Tallulah's heart was still racing from the dream as she got ready for school. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She tried to focus on the tasks at hand — brushing her hair and brushing her teeth, getting dressed — but her thoughts kept drifting back to Theo and the dream that felt so achingly real.

The dream had been intense and filled with a longing that she wasn't entirely sure how to handle. The way Theo had been so close, the feeling of his touch, it had all seemed so perfect. And now, waking up to find herself alone and back in her ordinary reality was a stark contrast to the intimacy she had experienced in her dream. As she finished getting dressed and headed downstairs, Tallulah couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered. She wanted to be able to tell Theo how she really felt, but the fear of ruining their friendship held her back. It was easier to keep her feelings hidden, even if it meant silently suffering through the heartache.

When she reached the kitchen, she saw Theo sitting at the kitchen island, chatting with her parents. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. It was a familiar scene, one she had seen many times before, but this time, it brought an extra rush of warmth most likely because of the dream she had. Seeing Theo sitting there, laughing with her parents, was a reminder of how easy it would be to just tell him the truth. He was a part of their family already, and the thought of adding another layer to their relationship was more appealing than she cared to admit. But Tallulah knew that even though the dream had seemed so real, the reality was that Theo would never see her that way. So instead of telling him how she really felt, she settled for simply smiling at him.

"Hey, Tulip. Ready for school?" Theo asked, a soft, teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Yeah, I guess so." Tallulah sighed, joining him at the kitchen island and smiling at her mom when she placed a plate of pancakes in front of her.

"You doing okay, Tally?" Her mom, Seraphina, questioned, glancing at her daughter in concern.

Tallulah tries to keep her smile steady as she accepted the plate of pancakes, but she could feel the warmth in her cheeks betraying her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired."

"You sure?" Her dad, Nolan, chimes in, studying her closely. "You seem a little flushed. You're not getting sick, are you?"

Tallulah shakes her head, her cheeks warming further. "No, I'm fine, dad. Don't worry." She could feel Theo's gaze on her, and she quickly busied herself with pouring syrup on her pancakes. She wasn't sure if she could handle seeing his gorgeous blue eyes and that soft, teasing smile that had starred in her dreams.

"If you say so." Seraphina said, giving her daughter one last concerned look before turning to make herself a plate as her husband did the same. 

Theo continued eating his pancakes he had in front of him, glancing back over at Tallulah. Theo watched Tallulah with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Her demeanor was noticeably different from usual, and he could sense that something was off. As he continued to eat his pancakes, he kept stealing glances at her, trying to decipher what might be bothering her.

As Tallulah took a bite of her pancakes, the warm sweetness filling her mouth, she couldn't help but smile at the simple pleasure. But as she looked up, her eyes locked with Theo's. Her heart fluttered, and the memory of the dream came rushing back, causing her face to flush once again. She quickly looked away, focusing on her food. Theo couldn't help but wonder what was on her mind. He had seen her blushing several times now, and it only piqued his interest more. What was she hiding?

"So, Theo," Nolan began, his attention focused on his breakfast. "How are things going with you and that girl you were talking about? What's her name?"

"Annabelle? Oh, I don't know." Theo said, his shoulders slumping a bit. "I'm still not sure if she feels the same way."

Right. Annabelle. The other reason why things would never happen between her and Theo. Theo had this huge crush on Annabelle, one of the popular girls at school. But Annabelle was one of the nice ones, and Tallulah couldn't find any reason to dislike her, even though she wanted to.

"Have you talked to her about it?" Nolan continued.

"Yeah, sort of." Theo muttered, turning his gaze back to his food.

"By sort of, he means not really." Tallulah couldn't help but quip. "I hate to say this, but does she even know who you are? You two barely talk, and you're not exactly part of her crowd."

"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence, Tulip." Theo huffed, his lips turning down into a pout.

Tallulah chuckles a little at the sight. "Come on, you know I'm right."

"That doesn't mean you have to say it out loud." Theo muttered.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings?" Tallulah teases, poking his side where she knew he was ticklish. "Poor Theodore."

"Hey, knock it off." He said, playfully pushing her away. "You're supposed to be on my side."

"I am on your side." Tallulah reassures, her tone turning serious. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to sugarcoat it for you." She poked him again, making him jump and try to swat her hand away.

"You know, you might be right," Theo admits. "Maybe I should just talk to her and get it over with."

Tallulah's heart ached at his words. She wanted to offer words of encouragement, to tell him that everything would be okay, but her own feelings were a tangled mess. Instead, she focuses on keeping the conversation light and supportive. "Yeah, just go for it. Worst case scenario, she says no. And if she does, then she's not worth it. 'Cause you're a great guy and any girl would be lucky to go out with you."

"You think so?" He asked hopefully, his lips quirking up into a small smile.

"Definitely." She reassures, trying to hide her feelings behind a mask of friendly support. "Don't sell yourself short. You're a total catch."

"Thanks, Tulip." He smiles, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her in for a hug. "You always know how to cheer me up."

"Anytime." Tallulah tried to keep her composure, savoring the warmth of Theo's embrace while her heart ached with unspoken emotions. She managed a smile as she hugged him back, though her mind was still tangled in confusion and longing. They pulled away and went back to eating breakfast as her parents joined them. Theo often ate breakfast with them when his mom worked early morning shifts at the hospital and today was no exception.

As they continued eating, the conversation shifted to other topics, and Tallulah did her best to participate. She didn't want Theo to suspect that something was off with her, so she did her best to act like her usual self, joking around with him and laughing at his antics. But the dream still lingered in her mind, and every time she caught sight of Theo's eyes or felt the warmth of his smile, her heart would flutter with longing. She was determined to push her feelings aside and just be there for him, but she wasn't sure how long she would be able to keep her emotions in check.

Theo, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to her inner turmoil. He was too wrapped up in his own feelings about Annabelle and the possibility of asking her out. As he helped clear the table, he started planning the best way to approach her, wondering if he should give her flowers or chocolates or both. As he rinsed the plates off in the sink, his thoughts were filled with scenarios of him finally getting the girl of his dreams, and Tallulah's feelings were completely forgotten.

"Well, we'd better get going if we want to make it to school on time," Tallulah says, raising her eyebrows when she noticed the dazed look on Theo's face as he looked out the window. "Hello, dude?" She waves her hand in front of his face to get his attention, but when that didn't work she tickled him again. "Dude, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing!" He yelped, jumping away from her and trying to swat her hands away.

"Are you sure?" Tallulah said, following after him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Because you seemed pretty out of it."

"Yeah, I'm sure. I was just trying to decide how I should tell Annabelle how I feel." He said, his voice taking on a wistful tone. "Do you think I should get her flowers? Or maybe chocolate? Or both? I never really know what's best for this kind of thing."

"I'm sure whatever you do, it'll be great." Tallulah assured him, her tone a little strained as her heart ached once again.

"You think so?" He turns to her, his expression hopeful. "So it doesn't matter what I get her? I could just say how I feel and ask her out, and it'll be fine?"

"Yeah." She nods trying to smile, despite the growing ache in her heart. "If she really likes you, then it won't matter what you do. Just be yourself and tell her how you feel." She should listen to her own advice. If only it were that easy. She wished it was. But he had this big crush on Annabelle and she was stuck in the friend zone, watching her best friend pine over someone else. It was frustrating and heartbreaking. But no matter how she felt, she would always support Theo, even if it meant having to pretend that everything was okay.

"Alright, I'll do that." He said, smiling brightly at her. "Thanks, Tulip."

"Anytime, T." Tallulah smiled back, ignoring the pain in her heart.

"So, are you ready to head out?" He asks, glancing at the clock on the wall. "We should probably leave soon if we want to make it to school on time."

"Yeah, let's go." Tallulah replied, grabbing her bag and heading for the door, hoping that the rest of the day would go smoothly and her emotions would stop being such a roller coaster.

"Hey, Tulip," Theo says, catching up to her and bumping his shoulder against hers. "Don't forget that I'm here for you too, okay? If you ever need to talk about anything or any need advice like you gave me, just let me know. You know I'm always here for you, right?"

His words made her heart swell with affection, and she couldn't help but smile a bittersweet smile. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Theo."

She wanted to tell him how she really felt, but she held her tongue. Instead, she just focused on walking beside him, smiling a little and chuckling when he playfully bumped into her again. She bumped him back, and they continued walking in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Tallulah could only hope that the day would continue on without incident.

****

Tallulah walked towards her first class, her head bowed down and her heart racing. She had been avoiding Theo since the end of breakfast, trying to put some distance between them so that she could collect her thoughts. It was proving more difficult than she anticipated. She had been so preoccupied with trying to forget her dream and avoiding him she forgot she shared a few classes with him and sat by him in those classes.

Tallulah tried to compose herself as she approached the classroom door. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, her gaze immediately landing on Theo. He was already seated at their desk, pulling out his supplies.

"Hey, Tulip." He said, glancing up at her as she approached. "I was starting to worry that you weren't going to make it."

"Sorry, I got a little sidetracked," she said, doing her best to sound normal. "So, are you still thinking about how you're going to ask Annabelle out?"

"Yeah." Theo sighs, his cheeks coloring slightly. "I'm not sure..."

Tallulah furrows her eyebrows as she gets her things she needs out of her backpack. "Not sure about what?"

"What I should say, or how I should do it." Theo continues, his eyes trained on the paper in front of him. "I've been trying to figure it out all day, but I keep coming up empty."

"You'll figure it out, don't worry." Tallulah said, trying to sound reassuring even though her heart ached at the thought of him asking out Annabelle. "It's not like you have to do it today or anything. You have time to figure out the perfect way to do it."

"Yeah, you're right." He says, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I'm probably overthinking it."

"That's true, you are." Tallulah agrees, offering him a teasing smile. "But don't stress too much about it. Just be yourself. That's always enough."

Theo chuckles, smiling fondly at her. "You always know what to say, Tulip. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Tallulah's heart warmed at his words, but she couldn't help the bittersweet feeling that followed. She knew she'd always be there for him, no matter what, even if it meant watching him fall for someone else. "Yeah, well, you don't have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere," She said with a light laugh, though deep down, her heart felt heavy.

Class started, and Tallulah did her best to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept drifting back to Theo. Every time he glanced her way or made a comment under his breath to make her laugh, her heart skipped a beat. She told herself she could handle it, that she could keep being his friend and nothing more, but as the day wore on, she wasn't so sure.

As the bell rang and they gathered their things, Theo turns to her with a soft smile. "See you at lunch?"

They didn't share the next few classes before lunch, so it was the next time she'd see him. "Of course." Tallulah smiles. "I'll meet you and Flora at our usual spot." Theo nodded and with one last wave he headed off to his next class, leaving Tallulah alone with her thoughts.

Flora Baxter was their other best friend, they were a trio with her. The three teens have been best friends since they were kids, they had always stuck together, no matter what. Flora was like a sister to Tallulah, and they told each other everything. But...Could she tell Flora that she had these feelings for their other best friend? She was worried Flora might tell Theo, but she knew Flora wouldn't tell him if she didn't want her to.

Tallulah was torn. Part of her wanted to tell Flora, but the other part was afraid of what might happen if she did. Would it change things between them? Would Flora judge her for having feelings for Theo? Would she not want to be her friend anymore? As her mind swirled with questions, she followed the other group of students out of the classroom and into the hallway. But she was too preoccupied with her thoughts to pay attention to where she was going, and before she knew it, she had collided with someone.

"Oh, sorry! I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Tallulah quickly apologized, stepping back to see who she had bumped into. Her heart sank when she looked up and realized it was Annabelle.

"Hey, no worries, I wasn't either." Annabelle chuckles, smiling reassuringly at her. "You're Tallulah, right?"

"Yeah," Tallulah nodded, trying to keep her voice steady, though her mind raced. Of course it had to be Annabelle. And of course Annabelle had to be nice.

"It's nice to officially meet you. I mean, I've seen you around, of course, just never really got a chance to introduce myself," Annabelle continues, her smile growing a bit wider. "We should hang out sometime, get to know each other better. You seem like a cool girl."

"Really?" Tallulah said, trying not to sound too shocked. "You want to hang out? With me?" She couldn't help but stare at her with disbelief. Annabelle was popular, she wasn't. She was just surprised Annabelle knew her name and didn't only know her as 'Flower Girl' like most other students did.

"Yeah, of course." Annabelle reassures, her tone genuine. "Why not? You seem like a cool person, and it's always good to make new friends, right?"

"Right." Tallulah nods, managing a small smile. "Yeah, I'd like that. We should definitely hang out sometime."

"We follow each other on Insta, right? Let's plan something later." Annabelle smiled, waving at her as she heads off to her next class.

Tallulah watches her go, still in shock. She couldn't believe it, Annabelle had wanted to hang out with her. She knew who she was. Tallulah stood frozen for a moment, her thoughts swirling. Annabelle, the girl Theo liked, wanted to hang out with her. Of all the things she had imagined might happen today, this definitely wasn't one of them. She gasped, stumbling into the wall when she was suddenly pushed.

"Watch where you're going, Flower Girl." A familiar voice sneered. Tallulah stumbled against the wall, catching herself just before she fell. She turned to see who had pushed her, recognizing the voice as belonging to her least favorite person. Tallulah's heart sank as she turned to see none other than the school's resident mean girl, Lila Cross.

Lila Cross had always been a thorn in Tallulah's side. With her sharp tongue and clique of followers, she made sure everyone knew she was the queen bee of their high school. Tallulah braced herself for the usual barrage of condescension.

"Careful, Flower Girl. Wouldn't want you to get your precious petals all crushed." Lila said with a smirk. Her entourage snickered behind her.

Tallulah takes a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "Sorry, Lila. I didn't see you there." She replied, keeping her voice steady despite the irritation bubbling inside her.

Lila's smirk widens, clearly enjoying the reaction she was getting. "Oh, I'm sure you didn't. You're probably too busy daydreaming about your latest fantasy or something." She spoke with a mocking tone.

Tallulah's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she refused to let Lila see how much her words affected her. "Well, you're not wrong. I'm always daydreaming about better things than dealing with you." She retorted, trying to keep her voice as neutral as possible.

Lila's eyes flashed with anger, and her smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "Very funny, Flower Girl. You really think you can stand up to me? You're nothing but a pathetic little weed that I'll gladly stomp on." She threatened, taking a step towards Tallulah, her gaze filled with hatred.

Tallulah held her ground, keeping her head held high. "Yeah, well, I don't really care what you think about me. At least I'm not a fake, plastic, superficial, selfish, stuck-up brat like you." She fired back, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't usually one to start arguments or say things like that, but Lila really got under her skin.

Lila's expression turned dark, and her hand reached out, her nails digging into Tallulah's arm. Tallulah winced as she was yanked forward, the other girl's grip surprisingly strong. She stumbled forward, her legs unsteady as she tried to maintain her balance.

"You listen here, Flower Girl. No one talks to me like that. Especially not you." Lila's voice was a low hiss, her gaze filled with malice. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my way and keep your mouth shut."

"Or what?" Tallulah retorted, her temper flaring. She was tired of Lila pushing her around. She was done being her victim. "What are you gonna do, Lila? You gonna cry to your daddy? You gonna tell your little minions to jump me in the hallway? You're only all talk, you know. You're a coward, and you're never gonna be anything but a pathetic bully who-"

"Shut up!" Lila snaps, her grip tightening. "You don't know what you're talking about, Flower Girl. You're just a loser, a nobody. You're not worth my time." She shoves Tallulah away, making her stumble again. "Get lost. I'm done wasting my time on you."

Tallulah glared at her, anger simmering just below the surface. But before she could respond, Lila was already walking away, her entourage following after her like a pack of obedient puppies. Her three lackeys were snickering and smirking as they went, their eyes full of disdain and hatred. Tallulah's hands balled into fists, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her temper. She wasn't going to let Lila get the best of her. She was better than that. She knew she shouldn't let her get under her skin, but Lila always managed to find a way.

"Tulip?" She looks up at the sound of a familiar voice, her gaze meeting Theo's concerned one. He knelt in front of her, his expression filled with concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine." Tallulah sighs, forcing a smile. "Lila just got to me again. Nothing new."

Theo frowns, reaching out a hand and helping her to her feet. "Lila is such a bully. You should report her or something. She shouldn't be getting away with stuff like that."

Tallulah shrugs, adjusting her backpack. "I doubt anything will come of it. She's got a lot of people on her side, and the teachers don't seem to care. She gets away with whatever she wants, no matter how awful it is."

"It's not fair." Theo mutters, his brows furrowed in concern. "She's always pushing people around and bullying them, and no one does anything about it. It's not right." He reaches out and places a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Just ignore her, Tulip. Don't let her get to you. You're a good person, and you're not a nobody-"

"How much of that did you hear?" Tallulah interrupted, her eyes widening as she realized he had probably heard some, if not all, of what was said.

"Enough." He said, his voice low. "I came over because I saw her bothering you. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." Tallulah lies, feeling a little embarrassed. "It's nothing I haven't dealt with before."

"Still, it's not right." Theo says, his eyes meeting hers. "You're a wonderful person, Tulip. She doesn't know what she's talking about."

Tallulah feels her heart swell with affection at his words. But she pushes those feelings down, trying not to read into them. He was just being a good best friend, that's all. "Thanks, Theo. You're the best."

"You're welcome, Tulip." He smiles, squeezing her shoulder again before letting go. "And remember, if you ever need to talk or anything, I'm always here for you."

Tallulah smiles at him, her heart aching a little. "I know, Theo. Thank you. I appreciate it."

He nods, his eyes meeting hers again, and Tallulah can feel the familiar butterflies stirring in her stomach. He always had a way of making her feel special. "So, do you have plans for the weekend? Are we still on for our annual movie marathon?" He asked hopefully.

"Of course," Tallulah chuckles, grateful for the change in subject. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Awesome." Theo grins, his expression lighting up. "I can't wait."

Tallulah smiles back, trying to ignore the longing in her heart. "Me neither, Theo. Me neither."

A/N i love tallulah & theo so much you guys.