The notebook wasn't on her desk.
Amira's stomach dropped.
She searched her backpack twice, checked the inside of her locker, and even retraced her steps to the cafeteria. Nothing. Her heart pounded harder with every minute.
Had she left it somewhere?
Had someone found it?
Her thoughts spiraled. What if someone opened it? Read it? Saw what she'd written?
"I'd want to kiss you one day..."
"You looked back at me like you already knew..."
Panic flooded her chest.
"Looking for this?" a voice said from behind.
She spun around. It was Lena, one of the louder girls in class. Popular. Unbothered. She held up the spiral notebook Amira knew too well.
Amira froze. "W-where did you get that?"
Lena smirked. "Found it under your chair after English. Thought it was a diary. Almost read it... but figured I'd hand it back first. You're welcome."
She tossed it gently into Amira's hands.
Amira caught it, her fingers trembling. "Thanks," she whispered.
As Lena walked away, she added over her shoulder, "Your face turned red real quick. Must be good stuff in there."
Amira clutched the journal to her chest like it was her heart itself.
---
That night, she opened the notebook and wrote without hesitation.
" Today, someone almost read our journal.
My heart's still racing. It made me realize something: this thing between us… it's real to me. I don't want anyone else to see it. I don't want to share this piece of you with anyone.
And maybe it's silly, but I almost cried when I thought I lost you.
Is it crazy to miss someone you've never held?
Because I think I do. I think I miss you even when you're just across the room.
And if that doesn't mean I'm falling for you, I don't know what does."
She closed the notebook gently, her lips trembling with a small smile.
---
When Jayden read her message the next morning, he gripped the journal like it was made of glass.
She had almost lost it. And he had almost lost her.
And that line—"I miss you even when you're just across the room"—hit him hard.
He flipped to the next page, hand steady but pulse fast.
"You're not crazy. I miss you too.
And I want to tell you something that scares me: I don't think I've ever felt like this before.
It's like… even though I don't know your name, my heart keeps calling for you.
And if I ever lose this notebook again, I'm running across the classroom and kissing the first girl who blushes.
Because I think I'd know it was you.
— Yours. Completely, secretly, stupidly yours."