The final bell rang with a groan of relief echoing through the hallways. Lynn slammed her locker shut and leaned against it, her adrenaline from the morning game still humming under her skin. Her friends were already texting her for details, but she ignored the buzzing for now.
She didn't need a group chat summary to know something had changed.
The thing between her and Alex—it wasn't subtle anymore.
Not when the look he gave her lingered longer than most conversations.
Not when his hand on her waist had sent a shockwave to her ribs.
She was still caught up in the memory of it when she turned the corner—and collided into him. Literally.
"Damn," he muttered, catching her before she fell back.
"You again?" she said, steadying herself.
"Me again," he said, not letting go just yet.
Their faces were inches apart. Students swirled around them, but no one noticed or cared. The moment felt too personal, too carved out of time.
"I wasn't stalking," Alex said. "Just walking. Bad timing. Or good."
"Depends on your angle," Lynn said, raising a brow.
He finally let her go. She didn't step back.
"Are you free after school?" he asked.
"Are you asking me out?"
"I'm asking if you'll let me walk you home. Not every invitation is a declaration of love."
She smirked. "And what if I wanted it to be?"
Alex gave her a look so intense she forgot how to blink.
"Then I'd have to step up my game," he said.
A voice interrupted them before either could respond.
"Lynn!" Dianne called, appearing with Fanshia at her side. "You ghosted us!"
"Love struck," Fanshia added, grinning.
Alex looked at the two girls, then back at Lynn. "I'll wait by the exit. Five minutes?"
She nodded.
He walked off.
The moment he was gone, Dianne grabbed Lynn's arm like it was her duty as a best friend. "Explain everything."
"I thought you didn't like him," Lynn teased.
"I didn't like him when he was a mystery. Now that I've seen him play and smolder in your direction? I love him."
Fanshia laughed. "Girl, he touched your waist like he was memorizing it."
Lynn rolled her eyes. "You're both dramatic."
"Correct," Dianne said. "Now spill."
Lynn hesitated, then let the truth slip. "I like him. Not just in the oh-he's-hot way. I like the way he listens. The way he doesn't fill silence just to fill it."
Fanshia nodded. "You like his stillness. It balances your fire."
"That sounded poetic," Dianne muttered.
"I read a lot," Fanshia said proudly.
"Are you going with him?" Dianne asked.
Lynn nodded. "He's walking me home."
Dianne squealed.
Fanshia grinned. "Don't kiss him before the second corner."
"I make no promises."
---
Outside, Alex leaned against the brick wall near the gate, one foot pressed against it, arms crossed. He looked up when she approached and uncrossed his arms immediately, like seeing her required both hands free.
"Ready?" he asked.
She fell into step beside him.
They walked quietly at first. Not tense—comfortable.
Then he said, "Your friends are intense."
"They come with warning labels," she agreed. "But they're mine."
"They care about you," Alex said. "I noticed that."
She glanced at him. "And your friends? Harden barely speaks."
"He does if you know how to listen. Sam sketches everyone before he trusts them. And Peter... is just loud."
"You like them?"
"I trust them," he said. "That's better."
A car passed them, loud music blaring. They didn't flinch.
"Where'd you move from?" Lynn asked.
He hesitated. "Arizona. Desert. Heat. Fights in parking lots."
She looked sideways. "You sound like you didn't leave it behind."
"Some things follow you," he said quietly.
She wanted to ask more, but something told her not to.
Not yet.
They turned the corner. Her house was two blocks away now. The air between them shifted again—warmer, charged.
"Are you going to kiss me?" Lynn asked.
He looked at her slowly.
"I was thinking about it."
"Think faster."
He stopped walking.
So did she.
He stepped in, one hand brushing her cheek like he wasn't sure if this was allowed—then kissed her. Soft. Intentional. Not rushed, but full of something unspoken.
And just like that, the world rewrote itself.
She kissed him back. Bold. Sure. Like she'd been waiting.
When they pulled apart, her eyes stayed closed for a second longer.
"You're not going to disappear, are you?" she whispered.
Alex smiled. "Not unless you run first."
"I don't run," she said.
"Good," he whispered. "Because I'd chase you."