You hadn’t meant to bring it that day. The necklace was too important—too fragile, too full of memories.

It used to hang around your mother’s neck, always resting near her heart. When she passed, it became yours.

You’d even managed to avoid Taylor—the one person who always managed to ruin your mood with a single smug grin.

You and Taylor had been enemies since freshman year. You hated how he made your heart beat faster—not out of fondness, but fury.

Or so you told yourself.

You only noticed the necklace was gone when the sun dipped behind the trees and the sky turned soft orange. Your fingers brushed your collarbone—and it wasn’t there.

You dropped your drink. Your voice wobbled when you asked your friends if they’d seen it. You sprinted to the edge of the dock and peered into the water, but the necklace had vanished—swallowed whole by the lake.

Taylor didn’t move when you searched. Just leaned against a tree with his arms crossed and that same unreadable look in his eyes. You glared at him between frantic dives, but he didn’t say a word. Typical.

By nightfall, everyone was packing up. You stood alone by the lake, wet to your knees, hugging your arms tightly to your chest. It wasn’t just a necklace. It wasn’t just a necklace.

But you gave up.

—

The next morning, you were at your locker when a voice called your name. You turned—and there he was.

No, not Taylor.

Wilson.

Golden-boy smile. Easy voice. Kind eyes. The kind of boy who said good morning like it meant something.

He held something in his hand.

“Found this by the lake,” he said, holding out the necklace.

You froze. The breath left your body. “You… you found it?”

“I figured it was yours. Looked important.”

You blinked, stunned, before bursting into grateful words and thank yous. You were beaming, heart full, and for a moment it felt like the world made sense again.

You didn’t see the way he avoided your gaze.

You didn’t see the way Taylor stood at the end of the hall, shirt still slightly damp, knuckles scraped raw, watching.

He had spent hours in that water.

While everyone else had gone home, he’d stayed. Alone. Diving until his lungs screamed. The water was cold. Black. He’d cut his hand on something sharp at the bottom. But when his fingers brushed metal, he held on like his life depended on it.

He never meant to give it to you directly. You’d never believe he did something kind. You’d never see past the bickering, the insults, the rivalry.

So he’d slipped it to Wilson—one quiet conversation. One small favor.

“Tell her you found it.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because she’ll smile at you like you saved her life,” Taylor muttered, walking away. “And you seem to like that kind of thing.”

—

Weeks passed. Things returned to normal.

Almost.

Except now, whenever you crossed paths with Taylor, something felt different.

His jabs were softer. His gaze lingered longer. You caught him watching you once when you wore the necklace again—his eyes drawn to it like a secret only he remembered.

You tried to ignore it.

Until one day, you overheard two boys talking by the vending machine.

“Did you hear? Taylor’s the one who actually found that necklace. Your little lake hero just took the credit.”

Your chest tightened.

And that evening, you found Taylor on the rooftop, leaning against the railing, back turned to you.

“You found it,” you said quietly.

He didn’t respond.

“You gave it to Wilson.”

Still nothing.

You stepped closer, voice softer now. “Why?”

Finally, he looked at you—and for once, the walls were down. No smugness. No smirks.

“I didn’t do it for you to know,” he said.

Your breath caught.

“I did it because I knew how much it meant to you. And I figured… if he gave it back, you’d smile. And I’d rather see you smile than argue with me every day.”

You whispered, “I would’ve smiled at you, too, you know.”

He blinked. And for the first time in forever… he smiled.