Morning sunlight filtered through the pale curtains of Lily's bedroom, drawing her from a shallow sleep. Her alarm had already gone off twice, but the warmth of the blanket had been too comforting to abandon. Eventually, she forced herself up, her hair tangled in soft waves around her face, and dressed for another day of school.
It wasn't that she disliked school. In fact, she loved it in her own quiet way. The chatter in the hallways, the rustle of notebooks, the familiar squeak of sneakers against polished floors — it all felt like part of the rhythm of her life. Yet, deep down, there was always one unspoken reason her mornings felt lighter, one hidden spark that made walking into those gates feel a little more exciting.
Daniel.
Everyone knew about Lily's crush on him. It wasn't a secret anymore, not really. Whispers had slipped into classrooms, jokes had been exchanged in the cafeteria, and even teachers sometimes smiled knowingly when Daniel's name was mentioned in her presence. He wasn't just handsome — though his easy smile and sharp jawline made it impossible to ignore — he carried himself with the kind of confidence that made him stand out. He wasn't the loudest in the room, but he was the type people naturally gravitated toward, as if the air shifted slightly whenever he walked in.
Lily told herself she didn't mind that people knew. Love was supposed to be bold, wasn't it? It wasn't something to be ashamed of. And besides, she never pretended to hide the way her eyes lingered when Daniel passed by, or the way her heart beat a little too fast when he laughed. It was innocent, harmless — or so she thought.
"Eliza," Lily muttered when she met her best friend at the school gates. Eliza was already waiting, her ponytail bouncing lightly as she shifted her bag higher on her shoulder.
"You're late again," Eliza teased, though her grin softened the words. "Don't tell me you stayed up last night writing in that journal of yours."
Lily flushed. "Maybe a little."
"Let me guess — about a certain someone?" Eliza's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Shh!" Lily hissed, though she couldn't help smiling. "People already talk too much."
"They talk because you let them," Eliza said simply. "But honestly, Lily, if Daniel can't see how much you adore him by now, he must be blind."
Lily sighed, clutching her books closer to her chest. "It's not about him noticing. It's about… the feeling. You know? Just knowing someone can make your heart so light. That's enough for me."
Eliza shook her head, but her smile was fond. "You're hopeless."
The morning carried on in its usual rhythm, but Lily felt that strange weight beneath her excitement. In math class, she caught Daniel's profile in the row ahead of her, his head bent over his notebook. Her friends whispered and nudged her playfully, but she ignored them, pretending to take notes. Her heart still fluttered, but something about the way he leaned slightly toward the girl sitting next to him made her chest tighten.
By lunchtime, the whispers had grown louder.
"Eliza," one of their classmates said as they passed by, "looks like Daniel's got a new favorite." The smirk that followed was sharp enough to sting.
Eliza bristled. "Ignore them, Lily. People love to make up stories."
But Lily's gaze followed the direction of their laughter, and there he was — Daniel, standing under the tall oak in the courtyard. Beside him was Marissa, the girl everyone seemed to admire. She was confident, stylish, the type of girl who seemed to fit perfectly in every crowd. Daniel leaned close as Marissa laughed, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear with casual ease.
Lily's heart sank.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out. For a moment, the chatter of the courtyard blurred, muffled under the heavy beat of her pulse. She told herself it was nothing, just a friendly gesture. People read too much into things. But the way Marissa tilted her head, the way Daniel's smile softened — it was enough. Enough to make Lily feel as though the ground beneath her had shifted.
Eliza noticed immediately. "Lily, don't," she whispered, touching her arm. "Don't jump to conclusions. You know people twist everything. Daniel's kind to everyone. That's just who he is."
But Lily couldn't stop staring. Couldn't stop the sharp ache that spread through her chest as if someone had taken the bright image she always held of love and smeared it with doubt.
When Marissa finally walked away, a group of students nearby snickered, their voices carrying across the courtyard. "Guess Daniel's found someone better."
This time, Eliza's voice rose, fierce and protective. "Why don't you all mind your own business for once?!"
The courtyard grew quiet for a moment. Eliza's glare was enough to silence the whispers, but it didn't erase the sting. Lily forced a smile for her friend's sake, though it trembled at the corners.
"I'm fine," she murmured, though her voice sounded hollow even to her own ears.
For the rest of the day, Lily moved through her classes like a ghost. She laughed when expected, nodded when spoken to, but the warmth that usually lingered in her chest had dimmed. Her thoughts chased themselves in circles, replaying the sight of Daniel's hand brushing against Marissa's hair, the look in his eyes, the way her classmates had whispered.
By the time the final bell rang, she felt drained, as though she'd carried a weight all day no one else could see.
And for the first time, Lily wondered — what if love wasn't as pure, as magical, as she had always believed?