Chapter Text
“Lilianne, I…” Joshua knew this was a mistake from the beginning. Still, he couldn’t stop the words spilling out of his mouth. “I like you.” It was nothing but a simple truth.
Joshua Winston liked Lilianne Blanchett.
Confessing to her now was a bad idea, but it felt like he would explode if he didn’t tell her. Plus, as Luca mentioned, apparently everyone was in on his feelings for her, including the receiver herself.
Lili looked at him with those big silver eyes and laughed. “I like you too.”
“No,” He said, ears turning even redder than they were before. “Not like that.” Not just platonically. “I... I love you, Lili.” There, no room for loopholes now. Lili stayed silent, and already Josh despaired her next words. He regretted telling her so soon, they were still fifteen. Young as the night itself. He could have held in his words a bit longer.
He wanted to tell her that it was okay if she didn’t feel the same, that he’d still stay by her side no matter what. Even if it broke his heart he’d stay. But his tongue was lead.
“Joshua—” He flinched and closed his eyes, ready for rejection to sting his ears and paint them another red. Humiliation was a different shade from embarrassment. It still hurt the same. “I’m really sorry.”
“I understand,” he told her, shifting to stand up and make his way back to his dorm room and cry himself to sleep.
“Wait!” Lili grabbed his arms, gently pulling him back down on the bench. Josh couldn’t make himself look her in the eyes right now, so he stared out into the academy grounds, empty save for them.
“It’s okay, it won’t change a thing between us. I just forgot to, um, water my plants.” Josh assured her. It really wouldn’t have changed anything, he just didn’t want her to see his tears.
“No, I… the thing is, I like someone else.” He winced at the mention of her first love. Aiden Evans left a long time ago, but he still had a big impact on Lili. Josh couldn’t blame her. He nodded mutely in reply, unsure what to say.
“But,” she continued hastily. “I’m trying to move on. So maybe, we could try things out?” He stared at her. She wanted to try things out with him? He felt giddy and depressed at the same time. She wanted to be with him. She was only doing it to move on.
It was a bad idea, and he’s probably end up with a broken heart. But he loved Lili, he wanted to make things work.
“Okay,” he agreed. She flashed a relieved smile at him. This could only end in flames.
Because Joshua Winston liked Lilianne Blanchett, but Lilianne Blanchett did not like Joshua Winston. And they both knew it.
He was nothing but a rebound.