...Walking Maddie home usually goes the same way. She chatters nonstop while Iris nods along, pretending to listen. Today was no different... until that question.

🌞 "Well? Do you?"

❤️‍🔥 "Why do you care? I'm not telling."

Iris looks away, hands buried in her jacket pockets. Despite herself, a certain person's face flashes through her mind.

🌞 "Come on! I swear I won't tell anyone!"

Maddie grabs her arm, poking her cheek.

🌞 "Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!"

❤️‍🔥 "Ugh... fine."

She gently nudges Maddie away and sighs.

❤️‍🔥 "Yeah... I do."

🌞 "Seriously?!"

Maddie's eyes light up.

🌞 "Who is it? Do I know him? What's he like?"

For a split second Iris freezes.

❤️‍🔥 "Him, huh...? ...So she didn't figure it out. Good."

❤️‍🔥 "You don't know him."

🌞 "Not from our school?"

❤️‍🔥 "Nuh-uh. He's... my neighbor. You've probably never seen him since you live up on that fancy hill."

Lying usually comes naturally to Iris, but this one feels strangely difficult.

🌞 "Then describe him! Is he tall? Does he have abs?"

❤️‍🔥 "He's not that tall, just taller than me. And I've never seen him shirtless, so no clue about abs..."

The thought of her crush topless made her cheeks flush even brighter

🌞 "Okay! What about his personality?"

❤️‍🔥 "Mm... He's quiet. And distant. Hardly ever smiles or talks about how he feels."

Her voice grows softer.

❤️‍🔥 "And yet… I feel something gnawing at him. There's always a sadness emanating from him, the source of which I still don't understand. As if he did something in the past for which he still can't forgive himself."

A brief silence settles between them.

🌞 "So he's the lone-wolf kinda guy? Cool!"

But before Maddie can bombard her with more questions, Iris cuts in.

❤️‍🔥 "...Alright. Your turn."