Chapter 3: A Quiet Admiration
Elena Castillo had always been the center of attention, but her thoughts were often elsewhere. It was ironic, reallyâpeople thought they knew her, yet there were layers of Elena that even her closest friends never saw. And one of those layers? Riley Bennett.
Riley wasnât someone most people noticed. She blended into the background, always hunched over her notebook or walking through the hallways with her headphones in. But to Elena, Riley had always stood out.
It started during their freshman year.
Elenaâs first memory of Riley was in their English class. Mr. Thornton had assigned a group project, and the seating chart had paired Elena with Riley.
Riley had barely looked up when Elena slid into the seat beside her. Her hair was messy, her glasses slightly askew, and she wore a hoodie two sizes too big. Elena had smiled brightly, introducing herself, but Rileyâs response was curt and shy.
âSheâs not rude,â Elena had realized quickly. âSheâs just... guarded.â
Throughout the project, Rileyâs intelligence had been impossible to ignore. She dissected the text with ease, her observations insightful and sharp. Elena found herself fascinated, not just by Rileyâs intellect but by the quiet determination she carried.
When the project ended, they went their separate ways. But Elena couldnât help but steal glances at Riley in the hallways, wondering what thoughts filled her mind.
As the years passed, Elenaâs fascination with Riley only grew. It wasnât something she spoke aboutâher friends would never understand. To them, Riley was just the quiet nerd, the girl who seemed content to stay in her own world.
But Elena saw more than that. She noticed the way Rileyâs eyes lit up when she was passionate about something, the way she chewed on her pen when she was deep in thought.
One time, Elena had caught Riley sketching in her notebook during study hall. She had been too far away to see the details, but the concentration on Rileyâs face had been mesmerizing. Elena wanted to ask about the drawing, to compliment her work, but fear of sounding nosy held her back.
Instead, Elena kept her observations to herself, tucking them away like secrets.
There were moments that stayed with Elena, small interactions that seemed insignificant but meant everything to her.
One afternoon, they had crossed paths in the library. Riley had been balancing a towering stack of books, her face half-hidden behind the pile.
âNeed help?â Elena had asked, smiling.
Riley had hesitated before nodding, her cheeks flushing slightly. They had walked in silence to the check-out counter, and Riley had muttered a quiet âthanksâ before disappearing.
It wasnât much, but it was enough to make Elenaâs heart flutter.
Another time, during a school assembly, Riley had answered a question no one else could. Her voice had been quiet but confident, and Elena had felt an odd sense of pride, as if Rileyâs victory was her own.
Elena often wondered why she was drawn to Riley. Maybe it was the mystery, the sense that Riley was more than she let on. Or maybe it was the way Riley seemed content in her solitude, never chasing popularity or validation.
âShe doesnât care what people think,â Elena thought one day as she watched Riley walk across the courtyard. âSheâs just... herself.â
It was a quality Elena admired, even envied. As someone who was constantly in the spotlight, Elena often felt like she was performing for an audience. Riley, on the other hand, seemed completely genuine.
There were times when Elena wished she had been braver. She had wanted to approach Riley so many times, to strike up a conversation or ask her about her interests. But something always held her back.
âWhat if she thinks Iâm being fake?â Elena would wonder. âWhat if she doesnât want to talk to me?â
And so, Elena kept her distance, watching from afar as Riley went about her days.
But deep down, Elena knew she was being unfairânot to Riley, but to herself. She wanted to be a part of Rileyâs world, to understand her in a way no one else did.
When Riley stopped coming to school, Elena noticed immediately.
âWhereâs Riley Bennett?â she asked Maya during lunch one day.
Maya shrugged. âWho knows? She probably dropped out or something.â
Elena frowned. It didnât make sense. Riley wasnât the type to give up on her education.
For weeks, Elena found herself looking for Riley in the hallways, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But Riley was gone, and the absence left an unexpected void.
âWhy do you care so much?â Elena asked herself one night. But she already knew the answer.
Even as months passed, Riley remained in Elenaâs thoughts.
One evening, as Elena scrolled through her phone, she stumbled across a photo from freshman year. It was a group shot from English class, and there, off to the side, was Riley.
She zoomed in on Rileyâs face, her heart tightening. Riley looked so out of place, her expression hesitant, like she didnât quite belong.
âYou belonged more than you think,â Elena whispered to the photo.
She wondered what Riley was doing now, where she was, and if she was okay. The thought of Riley struggling made Elenaâs chest ache.
Elena often replayed their brief interactions in her mind, wishing she had done more. She regretted not reaching out, not showing Riley how much she admired her.
But maybe it wasnât too late.
âSomeday,â Elena thought, âIâll see her again. And this time, I wonât hold back.â
She didnât know when or where that day would come, but she held onto the hope that their paths would cross again. Until then, all she could do was waitâand remember.