"Unspoken Tensions"

As the night wore on, Brayden found himself settling into the Gryffindor common room, surrounded by the warm glow of firelight and the gentle hum of conversation. He sat on a comfortable couch, trying to relax and process the events of the day. Alice plopped down beside him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hey, Brayden, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. Brayden turned to her, a hint of wariness creeping into his voice. "What's up?" Alice leaned in, her eyes locked on his. "You've been sort of... off all night. Ever since the sorting ceremony, you've seemed a bit distant. Is everything okay?" Brayden hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to reveal his true feelings - that Elizabeth's piercing gaze had made him feel uneasy, and that he was worried about what she might be thinking. So, he decided to tell a white lie. "To be honest, Alice, I think it's just Elizabeth," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "She seems really intense, you know? I've been trying to figure her out all night, but I just can't seem to get a read on her." Alice raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Elizabeth? You mean, our Elizabeth?" Brayden nodded, trying to maintain the facade. "Yeah, that's the one. I just feel like she's... watching me or something." Alice leaned back, her eyes never leaving Brayden's face. "Brayden, I don't believe you," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "You're not telling me the truth. What's really going on?" Brayden shifted uncomfortably, feeling a twinge of guilt. He didn't want to lie to Alice, but he wasn't ready to confront his true feelings about Elizabeth just yet. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, trying to deflect. Alice's expression turned stern. "Brayden, I know you're not being honest with me. I've seen the way you look at Elizabeth, and it's not like you're just curious about her. There's something more going on here. What is it?" Brayden sighed, feeling trapped. He knew he couldn't keep lying to Alice, but he wasn't sure how to reveal the truth. He glanced around the common room, searching for an escape, but Alice's eyes remained fixed on him, demanding an answer. "Okay, fine," he said finally, trying to stall. "Can we talk about it later, okay? I'm just really tired right now." Alice's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still sparkled with determination. "We'll talk about it later, then," she said. "But mark my words, Brayden: I will get to the bottom of this."