Shayyla glanced at the clock on the wall as the lunch bell rang, echoing through the bustling corridors of Crestwood High. Her heart raced, not from the usual anticipation of cafeteria food, but from the weight of the secret she had been guarding for weeks. She spotted Amber at their usual table, animatedly chatting with a group of friends, her honeyed laughter ringing out over the chatter.
Shayyla took a deep breath and made her way through the crowd, dodging backpacks and eager students. As she slid into the seat next to Amber, she noticed a flare of curiosity in Amber’s hazel eyes.
“What’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Amber teased, nudging Shayyla playfully with her shoulder.
Shayyla’s stomach twisted. There was something she needed to tell Amber—something about Anthony. He was Amber’s crush, and Shayyla had kept her distance from the budding romance, but the revelation weighed heavily on her conscience.
“Um, can I tell you something?” Shayyla said, her tone serious.
Amber’s expression shifted, concern flickering across her face. “Of course. What is it?”
Shayyla bit her lip, glancing around to ensure nobody was eavesdropping. “It’s about Anthony.”
Amber leaned forward, her interest piqued. “What about him?”
“I saw him last week… with someone else,” Shayyla confessed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “They were at Coffee Corner, and they looked really close. They were laughing and holding hands.”
Amber’s brow furrowed as her expression shifted from curiosity to confusion. “What? Are you sure? Maybe it was just a friend?”
“No, Amber,” Shayyla said, feeling the weight of her words. “It didn’t look like just friends. I recognized her—Juliet, from the year above us. You know, the one who was on the cheerleading team last year?”
Amber’s cheeks flushed, her excitement deflating like a popped balloon. “I can’t believe it. He never mentioned anything about her.”
Shayyla felt a pang of regret as she watched her friend process the news. “I’m sorry, Amber. I didn’t want to hurt you, but you deserve to know the truth.”
Amber sat back in her seat, her fingers nervously twisting a strand of hair. “Maybe there’s an explanation. I mean, he could have just been hanging out with her. Friends do that, right?” But her voice lacked conviction.
“Yeah, but why wouldn’t he tell you?” Shayyla replied gently. “I just thought you should know.”
A silence fell between them, heavy and contemplative. Shayyla wished she could take the words back, but they hung in the air, unavoidable and raw.
“I didn’t think he would…” Amber began, her voice trailing off. “I really liked him, Shayy. I thought he liked me too. We had those moments in class, and he flirted with me last week.”
“Maybe he does, but this changes things,” Shayyla said softly, placing a comforting hand on Amber’s arm. “You deserve someone who’s all about you, not splitting their time between you and someone else.”
Amber nodded, though tears glistened in her eyes. “I just feel so stupid. I thought we had something.”
“You don’t need to feel stupid. Falling for someone is part of being human,” Shayyla reassured her. “And if he can’t be honest about what’s going on, maybe he’s not worth your time.”
Amber took a deep breath, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I guess you’re right. What’s the point in chasing someone who isn’t ready to commit?”
Throughout the lunch hour, Shayyla watched as a range of emotions washed over Amber—hurt, anger, and finally, a spark of resilience. They talked and laughed like they used to, gradually finding comfort in their friendship again.
When the final bell rang, Shayyla felt a blend of relief and sadness wash over her. She wished she could take back the details of what she had seen, but she also knew it was better for Amber to know the truth than to be left in the dark.
“Let’s go for ice cream after school,” Shayyla suggested as they packed up their things, hoping to lift Amber’s spirits.
Amber managed a small smile, the glimmer of hope returning to her eyes. “Okay. I could really use it.”
As they walked out of the cafeteria together, Shayyla felt lighter. It was never easy to share hard truths, but sometimes, friendship meant stepping up, no matter how heavy that truth might be. And despite the day’s revelations, they had one another—ready to face whatever came next together.
I’m sick of Shayla and Amber in this foolishness. Why do you guys have Amber so dumb to Shayla?. why can’t Shayla and Aunt get there just desserts sometimes and fall short
I am so sick of Amber and Shayla.. why can’t she see that Shayla is not her best friend Amber is being such a fool. Amber ship come out on top at some point I don’t understand why she is always being played so dumb in this whole thing. why can’t Anthony and Shayla fall short at some point and lose everything and become poor. Anthony should also lose, and the baby shouldn’t have been his..