Chapter 14 — PIECES OF A HEART
The rest of the evening passed quietly.
Ava stayed with Maya longer than she had planned. They didn’t talk much — just sat side by side on the bed, hands occasionally brushing, the kind of silence that felt heavy but safe at the same time. Every time their fingers met, a spark ran up Ava’s arm, reminding her of the rooftop, the cafeteria, and every stolen glance she’d ever shared with both Maya and Liam.
It was exhausting.
And yet… it was the first time in days that she felt something like relief.
---
THE FIRST STEP
“I don’t want things to go back to how they were,” Maya whispered, finally breaking the silence. “I mean… awkward. Afraid. Distant.”
Ava nodded. “I don’t either.”
Maya turned her head slightly, watching her. “So… what do we do?”
Ava exhaled slowly. “I think… we start small. One day at a time. I want to be honest. With you, with myself. And eventually… maybe with everyone else.”
Maya’s lips curved into a faint, hopeful smile. “One day at a time sounds… safe.”
Ava reached out, brushing her fingers along Maya’s hand. “It’s the only way I know how to do this without breaking either of us.”
They sat together quietly, letting the silence wrap around them like a fragile promise.
---
THE NEXT MORNING
School on Tuesday was different.
For the first time in a week, Ava didn’t feel like everyone was watching. She kept her head high, walked confidently, and even smiled at a few classmates who nodded her way. The hallway didn’t feel like a battlefield. At least, not completely.
And then she saw Maya at her locker.
Maya’s hair was slightly messy, a loose strand falling over her forehead, and she had her headphones around her neck. But the moment she saw Ava, her expression softened.
Ava walked up. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Maya replied, her voice quieter than usual. But there was warmth in it — a hint that yesterday hadn’t been erased.
They walked to class together, close enough that their shoulders brushed. Neither spoke, but the comfort in that simple proximity was enough.
---
LUNCH WITH SILENCE AND HEARTBEATS
By lunchtime, the cafeteria was loud as usual. Ava had expected whispers, giggles, and stares. But somehow… it didn’t matter as much anymore.
Maya slid into the seat beside her. No words. Just a soft smile and a hand that lingered briefly over Ava’s.
“Food?” Ava asked quietly, raising an eyebrow.
Maya shrugged. “I’ll survive,” she replied, glancing at the tray.
The moment was fragile. But it was theirs.
And then… Liam appeared.
He hesitated at the edge of the table, giving Ava space, but his eyes flicked between the two girls. He didn’t smile. He didn’t say anything. He just stood there, observing.
Ava felt her stomach twist. She wanted to speak. She wanted to explain. But the words wouldn’t come.
Finally, Liam cleared his throat. “I’ll… leave you two to lunch.”
“No,” Ava said quickly. “Sit. Please.”
Liam glanced at Maya, then at Ava, before sitting down across from them. His jaw was tight, his hands fidgeting with the tray in front of him.
The tension was… almost unbearable.
---
UNSPOKEN WORDS
The three of them sat together, eating slowly, each lost in their thoughts.
Ava stole glances at Liam. He looked uncomfortable, yes, but not angry. Not yet. Maya, on the other hand, seemed calm, though Ava could see the flicker of caution in her eyes whenever Liam moved or spoke.
Finally, Liam broke the silence. “I… I just wanted to check on you, Ava. Make sure… everything’s okay.”
Ava swallowed. “Everything’s… better. Thanks.”
“You’re not avoiding me?” he asked, carefully.
Ava shook her head. “No. But… Maya needed me yesterday. And I think she still does.”
Liam nodded slowly. “I understand.”
The three of them sat in a quiet truce. Not comfort. Not happiness. But a fragile peace.
---
AFTER SCHOOL
When the last bell rang, Ava and Maya walked together toward the bus stop. Liam followed a few steps behind, giving them space but keeping a watchful eye.
“So…” Maya finally said, breaking the silence. “Do you feel… any less scared today?”
Ava hesitated. “A little. Maybe. It’s weird. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt him either. But I feel… calmer when I’m with you.”
Maya smiled faintly. “I feel the same. But I still don’t know if this… us thing… will ever be easy.”
“It won’t,” Ava admitted. “But I don’t want to run anymore.”
They reached the bus stop and waited. A few students gave them curious glances, but neither Ava nor Maya cared.
When the bus pulled up, they climbed in, still side by side. Liam waited outside for a moment before following them onto the bus and sitting a few seats behind. He didn’t speak to them, but Ava could feel his presence.
It was strange. Comforting. Frustrating all at once.
---
A SMALL VICTORY
That evening, Ava returned home, exhausted but lighter than she had felt in days. She collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling.
Maya’s words from earlier echoed in her mind: “One day at a time.”
For the first time, Ava believed it.
She picked up her phone, scrolling through messages. No texts from Liam yet. No messages from anyone else. Just silence.
She smiled faintly. Sometimes silence was exactly what she needed.
---
A SURPRISE MESSAGE
Her phone buzzed suddenly. A single notification.
It was from Maya:
“Thanks for yesterday. For being honest. For not running.”
Ava’s heart thumped. She quickly typed back:
“Thank you too. I don’t want to lose this. Us.”
Seconds later, a reply:
“Me neither. One day at a time.”
Ava put the phone down, holding it against her chest. The warmth was a small comfort, but a powerful one.
---
LIAM’S REFLECTION
Meanwhile, Liam sat on his bed, staring at his phone.
He had stayed silent after lunch. He hadn’t texted Ava because he wanted her to have the space she needed. But he couldn’t deny the ache in his chest.
He liked her. A lot. More than he should, maybe.
And yet… seeing her with Maya — not kissing, not holding hands, but simply sharing glances, laughter, and proximity — made him realize something.
Love wasn’t always possession.
Sometimes it was watching the person you care about find peace, even if it wasn’t with you.
He exhaled slowly. “One day at a time,” he whispered.
---
THE NIGHT
Ava lay in bed that night, the soft glow of her lamp illuminating her face.
She thought about the past few days — the rooftop, the cafeteria, the bus, the silence, the stolen moments of connection with Maya.
And she thought about Liam, patient and silent, giving her the space she needed, but still present.
She realized something she hadn’t allowed herself to admit:
Her heart was messy. Chaotic. Conflicted.
But for the first time, it felt… alive.
And that was enough.
Because love — whether it was complicated, painful, or confusing — was worth navigating.
She closed her eyes and whispered softly:
“One day at a time.”
And for the first time in a long while, she believed it.
