Gemotions

A blush crept up her neck as she entered the dorm room. The journal lay open on her desk, the words of her heart exposed. She wanted to scream, to disappear. But the sight of him, casually lounging on his bed, the book he was reading held at an angle, made her chest feel tight. Was he avoiding her gaze?

She pretended to rummage through her backpack, her movements jerky and awkward. The air crackled with unspoken words, a silent accusation hanging between them. She knew she shouldn't have been so careless. She knew.

Her fingers traced the edge of the open journal. She caught herself wanting to know his reaction, to see if he’d been affected. The thought was both mortifying and exhilarating. Her palms began to sweat. How could he just sit there? How could she?

“You… you read it, didn’t you?” she blurted out, her voice barely a whisper. He looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and a tiny smile played on his lips. Her breath hitched.