The bus continued.
Slowly.
Completely normal.
As if nothing special had just happened.
But for Lea, everything felt anything but normal.
Their stop was already behind them.
The doors had closed.
And she was still sitting next to Noah.
“We missed our stop,” Noah stated.
“Yes.”
“On purpose.”
“Obviously.”
Both had to laugh again.
An older gentleman on the other side of the aisle gave them a quick glance, as if wondering what was so funny about it.
Lea didn’t care.
For the first time in days, she felt light.
Almost weightless.
The bus turned into a part of town she barely knew.
Normally, no one she knew got off here.
The streets were quieter. The houses somewhat older.
“And now?” Noah asked.
“Now we’re stuck here.”
“Tragic.”
“Absolutely.”
For a moment, both were silent.
This time the silence wasn’t nervous.
It felt pleasant.
Then Noah looked out the window.
“Next final stop.”
Lea followed his gaze.
Indeed.
Two more stations.
“Then I guess we have to get off.”
“Seems so.”
The bus reached the final stop a few minutes later.
Most passengers got off.
Lea and Noah also left the bus.
The air was fresh.
The rain had finally stopped.
Between the clouds, some evening sun even broke through.
“I’ve never been here,” Lea said.
“Me neither.”
They looked around.
Directly opposite the stop was a small park.
A narrow path led through the trees.
“Should we wait for the next bus?” Noah asked.
Lea thought for a moment.
Then she shook her head.
“Not yet.”
Noah smiled.
“Good.”
That word again.
And again it did something to her.
Together they walked into the park.
The path was still wet from the rain. Water droplets glittered on the leaves in the evening light.
A few people were walking their dogs.
Otherwise, it was quiet.
“Can I confess something to you?” Noah suddenly asked.
Lea immediately became suspicious.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“A little.”
“Then spill it.”
Noah took a deep breath.
“I told Hannah about you.”
Lea stopped abruptly.
“What?”
Noah had to laugh.
“That’s exactly why she wanted to meet you.”
“Wait.”
Lea crossed her arms.
“How much did you tell her?”
“Not much.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“A little.”
“Noah.”
“Okay. More than a little.”
Lea shook her head laughing.
“Unbelievable.”
“In my defense: Hannah asks a lot of questions.”
“And you apparently answer a lot.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
They continued walking.
But Lea felt her heart beating faster again.
He had talked about her.
Not just once.
Apparently several times.
Enough that Hannah knew her name.
That thought made her both happy and nervous at the same time.
“And what exactly did you say?” she finally asked.
Noah looked at the path.
“That you’re funny.”
Lea smiled.
“I’ll take that.”
“That you’re smarter than you think.”
“That’s debatable.”
“And that you constantly pretend to be confident, even though you often aren’t.”
Lea stopped again.
“I never admitted that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
For a moment, they just looked at each other.
The evening sun broke through the clouds and bathed the park in warm light.
Lea suddenly noticed how close they were standing next to each other.
Closer than usual.
Clearly closer.
Her heart started racing again.
“And?” she asked softly.
“And what?”
“Was that all?”
Noah smiled.
This time somewhat uncertain.
“No.”
Lea waited.
But Noah said nothing.
He seemed to be struggling with himself.
For the first time, he looked as nervous as she did.
Maybe even more nervous.
Then suddenly his phone vibrated.
Both almost jumped at the same time.
Noah pulled the device out of his pocket.
A message from his mother.
He read it.
And his expression changed immediately.
Lea felt her stomach tighten.
“What is it?” she asked.
Noah looked at the display.
Then back at her.
For a moment he said nothing.
Nothing at all.
Finally, he slowly put the phone away.
“My parents have decided.”
Lea’s heart seemed to stop.
The park.
The sun.
The evening.
Everything suddenly seemed very far away.
“And?” she asked softly.
Noah looked at her.
Directly.
“That’s the first thing I’m telling you.”
And at that very moment, Lea knew that the next few seconds could change her life.