Chapter 24

“I think pulling me down with you only did more harm to yourself,” I breathed.

Lucas's gaze shifted downward, his eyes lingering on my lips. "I'm not in any pain," he replied, his voice low and filled with a hint of mischief. "I'm quite comfortable right now."

As our bodies remained intertwined on the ground, a surge of electricity pulsed through me, fueled by the physical contact and the undeniable chemistry between us.

I’m quite comfortable right now.

Excitement and nervousness mingled within, creating a heady concoction of emotions.

Lucas seemed equally affected by the intimacy between us. His hand extended, delicately brushing a stray lock of hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear with a tender touch.

My gaze remained locked with his, as if drawn into a hypnotic spell.

In that moment, it became increasingly challenging to divert my attention from him. Our bodies pressed against each other, his strength and determination palpable.

I couldn't deny the comfort I felt in his embrace, though I knew it exceeded the boundaries of mere friendship.

A surge of caution coursed through me, reminding me of the fragility of our connection.

The memory of Lucas affirming our lifelong friendship resurfaced, emphasizing the importance of maintaining that delicate balance we had established.

“All that matters is you and me. Us. Our friendship is something that’ll last a lifetime, and nothing means more to me than you.”

What I experienced in that moment surpassed the boundaries of a typical friendship. There was an undeniable attraction pulling me towards Lucas.

"Shana," Lucas whispered softly, his gaze fixated on my lips. "I can sense your racing heartbeat."

I swallowed hard, attempting to dismiss it with a plausible explanation. "It's just from the intensity of the training."

"Is it?" he countered, his eyes meeting mine in a searching and evaluating gaze.

To be honest, my racing heart wasn't solely a result of physical exertion. It was a manifestation of fear and uncertainty that gripped me tightly.

I feared that jeopardizing our bond by crossing the line into a romantic relationship would ruin us.

Protecting our friendship is more important. I didn’t want us to lose that.

Besides, romance between us would only be uncertain.

A flicker of hesitation settled within me. I didn't want to become just another ex-girlfriend, a blip in Lucas's life.

Our friendship meant more to me than fleeting romance.

Lucas continued to stare at me. “Can you feel my heart?”

I stopped my thoughts and let myself just be present in this moment. Sure enough, I felt his head beating against my own.

I looked into his eyes, marveling in their color.

A subtle unease suddenly crept over me, making me still. It felt as if someone was watching us. Ignoring Lucas, I pushed myself to my feet, scanning our surroundings.

We were in an open field on school grounds, anyone could see us here. We were in plain sight.

Amongst the leaves and distant sounds, I thought I caught a glimpse of movement—

an elusive figure watching us from afar.

But whoever it was dashed behind the school building before I could get a proper look at them. Uncertainty clouded my perception, leaving me unsure of what I had truly seen.

"Shana?" Lucas inquired, propping himself up on his elbows. Concern etched across his face. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I believe I caught sight of someone," I responded, straining my eyes in the direction of the school building. I extended my finger, indicating the spot. "Over there. I'm certain someone was watching us."

Lucas rose from the ground, joining me by my side. His gaze swept the area, but he found no evidence of anyone lurking nearby. "I can't see anyone."

"Maybe it was just my imagination," I conceded, willing to consider the possibility that my suspicions were unfounded.

Pushing aside my suspicions for the time being, I refocused my attention on Lucas, my gaze softening as it met his. Our eyes held unspoken words, the uncharted territory between us palpable.

"Lucas,” I said.

“Shana,” he teased in a similar serious tone. There was a tilt to his lips that put me at ease.

I let out a breathy laugh, shaking my head at him. “Don’t smile at me. I can’t be serious when you look like that.”

“Like what?” he asks, taking a step closer to me. His chest brushed against mine.

I stepped back, putting a hand on his chest to stop him. “Lucas, I value our friendship." I whispered, my voice laden with sincerity. "It means the world to me, and I don't want to risk losing it."

He nodded, his expression mirroring my sentiment. "I feel the same way, Shana. Our friendship means everything to me, and I wouldn't want anything to come between us."

While our mouths were saying one thing, it was evident that our eyes told a different story.

The weight of our unspoken desires hung in the air, a magnetic pull that defied classification. But for now, we both understood the importance of preserving what we had.

With a gentle smile, I slowly moved away from Lucas, dusting off my hands. But Lucas moved forward, grabbing ahold of my hand. He squeezed my fingers gently, igniting a spark that danced between us.

"We should continue our training," Lucas suggested, his voice holding a touch of wistfulness.

I nodded, eager to immerse myself once again in the familiar routine of combat.

Together, we brushed off the dirt and grass from our clothes, an unspoken agreement passing between us.

As we resumed our training, the air between us shifted. It wasn't a denial of the attraction that simmered beneath the surface, but a mutual understanding that friendship came first.

Throughout the rest of our intense drills and sparring sessions, I couldn't help but steal glances at Lucas. The way he moved, his unwavering focus, and the strength that radiated from him—

it all captivated me.

But every time our eyes met, a silent pact reaffirmed our commitment to preserving our friendship.

As distracted as I was with Lucas, I still couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It lingered in the periphery of my senses, a subtle unease that refused to go away.

I remained vigilant, my eyes darting over the training area, searching for any signs of an intruder.

Yet, despite my best efforts, the source of my suspicion eluded me, remaining concealed within the shadows.

As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the field, our training session drew to a close.

We stood side by side, sweat-soaked and breathless, a sense of accomplishment and mutual respect enveloping us.

"I know I’ve said this a million times now, but I'm genuinely proud of how far you've come, Shana," Lucas said, his voice brimming with sincerity and admiration.

A warmth bloomed in my chest at his words, a testament to the trust we had built and the progress we had made together.

Our journey was far from over, but knowing we had each other's backs made it all the more exhilarating.

"Thank you, Lucas," I replied, a smile playing on my lips. "And look!" I pointed to my skin. "I think I'm finally starting to get a bit of a tan."

“Would you look at that?” Lucas teased. “It looks good on you.”

As we gathered our belongings, preparing to depart, I cast a final glance in the direction of the school building.

The question burned in my mind.

Who had been watching us?