The evening light had started to fade, stretching shadows across the walls.
Nathan's friend had gone, leaving the house quieter than it had been all day.
But somehow, Elena still couldn't get herself to step out of that small second room.
She could see him from there — Nathan, moving around, pretending to be busy, pretending not to notice her watching.
Her chest tightened every time his shadow passed the doorway.
Minutes later, he showed up again, standing by the door like he wasn't sure how close to come.
"What do you want to eat?" he asked softly. "I prepared something before you came. Would you like to eat?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I ate before coming."
He nodded slowly. "Oh, okay. But are you sure?"
"I'm sure," she said, forcing a faint smile.
He left again.
And for a moment, the air felt thick — like her thoughts were breathing louder than she was.
Ten minutes later, he came back.
"Want some drinks?" he asked this time, leaning slightly against the doorframe.
"No, Nathan," she said gently. "I'm fine."
He nodded again, silent, his eyes lingering on her longer than before.
Then he disappeared once more.
Time started moving strangely after that.
The clock on the wall ticked slower, the room dimmer.
The sun was gone now, and the soft blue of evening had crawled into night.
Nathan still hadn't said a word about why she was there.
No talk. No explanation. Nothing but small gestures and heavy silence.
And she could feel it — he was dragging the moment on purpose.
Maybe to keep her there. Maybe to make her stay till it was too late to go home.
She sighed, grabbed her phone, and typed.
Elena: "Hey, you said we wanted to talk. I've been here for hours and you haven't said anything. The silence feels awkward, and I need to go back home."
She watched the typing bubble appear almost instantly.
Nathan: "So sorry, babe."
Her eyes froze.
Babe?
For a second, her breath caught in her throat.
Her mind whispered, Did he just call me babe?
She could almost hear her own heartbeat in the quiet room.
He texted again.
Nathan: "Babe, I didn't mean to make you feel awkward. I just… I want you to stay. Don't go. We can talk tomorrow. Just stay with me tonight."
She stared at the message for what felt like forever.
Part of her wanted to laugh — the nerve of him, the confidence, the same old tone he used when she used to melt for him.
But another part of her… just sat there, still, remembering what it felt like to be wanted like that.
Her fingers hovered above the keyboard, but she didn't type back.
Not yet.
She just sat there, phone on her lap, heart doing too much.
Because deep down, she already knew — this night wasn't going to end the way she planned it.