Page 6 of It's Only Ever Been You

She looks down, like she’s trying to hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “Okay,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper, but I can tell she’s thinking about it.

We keep walking in silence, but it’s not the awkward kind. It’s the kind where you don’t need to say much because just being there feels right.

As we get closer to her street, she slows down a little, and I do too. It’s not like I’m in a hurry to get home either. Walking with her feels different— not everything has to be about football or who’s the fastest on the playground. It’s just…nice. Maybe having someone to talk to makes things a little better.

“Well, see you tomorrow?” I ask, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear her say it.

She nods, her face lighting up. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”

I watch her walk away, clutching her book to her chest, her steps lighter than when I first saw her at the playground. I don’t know why, but I feel a strange sense of pride, like I helped put that smile on her face. And as I head home, I realize that I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.

……………………………………………………………

The last day of school feels different this year. Everyone’s loud and excited, ready to start summer, talking about vacations and sleepovers, but I’m not really listening. My mind’s on Emma, even though I haven’t seen her since this morning. She’s not with the other kids—she’s somewhere else, probably reading or just hiding out on the edge of everything, like she does when she’s trying not to be noticed.

I wander around the playground, looking for her, and finally spot her under the big maple tree near the fence. She’s sitting with her knees pulled up, her head down, a book open on her lap, but she’s not reading it. She’s just…staring at it, as if she’s somewhere far away.

I head over, careful not to make too much noise. I don’t want to spook her, but I also want her to know she doesn’t have to sit there alone.

“Hey,” I say, settling down beside her, close enough that our shoulders almost touch. “You okay?”

She glances up, and for a second, I see something in her eyes—a kind of sadness that doesn’t belong there,especially not on a day like this. She nods, but it’s not convincing, and I wait, giving her space. If she wants to talk, she knows I’m here. If she doesn’t, that’s okay too.

Finally, she sighs, her voice barely a whisper. “My mom lost her job…again.”

I don’t say anything, but my chest tightens. I knew things weren’t easy for her and her mom—they moved here to start fresh, but I guess it hasn’t worked out the way they hoped. And now, hearing the worry in her voice, I feel this anger that I don’t really understand. It’s not fair. She shouldn’t have to carry this kind of stuff.

“That’s rough,” I say quietly. “I’m sorry, Em.”

She just shrugs, looking down at her book. “It just feels…like maybe we came here for nothing? Like no matter what she does, nothing gets better.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t know how to make it better, but I wish I could. I just want her to feel happy again, even a little, so she doesn’t think everything is hopeless. I hate seeing her look so sad—it’s like she’s carrying something too heavy, and I want to help, even if I don’t know how.

“You’re not alone, you know?” I say, my voice steady. “You’ve got me.”

She glances up, and for a second, she just stares at me, as if she’s trying to figure out if I really mean it. Then she nods, her face softening. “Thanks,” she whispers. “You’re…you’re a really good friend, Ethan.”

There’s that word again. Friend. It’s true, but somehow it doesn’t feel big enough for what I feel. I don’t know if I can explain it, but sitting here with her, I feel like I’d do anything to make sure she’s okay. She’s not just my friend. She’s more than that, even if I can’t put it into words.

I shift a little closer, so our shoulders are touching now, and I feel her relax a little. I hope she knows I’m serious, that I’m not going anywhere.

The other kids start to leave, their laughter and voices fading as they head home for the summer. We stay there in silence, just watching the empty playground, and I think about how this is the best place to be, right here with her, no words needed.

As the shadows grow longer, I make a promise to myself. No matter what happens, no matter what life throws at her, I’ll be here. She’s got me, and I’m not going anywhere.

Chapter Three

More Than a Friend

Emma

Age 16

I’m waiting on my front porch, scrolling through my phone, pretending like I’m not glancing toward the end of the street every five seconds. My stomach feels weird, like I drank way too much soda, and I can’t tell if it’s excitement or nerves—or maybe both. It’s been months since I’ve seen Ethan in person. Football camp swallowed his whole summer. We FaceTimed a few times, and he’d send the occasional text about how sore he was or how insane the workouts were. But it wasn’t the same.

I got used to him being here—knowing he was just a text or a short walk away. Now, after a summer of being half a world apart, or so it felt, I don’t know what to expect. He’s still Ethan… right? But the thought doesn’t settle the fluttering in my chest.

The low rumble of his dad’s car snaps me out of my thoughts. My heart skips, and I stand quickly, brushing off my jean shorts even thoughthey’re perfectly clean. The car pulls up to the curb, and the jittery feeling amps up, my nerves are doing somersaults.

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