Lia avoided William the entire day.
Not because she hated him.
But because seeing him made her heart ache in ways she didn't know how to explain.
She stayed in her room longer than usual, scrolling mindlessly on her phone, stopping only when she realized she had been rereading the same sentence for the fifth time.
Get a grip, she told herself.
By evening, she finally stepped out.
The living room lights were dim. The soft glow from the balcony spilled inside, and that's when she saw him.
William was standing near the window, phone pressed to his ear.
"Yes," he said calmly.
"No, I'll handle it."
His voice was professional—cold even. Not the William she knew in quiet moments.
Lia paused without meaning to.
He turned slightly… and noticed her.
Their eyes met.
William stopped talking mid-sentence.
"I'll call you back," he said, then ended the call.
Silence again.
"You were avoiding me," he said—not accusing, just stating a fact.
Lia crossed her arms.
"I wasn't."
William raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You didn't come out all day."
She looked away.
"So? I'm allowed to be alone."
He nodded slowly.
"I know."
That calm response unsettled her more than anger would have.
"Then why are you asking?" she snapped.
William took a step closer—but stopped, respecting an invisible boundary.
"Because I don't like it when there's distance between us," he said softly.
Lia laughed once. Dry.
"There's always distance, William. You just pretend there isn't."
His jaw tightened.
"That's not true."
"Then tell me," she said, finally looking at him, eyes sharp, voice trembling,
"what exactly are we?"
The question hung in the air.
William didn't answer immediately.
And that pause—that single moment of hesitation—was enough.
Lia nodded slowly, as if she already understood.
"Right," she whispered.
"I thought so."
She turned and walked away before he could stop her.
William stood there, fists clenched, heart heavier than he'd ever admit.
Some lines weren't crossed because they didn't want to.
They weren't crossed because crossing them meant everything could change.
And neither of them was ready for that.