Chapitre 7: THE RESTLESS HEART

The next morning, Claire woke up with Noah's face still fresh in her mind. Cassy's words had stirred up feelings she thought she'd long buried, feelings she hadn't wanted to admit to anyone—not even herself.

As the day passed, she found herself lost in thought, wondering about all those missed chances. She'd never gathered the courage to tell Noah how much he meant to her. She'd always been afraid of ruining what they had, of being vulnerable, and of facing the possibility that he might not feel the same way. But what if she'd been wrong? What if there had been something real between them?

She drifted through the day, her mind replaying old moments, lingering on every shared laugh, every lingering look, and every time her heart had pounded just a little faster around him. She hadn't realized it back then, but it was in those little things that she'd first started falling for him.

As night fell, Claire felt the weight of all these memories pressing on her. She could hardly sit still, her restlessness growing. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she decided she had to get out, if only to clear her head.

Just as she was about to step out, her mother called out from the living room, where her parents were sitting, watching the evening news.

"Claire, you look lost in thought tonight," her mom said with a smile, her warm eyes watching her closely.

Claire managed a small laugh, trying to shrug it off. "Just… old memories, I guess."

Her dad looked over from his chair, a curious glint in his eye. "That sounds like high school memories. Were you thinking about someone special?"

The question caught her off guard, and she felt her cheeks flush. "Dad!" she protested, laughing, but unable to meet his gaze. "I'm just thinking about old friends, nothing more."

Her mother chuckled, reaching for her hand. "Sweetheart, it's okay to remember. Sometimes, we hold onto things for years without realizing it."

Claire nodded, giving her mom's hand a gentle squeeze. Her parents had always known how close she was to Noah, though she'd never shared her feelings with them. She wondered if they'd guessed or if it was just her own heart that had kept those memories so alive.

"Well, I think I need some fresh air," she said, trying to keep her tone light. "I'll be back in a bit."

Her mom smiled knowingly. "Take your time."

With that, Claire slipped out into the cool night, her heart pounding as she made her way toward the woods. The stars were bright, casting a faint glow over the path as she walked, her feet carrying her almost on their own to the place where she and Noah had spent so many afternoons. She didn't know what she was looking for—maybe just a sense of peace, or maybe a way to finally let go of these feelings she'd carried for so long.

When she reached the clearing, she paused, taking in the familiar scene. The little bench still stood in the moonlight, and the quiet lake reflected the stars above. Claire walked over to it, her footsteps slow, her mind full of all the words she'd never said.

As she sat down, hugging her knees to her chest, she whispered into the silence, "Noah… I wish I'd told you."

The breeze stirred the leaves around her, carrying her whispered words into the darkness.

But then, as the wind died down, she felt a presence behind her, and she froze. Slowly, she turned, her heart racing—and there, at the edge of the clearing, stood Noah, half-hidden in the shadows, his face unreadable as he looked back at her.

"Claire…" he said softly, and the sound of her name in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

And just like that, all the years, all the distance, and all the things left unsaid fell away, leaving only the two of them in the quiet night, surrounded by memories and questions too deep for words.