The days passed, and Ethan and Lily started spending more time together.
It all began because of a school project. They met in the library every afternoon to work on it. At first, they only talked about their assignment. But soon, they started talking about everything.
One day, Ethan asked, "What's your favorite book?"
Lily smiled. "I have too many favorites."
"That's not an answer," Ethan laughed.
"Fine," she said. "I'll lend you one. But you have to return it in good condition."
"I promise."
The next day, Ethan brought her favorite chocolate.
"I thought this was a fair trade," he said.
Lily looked surprised. "How did you know this is my favorite?"
"I noticed you buy it from the school canteen every Friday."
Lily smiled. No one had ever noticed something so small about her.
From that day on, they became close friends.
Every morning, Ethan waited for Lily at the school gate. They walked to class together, sat together during lunch, and studied in the library after school.
One afternoon, they were sitting in the school garden.
Lily was taking pictures of the flowers with her camera.
Ethan looked at her and asked, "Why do you love photography so much?"
Lily looked at one of the pictures she had taken.
"Because pictures never forget," she said softly. "Even if people do."
Ethan smiled.
"That's a nice way to think about it."
Lily pointed her camera at him.
"Smile."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes."
Ethan made a funny face instead.
Click!
Lily laughed so hard that she almost dropped her camera.
"That picture is terrible!"
"It's perfect," Ethan said proudly.
"No, it's embarrassing."
"Then don't delete it."
Lily looked at the photo again and smiled.
"Fine. I'll keep it."
As the weeks went by, everyone at school noticed how close they had become.
"Are you two dating?" one of their classmates asked.
Ethan and Lily looked at each other before laughing.
"No," they said at the same time.
But as they walked home together that evening, neither of them could stop smiling.
Somewhere deep inside their hearts, something was beginning to change.
Their friendship was slowly turning into something more.
END OF CHAPTER 2
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