THE FIRST GLANCE
Here is Chapter 1: "The First Glance" for your teen, female-oriented romance novel Stolen Moments.
Soft, emotional, school-life vibe:
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CHAPTER 1 — The First Glance
The first bell of the morning echoed through Maplewood High, followed by the usual rush of footsteps, chatter, and locker doors slamming shut. To everyone else, it was just another Monday.
But to Lina Hart, it felt different—like something she couldn't explain was waiting for her.
She hugged her books to her chest as she walked through the hallway, her long ponytail swaying behind her. She wasn't the popular girl or the loud type; she preferred silence, sketching, and sitting near windows where she could watch the world without being seen.
As she turned the corner toward her locker, her heart skipped.
Someone was standing there.
A boy she had never seen before.
Tall, calm, leaning casually against the locker beside hers like he had belonged there forever. His hair fell slightly over his eyes, and he wore a simple grey hoodie that somehow made him look effortlessly cool. Students passing by kept stealing glances at him, whispering.
The new guy.
Lina swallowed, suddenly aware of how quiet the hallway felt around her. She took slow steps forward, hoping he wouldn't notice her nervousness.
He looked up.
His eyes—calm, dark, curious—met hers.
Just for a second.
But that second felt like forever.
It wasn't the kind of look that made her uncomfortable. It was the kind that made her feel… seen, like he had been trying to figure out who she was. Lina's breath caught in her throat as she quickly looked away, pretending to dig through her locker for something important.
Her heart thumped loudly in her ears.
Why am I acting like this?
She wasn't used to boys looking at her—especially not boys like him.
"Hey," a voice said softly.
Lina froze.
Was… was he talking to her?
Slowly, she turned her head. He was still leaning against the locker, but now he was definitely looking at her.
"Sorry," he added when she didn't answer right away, "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm just trying to find the office. Someone said it was down this hallway, but I think I got lost."
Lina blinked.
Oh. He really was talking to her.
"It's… um… not here," she managed to say. "You have to go back and turn left."
He smiled—small, warm, a little shy.
"Thanks. I'm bad at directions," he admitted.
Lina wanted to say something else, something normal like 'Welcome to Maplewood' or 'What's your name?' but the words stayed stuck in her throat.
He stepped away from the lockers and started walking, but halfway down the hall, he paused and glanced back at her.
Not at the hallway.
Not at the crowd.
At her.
Then he continued on.
Lina leaned her forehead gently against her locker door. Her face felt warm. She took a long breath, trying to steady herself.
It was just a glance.
Just a look.
Nothing special.
But it didn't feel like nothing.
It felt like the beginning of something she didn't understand.
As she headed to her first class, she caught herself scanning every doorway, every seat, wondering if she'd see him again.
She didn't even know his name.
But one thing was clear:
That first glance was now living in her mind—quiet, soft, and impossible to forget.