Lily POV

The date with Nate was nice, it was like a spark had been lit.

We found ourselves drawn to each other more and more, spending time together that felt effortless. What started as casual outings and soon evolved into something more, and before we knew it, we were officially dating – it's been a month.

As time passed, I couldn't help but wonder about Finn's reaction to the news. Kam mentioned that Shawn had told him about me and Nate, and that he seemed happy, almost as if he didn't care.

The memories of our shared moments, the unspoken connection I thought had, and the feelings that were never fully explored. It was like a door had closed, leaving behind a mix of emotions—nostalgia for what once was and a hint of sadness for the unanswered questions that lingered in the air.

It was a bittersweet realization for me, I was exaggerating the place I held in his life.

******

The chilly December air filtered through the crack in my window, a stark contrast to the warmth of Nate's head resting on my lap. He waved his hand in front of my face, breaking my train of thought.

"Earth to Lily," he teases, resting his head on my lap as we lay on my bed.

"Hm," I answer.

"Any plans for Kam's birthday party this Friday night?" He looks up at me, "You know cause you're meant to be planning it" he laughs.

I smile down at Nate, "Well, I was thinking we could do a surprise theme," I suggest, running my fingers through his hair. "Maybe a retro '80s vibe? Kam loves all things vintage."

Nate props himself up on his elbows, looking intrigued. "That's a great idea! We could decorate with neon colours."

"Yeah, exactly!" I nod, feeling excited and he looks at me and smiles.

Glance at his watch and notices the time slipping away. He rises gracefully from my lap, his eyes meeting mine with a tender gaze.

His gaze softened as he checked his watch and then looked back at me, a tender smile playing on his lips. "Time flies too fast when I'm with you," he murmured before leaning in, brushing his lips against mine in a kiss that should've made me feel something—anything.

But it didn't. I kissed him back, doing what I knew was expected, but there was no spark, no rush. Just the quiet, uncomfortable realization that I felt nothing. Nate pulled away, his eyes full of affection, and I tried to mirror his smile, pushing down the hollow feeling gnawing at me.

The door swings open, revealing Jennie standing there with a mischievous grin on her face. She takes in the scene with exaggerated surprise, raising an eyebrow teasingly.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Jennie quips, her playful tone filling the room. "Am I interrupting?"

Nate chuckles, his cheeks tinted with a faint blush. "Nah, it's cool Jen, we'll save the real show for later." he winks at me.

She playfully rolls her eyes. "Please, spare me the details," she jokes

With a final grin, he leaves the room, leaving us giggling. Jennie walks over nudges me with her elbow, her playful expression lingering.

************

Kam's birthday night arrived in all its '80s glory. The Airbnb we booked was decked out with neon lights, cassette tapes, and all the vintage vibes we could pull together. Between the three of us—Nate, Jen, and I—it had taken hours, but seeing the look on Kam's face when she walked in was worth it.

People showed up in their best throwback outfits. Jen rocked her scrunchie and off-the-shoulder top with high-waisted jeans, while Nate looked like he stepped out of Miami Vice, all suave in his pastel blazer. I went full-on neon, big hair and bold patterns, embracing the retro theme completely.

As more guests arrived, the energy of the night took over. Laughter, music, everyone living it up in their ridiculous yet amazing outfits. But even as I laughed with my friends, my mind kept drifting, searching for someone.

Shawn tapped my shoulder, grinning. "Hey, Lily. Just so you know, I invited Finn."

My heart skipped a beat. Finn. Of course, he would be here. We hadn't seen each other since Nate and I became official, and the idea of him being here, in this space with us, made my stomach twist in ways I wasn't ready for.

"Oh, okay," I replied, trying to sound as casual as possible, but I could hear the slight edge in my voice.

As the night went on, the party continued in full swing, but my eyes kept darting to the entrance. Every time someone new walked in, my heart did that ridiculous flip, half-expecting it to be him. And each time it wasn't, the tension grew tighter, wrapping itself around my chest.

I wasn't ready for what seeing Finn again would stir up, but deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time.

The air was filled with music, and everyone embraced the lively atmosphere, dancing and revelling in the festivities. I couldn't help but be swept up in the energetic vibe of the night, laughing and chatting with friends.

Glancing around, I felt a sense of joy seeing the turnout and that's when I noticed him – Finn.

Our eyes meet briefly, and I smile weakly. He's cut his hair now and dare I say it, this looks a lot nicer than his long curls.

Just then, strong arms wrap around my waist, I turn to see its Nate. He presses his lips firmly on my temple and I melt into his touch.

"You okay, you seem tense" he says burying his head in my neck.

Finn notices us and looks away almost immediately and I feel somewhat guilty.

"I'm okay, just feel choked up," I smile and turn to face him, "I'm going to go to the balcony for some air." I plant a kiss on his cheek and walk to the balcony.

The cool tranquil night air was a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt within.

The music from the party throbbed in the background, a constant reminder that I should be inside, having fun, pretending everything was normal. But I couldn't. Not when my head was a tangled mess, and my heart felt like it was splitting in two.

And then there he was—Finn. The one person I hadn't been able to stop thinking about since the moment he walked in tonight. He stepped onto the balcony, the soft click of the door barely registering over the pounding in my chest.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice carrying more weight than the simple greeting should've.

"Hi," I managed, feeling the air shift the second he stepped into my space. I glanced at him, my eyes lingering on the way the moonlight danced off his now-short hair. "You cut your hair," I said, grasping for something easy, something light. "It looks good."

Finn chuckled quietly, but there was a tension beneath it. "Yeah, wasn't sure about it, but thanks." He stepped closer to the railing, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body.

We both stood there, staring out into the night, but the silence between us wasn't comfortable. It was thick, loaded with all the things we never got to say.

"It's been a while since we really talked, huh?" he said, his voice low, as if we were sharing a secret no one else could hear.

I nodded, my throat tightening. "Yeah... it has."

I glanced at him, catching the way the moonlight carved shadows along his jaw, and for a moment, the air between us felt electric. Like something was about to happen, like we were standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to see if we'd fall.

"I saw you with Nate," Finn said, his tone even, but there was something raw beneath it.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, guilt gnawing at me. "Yeah... we're together now."

He didn't flinch, didn't even blink. Instead, he looked at me like he could see straight through the surface. "He's lucky," Finn said, his voice softer now. "But I just... wish I wasn't too late."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. What could I even say to that? That I wished things were different? That I still felt something for him?

"I care about him, Finn," I whispered, the words shaky, uncertain.

Finn's eyes darkened, his jaw clenched. "I know you do, but what about me? What do you feel for me, Lily?" His voice was low, almost desperate, filled with frustration and something deeper.

I couldn't respond. It had been so long since we'd seen each other—since Nate and I got together—and standing here with him now, it felt like everything between us was rushing back at once.

He stepped closer, his gaze steady, unwavering. "I hesitated, and I made a mistake. But I won't make it twice."

The weight of his words hit me, stirring emotions I thought I'd buried. Before I could react, his hand brushed against mine, and a spark—electric, undeniable—shot through me. I yanked my hand back, my breath catching.

"You feel that too," Finn said, his voice softer now, but the intensity still clear. "You can't even touch me without feeling it. I won't give up on you, Lily. Not this time."

The air between us was thick, his words lingering, heavy with unspoken meaning. I didn't know what to say, couldn't even find the words.

Finn stepped back, his expression softening. "I should head back inside," he said quietly, like he was giving me the space I so desperately needed. But before he turned to go, his fingers brushed mine one more time, sending another jolt through me.

I stood there, heart racing, as I watched him walk back into the party. But the imprint of his touch, of his words, lingered long after he was gone.

As Finn left the balcony, his departure stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me. I felt tears pooling in my eyes, a mixture of longing for what once was and the weight of my current commitments. I quickly brushed them away.

Another sound of footsteps causes me to look back and I can't help but feel sad when it's Nate and not Finn.

"Lil, you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle, searching my face like he could sense the storm brewing inside.

I forced a smile, trying to push everything down. "I'm okay."

He didn't seem convinced, but he nodded and pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me in that comforting way that usually made everything feel better. But not tonight. "If you want to talk, I'm here. You know that, right?" he said, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I know," I whispered, looking up at him. His eyes were filled with certainty, with the kind of steadiness I should've been able to hold on to. But all I could feel was the doubt creeping in, tearing me apart from the inside. I was with Nate, but Finn still had a hold on me, whether I wanted to admit it or not.

Nate gave me a small, hesitant smile. "This might not be the right time, but... I got some news," he started, his voice quieter now. "I got an internship at a big architecture firm in Japan."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Japan? Nate, that's amazing!" I said, genuinely happy for him, but the weight of it hit me at the same time. He'd be gone for three months. And that should've made me cling to him tighter, but instead, all I felt was guilt.

"Yeah, it's a great opportunity, but it means I'll be gone for a while," he said, his excitement dimming slightly.

I nodded, processing the information. "That's a big step. I'm really happy for you... but I'll miss you," I admitted, the words feeling heavy. I should have been fully focused on Nate, but Finn's shadow lingered over everything, making it impossible.

Nate squeezed my hand. "We've still got time before I leave. We'll make the most of it."

I nodded, but my chest tightened. I should have been relieved to have time, but the reality of everything hit me hard. And then, I noticed Nate's gaze shift behind me. When I turned, I saw Finn standing by the door, his eyes flickering, his jaw clenched.

Nate's grip on my waist tightened. He pulled me closer, and before I could say anything, he kissed me. Hard. There was no tenderness or affection in it. It was possessive, a claim, as if he needed to prove something to Finn.

I pulled back to look at Finn, but he was gone already.

"Why did you do that?"

Nate's jaw clenched slightly, his eyes darkening as he glanced back at where Finn stood. "What? I kissed my girlfriend. That's a problem now?"

I stepped out of his hold, shaking my head. "Nate, this isn't like you." My voice was quieter, but firm. "You didn't kiss me because you wanted to. You kissed me because Finn was watching."

His jaw tightened further, and he let out a frustrated sigh. "I kissed you because I don't want him thinking he still has a chance. I know how he feels about you."

I frowned, crossing my arms. "This isn't about Finn. It's about us. You don't have to prove anything to him. I'm with you."

Nate looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, his frustration evident. "It's hard, Lil. I see the way he looks at you, and... I see the way you look at him sometimes too."

His words cut through me, and I hated that they hit so close to the truth. He wasn't wrong. There was still something there with Finn—something unresolved, and that wasn't Nate's fault. But it didn't make his possessiveness any easier to deal with.

I softened, my voice quieter now. "Nate."

Nate's gaze softened, his frustration fading slightly, but the tension between us remained. "I just don't want to lose you, Lil. I know things between you and Finn... they were real. I just don't want him thinking he can get that back."

I sighed, stepping closer to him, reaching for his hand. "It's okay," I said softly, even though the guilt gnawed at me because part of me wasn't completely sure I believed it.

_______

Author's Note

Hope you're still reading and enjoying Lily and Finn's journey.

Writing this chapter, hurt a bit. Having Finn watching Lily and Nate and what could have been between them - hurts but, hey he shouldn't have been late.

However, looks like Finn's not giving up without a fight ... if only he had this fire within since -_-

Anyways, the Early bird catches the worm and what not ..

Hahaha.

- Renny Tee xx