer didn't know much about him — just that he was unnoticed classmate and now apparently Eliza's project partner.
His jaw tensed at the thought, though he wasn't sure why.
His stomach twisted. He didn't know why.
"You're zoning out again," Ava said knowingly, nudging him with her elbow.
Lucifer blinked, tearing his eyes away from the door. "Huh? No, I'm listening."
Ava raised a brow. "Really? What did I just say?"
Lucifer opened his mouth, then shut it. "Uh… something about your cousin?"
Ava sighed, leaning on her hand. "Lucifer. Come on. What's going on with you?"
"I'm fine," he said too quickly.
Ava didn't buy it — of course she didn't.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Eliza, would it?" she asked carefully.
His chest tightened at the sound of her name. He shrugged, trying to play it off. "She's busy with her project."
"Yeah, I noticed," Ava said quietly and watching his reaction carefully. "She's been busy a lot lately."
Lucifer stared at his soda can, his thumb tracing the rim. He didn't answer.
Because he didn't have one.
---
Back in the library…
Ryan leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs while spinning his pen between his fingers. "Okay, serious question," he started, breaking the silence.
Eliza looked up from her notes. "What?"
"Are you always this quiet, or am I just boring?" he teased, his grin lazy and lopsided.
Eliza blinked, caught off guard. "I'm not quiet."
Ryan gave her a look.
"Okay, maybe I am today," she admitted with a sigh.
Ryan tilted his head. "Let me guess — trouble in paradise with Lucifer?"
Her heart jolted. She quickly shook her head. "We're not… it's not like that. We're just friends."
Ryan studied her for a second, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded slowly, like he didn't quite believe her but wasn't going to push.
"Fair enough." He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Still, you look like someone who's thinking way too hard about something that isn't this project."
Eliza forced a smile. It didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine."
Lies tasted less bitter when she said them enough times.
Ryan didn't push. Instead, he smirked, lightening the mood. "Well, if you ever feel like complaining about this dumb project instead of bottling it up, I'm all ears."
She smiled again — a little more real this time. "I'll keep that in mind."
---
That night
Lucifer stared at his phone, his thumb hovering over Eliza's contact.
She hadn't texted him all day.
Normally, she would've sent him some dumb meme or complained about the project or told him she was bored.
But there was nothing.
His chest tightened in a way he didn't understand. He wasn't mad — not really. Just... confused.
Lucifer: Hey, library rat. You alive?
He stared at the screen for a second before sighing and tossing his phone on his bed.
She was busy. It wasn't a big deal.
So why did it feel like it was?
To be continued....
💬AUTHOR'S NOTE :
Well well well… 👀
Should we start shipping Ryan x Eliza now? Or are you still riding hard for our OG couple, Lucifer x Eliza?
Drop your votes, lovebirds —
💙 for Ryanliza
❤️ for Luciliza
Let the war begin🤝