Chapter 1: The Fall
Aiden Carter adjusted his hoodie, the gray fabric sticking to his sweaty palms as he stood at the edge of the Westbridge High gym. The pep rally was in full swing—cheerleaders flipping, the school band blaring a cover of some pop song, and the crowd of seniors chanting for the football team. The air smelled like cheap popcorn and gym socks, and the bleachers vibrated with the energy of a hundred hyped-up kids. Aiden's stomach churned, not from the noise but from what he was about to do. He'd rehearsed it a dozen times in his bathroom mirror, but now, with the clock ticking toward the end of the rally, his legs felt like they might give out.
"Dude, you sure about this?" Ryan Patel, his best friend, leaned in from the bleacher seat beside him, his voice barely audible over the crowd. Ryan's dark eyes flicked toward the center of the gym, where Lila Bennett was laughing with her friends, her red hair catching the fluorescent lights. "You could just, like, text her later. Less... public."
Aiden shook his head, his jaw tight. "No. I'm done overthinking it. I'm asking her out. Today." He'd been crushing on Lila since sophomore year, when she'd sat next to him in English and made a dumb joke about The Great Gatsby. She'd always been out of his league—popular, confident, the kind of girl who could make a room turn her way without trying. But lately, she'd been friendlier, smiling at him in the halls, even texting him once about a group project. It felt like a signal. Or maybe he was delusional. Either way, he was tired of wondering.
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair. "Alright, man. Just don't expect me to pick up the pieces when she—" He stopped, seeing Aiden's glare. "I mean, go for it. You got this."
The rally was wrapping up, the principal shouting about school spirit as the crowd started to spill out. Aiden spotted his chance—Lila was breaking away from her friends, heading toward the exit with her backpack slung over one shoulder. His heart slammed against his ribs. He stood, ignoring Ryan's muttered "Here we go," and weaved through the crowd, dodging elbows and spilled soda cans.
"Lila!" he called, his voice cracking slightly. She turned, her green eyes catching his, and for a second, he forgot how to breathe. She was wearing a denim jacket over a white tee, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She smiled, but it was the polite kind, not the warm one he'd been hoping for.
"Hey, Aiden," she said, slowing down. A few of her friends lingered nearby, pretending not to watch. "What's up?"
He swallowed, his throat dry. The gym was emptying out, but it still felt like a thousand eyes were on him. "Can we talk for a sec? Alone?" He gestured toward the corner near the bleachers, where it was quieter.
Lila raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure, okay." She waved off her friends, who exchanged glances before heading out. Aiden's pulse raced as they stepped into the corner, the noise of the rally fading to a dull hum.
"So, uh," he started, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets. "I've been meaning to say something for a while. I think you're... really cool. Like, you're smart, and funny, and I don't know, I just..." He was rambling, and he knew it. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of curiosity and something else—impatience, maybe? He pushed forward. "I was wondering if you'd want to go out sometime. Like, a date. With me."
The words hung in the air, heavier than he'd expected. Lila's smile faltered, and she shifted her weight, glancing at the floor. Aiden's stomach sank, but he held his ground, waiting.
"Aiden," she said finally, her voice soft but firm. "That's really sweet. I mean, I'm flattered. But I'm not... I'm not looking for anything right now. I've got college apps, my internship at the paper, and just... a lot going on." She looked up, her eyes meeting his. "I'm sorry."
It was like someone had punched him in the chest. He nodded, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack his face. "Yeah, no, I get it. It's cool." But it wasn't cool. The gym felt like it was closing in, the air too thick. He could hear snickers from somewhere behind him—her friends, or maybe just random kids who'd caught the show.
Lila opened her mouth, like she wanted to say more, but Aiden cut her off. "I gotta go. See you around." He turned before she could respond, his sneakers squeaking on the polished floor as he headed for the exit. Ryan was waiting by the doors, his expression a mix of sympathy and I-told-you-so.
"Tough break, man," Ryan said as they stepped into the parking lot. The late afternoon sun was harsh, making Aiden squint. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Aiden snapped, his voice sharper than he meant. He wasn't fine. His face burned, and his chest felt tight, like he couldn't get enough air. Lila's words replayed in his head: I'm not looking for anything right now. It wasn't just the rejection—it was the way she'd said it, like he was a kid asking for something he couldn't have. And worse, people had seen it. By Monday, half the school would know.
They walked to Ryan's beat-up Honda, the gravel crunching under their feet. "You wanna hit the diner? Get some fries, drown your sorrows in ketchup?" Ryan asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Aiden shook his head. "I just wanna go home." He climbed into the passenger seat, staring out the window as Ryan started the car. The town of Westbridge rolled by—strip malls, the community college, the park where kids were still playing pickup basketball. It all looked the same, but something in Aiden felt different, like a switch had flipped.
At home, the small ranch house smelled like motor oil and coffee. His dad, Mike Carter, was in the kitchen, still in his mechanic's coveralls, cracking open a beer. "You're back early," Mike said, glancing up from the table where he was sorting bills. "Rally that bad?"
Aiden shrugged, dropping his backpack by the door. "It was fine." He grabbed a soda from the fridge, avoiding his dad's eyes. Mike wasn't the type to pry, but he had a way of noticing things.
"You sure?" Mike asked, leaning back in his chair. "You look like someone ran over your dog."
"I don't have a dog," Aiden said, popping the soda can. He took a long sip, the fizz burning his throat. "Just tired. I'm gonna do some homework."
Mike raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Alright. Dinner's in an hour. I'm making tacos."
Aiden nodded and headed to his room, closing the door behind him. The space was a mess—textbooks piled on the desk, a gym bag in the corner, posters of old superhero movies peeling off the walls. He flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. Lila's face kept flashing in his mind—her polite smile, her careful words. I'm flattered. It was worse than if she'd just laughed him off. At least then he could've hated her.
His phone buzzed. A text from Ryan: You good? Wanna game later? Aiden ignored it. He didn't want to talk, didn't want to game, didn't want to do anything but erase the last hour of his life. He opened his laptop, scrolling through social media without really seeing it. A post from Lila popped up—a picture of her and her friends at some coffee shop, all smiles. She'd posted it ten minutes ago, like nothing had happened. Like rejecting him was just another moment in her perfect day.
Something snapped in Aiden. Not anger, exactly, but a kind of clarity. He was done being the guy who got brushed off. Done being invisible. If Lila didn't see him as worth her time, he'd make her regret it. He'd make everyone regret it. He didn't know how yet, but the thought was enough to get him off the bed.
He grabbed his gym bag, rummaging through it for the sneakers he hadn't worn in months. He'd signed up for a free trial at the community gym last year but never went. Tomorrow, he decided, he'd start. Not just the gym—everything. He'd study harder, join a club, maybe even talk to people he'd always been too shy to approach. He wasn't going to be the guy who got pitied anymore.
Aiden stood in front of his mirror, staring at his reflection. He wasn't ugly—brown hair, decent build, brown eyes that were okay but nothing special. He was average, and that was the problem. Average wasn't enough for Lila Bennett. Average wasn't enough for anyone.
"Never again," he said to himself, his voice low but firm. He didn't know what he was becoming, but it wasn't this. The rejection still stung, sharp and raw, but it was fuel now. He'd use it. He'd show her, show all of them, that Aiden Carter wasn't someone you just brushed off.