Chapter 1: The Boy Who Knew Her Too Well
Sophie Marcus had one simple goal for senior year: avoid drama and focus on her future.
She had repeated it to herself that morning while standing in front of her bedroom mirror, camera strap around her neck, hair still damp from her rushed shower, trying to look like a girl who had her entire life under control.
This year, she would build her photography portfolio. This year, she would apply for art schools. This year, she would stop being known as only Liam Ashford's best friend.
That last part was harder than it should have been.
The moment Sophie stepped through the front gates of Riverside High, someone called her name across the courtyard.
"Sophie!"
She didn't even need to turn around. She knew that voice too well.
A second later, Liam Ashford came jogging toward her with his basketball bag slung over one shoulder, his school jacket half-buttoned and his dark hair messy like he had lost a fight with his alarm clock.
Sophie stopped near the old oak tree outside the library.
"You're late," she said.
"I'm not late." Liam slowed in front of her, slightly breathless. "You're early."
"I'm on time."
"That's early for people who respect morning sleep."
"You've known me since we were four. You should be used to it by now."
"I am used to it." He reached out and plucked a dry leaf from her hair before she could move away. "That's why I checked the lake first."
Sophie stilled for half a second. Liam had done things like that a thousand times before. Fixed her collar. Stolen fries from her tray. Tugged her backpack strap when she was about to walk into someone. Tied her shoelace in middle school because she had been too busy adjusting her camera settings to notice it had come loose.
It used to feel normal. Lately, every casual touch from him seemed to stay on her skin a little too long.
Sophie stepped back and adjusted her camera strap.
"I went to take photos before class. The lake looked nice."
"You went without me?"
"You had basketball tryouts."
"I would've gone."
"You needed sleep."
"I need a lot of things. Apparently, being abandoned by my best friend before breakfast is one of them."
Sophie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop herself from smiling.
They started walking toward the main building together, falling into step without thinking. Sophie never had to match Liam's pace. He slowed when her camera bag was heavy. She moved slightly to the side when his basketball bag swung too close. They had grown up learning each other's habits.
Everyone thought knowing someone since childhood made things simple. They were wrong. Sometimes it made things more confusing because no one could tell where friendship ended and something else began.
Liam Ashford was not just her neighbor. He was the boy who had shared his plastic shovel with her in the sandbox when they were four. He was the boy who had punched a locker in eighth grade because someone made her cry. He was the boy who knew her coffee order, her worst fears, her favorite hiding places, and the exact look she made when she was pretending not to be upset.
He knew her too well. Maybe that was why Sophie had started feeling nervous around him.
"So," Liam said, bumping his shoulder lightly against hers. "Show me."
"Show you what?"
"The lake photos."
"You haven't even said please."
"Sophie."
"No."
"Please, my talented and terrifying best friend."
"That was better."
She took the camera from around her neck and turned it on. Liam leaned closer as she scrolled through the photos. His shoulder brushed hers, and Sophie kept her eyes fixed on the small screen like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
The first few photos showed the lake covered in pale morning mist. Sunlight cut through the trees, touching the old wooden dock and turning the water silver. In one shot, a single bird stood near the edge of the lake, its reflection slightly broken by ripples.
Liam went quiet. That was how Sophie knew he actually liked them. He joked when he didn't know what to say. When something mattered, he stopped talking.
"These are good," he said after a while.
"You always say that."
"Because you're always good."
"You're biased."
"Obviously." His mouth curved. "But I'm also right."
Her chest warmed before she could stop it. She quickly looked back at the camera.
"Mrs. Bennett said I should start choosing pieces for my portfolio soon. The New York programs are competitive, so I need stronger work."
Liam's smile faded just a little. Not enough for anyone else to notice. But Sophie noticed.
"You're still thinking about New York?" he asked.
"Of course I am."
"Right." He looked toward the sports field instead of at her. "Columbia, NYU, Parsons, all those places?"
"That's the plan."
"The plan," he repeated quietly.
Sophie frowned.
"Why do you sound like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like I just told you I'm moving to another planet."
Liam gave her a grin, but it came a second too late.
"Maybe I'm worried New York won't survive you."
"That's not funny."
"It's a little funny."
"It's not."
"It made you smile."
"No, it didn't."
"You're smiling right now."
Sophie turned away, but she knew he was right.
The first bell rang, and students began moving across the courtyard in messy groups. Some were laughing. Some were complaining about classes they hadn't even started yet.
A few girls near the steps slowed when they saw Liam and Sophie walking side by side. One of them whispered loud enough for Sophie to hear.
"They're still not dating?"
