The next morning, Maya walked into school feeling unusually tense. Her sketchbook was
tucked under her arm, her pencil case bouncing lightly against her side, and her mind
refused to settle. She tried to tell herself it was just another day, the same as always, but she
knew better. Something had shifted yesterday, and she couldn't ignore it.
As soon as she reached the hallway, she saw Elena leaning casually against the lockers,
laughing with her friends. Even from across the room, Elena had a presence that drew
attention like a magnet. Her hair caught the morning light just right, and her laughter seemed
to ripple through the hallway, impossible to ignore.
Then Elena's eyes met hers.
Maya's stomach flipped. She hurried past, pretending to tie her shoelaces, though the knot
was already secure. She wished she could disappear into the floor.
But Elena wasn't deterred. In fact, she started walking toward her, a confident, purposeful
stride that left no doubt she was coming straight for Maya.
"Hey,
" Elena said, sliding into the space beside her.
"Morning.
"
Maya's voice caught in her throat.
though it came out higher than intended.
"Uh… morning,
" she said, forcing it to sound casual,
"You didn't answer my question yesterday,
" Elena continued, leaning lightly on the locker
beside Maya.
"Why do you always sit in the back?"
Maya blinked.
"I… I like it there. It's quiet. I can focus.
" She tucked a loose strand of hair
behind her ear, suddenly aware of how small she felt in Elena's presence.
Elena's eyes sparkled, and a teasing grin tugged at the corners of her lips.
"I get that. It's
quite nice. But sometimes, the best things are found where everyone can see them.
"
Maya's chest tightened. She wasn't used to these confident, bold people usually intimidated
her. But Elena felt different. She made it hard to look away.
Throughout the morning, Elena seemed to pop up everywhere. In math class, she leaned
against the wall near Maya's desk, tossing playful glances while pretending to study. During
passing periods, she waved or smiled when she caught Maya's eye. By lunch, it was
impossible to ignore.
Maya's friends noticed."You're acting weird,
" Jenna said, nudging her shoulder.
"What's going on?"
Maya shrugged, trying to hide the flush rising on her cheeks.
wasn't entirely sure it was nothing.
"Nothing,
" she said, though she
Across the cafeteria, Elena slid into the seat beside her, smiling like she owned the space.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
Maya froze for a moment.
"Uh… sure,
" she managed, barely above a whisper.
Elena leaned slightly closer, careful not to crowd her.
"I thought we could sit together today,
"
she said, voice smooth.
"Get to know each other a little better.
"
Maya fidgeted with her sandwich.
"Get… to know each other?" she asked, uncertain.
Elena nodded.
"Yeah. You seem… interesting. I like interesting people.
"
Maya's chest tightened. Interesting. No one had ever described her that way. It made her
feel seen, in a way she wasn't used to.
They talked quietly, exchanging small details about classes, favorite books, and after-school
routines. Every word was casual on the surface, but the way Elena looked at her curious,
playful, daring made Maya's heart race. She laughed more freely than she had in months,
the sound feeling foreign and light.
When lunch ended, Elena gave a sly grin.
"See you later?" she asked.
Maya nodded, almost automatically.
"Yeah. See you.
"
Walking to her next class, Maya kept replaying the morning in her mind. Elena was
confident, bold, and fearless. And determined. Determined to get to know her. Determined to
break through whatever walls she had built around herself.
Later, in art class, Maya lingered longer than necessary, sketching quietly. She thought she
was alone until Elena appeared, casual as ever, leaning against
a shelf with a stack of art
supplies.
"Hey,
" Elena said softly.
"Mind if I watch you work?"
Maya blinked.
"Uh… I guess not.
"
Elena moved closer, just enough to be near without crowding her. She watched Maya's
hands move over the pencil, occasionally commenting: "Nice lines,
" "I like this shading,
"
"Wow, this is really good.
"
Each compliment, simple as it was, made Maya's chest tighten. She tried to hide it, but
Elena seemed to notice anyway.
"You put a lot of yourself into this, don't you?" Elena asked quietly
Maya froze. She hadn't realized how much she revealed in her art. And now Elena seemed
to see through it. Her heart pounded.
For several minutes, they worked in silence, the quiet punctuated only by the scratch of
Maya's pencil. The tension was thick but not uncomfortable, more like an unspoken
connection that neither wanted to break.
When the bell rang, Elena smiled and stepped back.
"See you tomorrow?"
Maya nodded.
"Yeah.
"
Walking home that afternoon, Maya felt her thoughts spinning. Every glance, every word,
every small interaction had left her feeling light-headed and exhilarated. She tried to
convince herself she wasn't imagining something, that maybe Elena's attention was just
friendly, harmless. But she knew better.
She remembered the way Elena had smiled, the warmth in her eyes, the confidence that
seemed to radiate from her. And she realized, with a flutter of nerves and anticipation, that
she wanted more. She wanted to see Elena again. She wanted to hear her laugh. She
wanted to feel that strange pull she couldn't name.
Over the next few days, Elena's presence became a constant. She'd appear in the hallways
at just the right moment, sit nearby in classes, wave during lunch, and offer small,
unexpected compliments. Each interaction made Maya's chest tighten, her mind whirl, her
pencil tremble over her sketchbook.
Maya found herself noticing things she never had before: the way Elena's hair fell across her
shoulders, the tilt of her head when she laughed, the little smirk that hinted at mischief. She
tried to focus on her schoolwork, her sketches, and her routines, but Elena's presence was
impossible to ignore.
And then there were the glances. Long, deliberate looks that seemed to linger just a moment
too long, as if Elena wanted to see more than Maya usually allowed. Each one made her
heart race. Each one left her feeling exposed in a way that was both terrifying and thrilling.
By the end of the week, Maya realized something important: she was thinking about Elena
all the time. In class, walking between halls, sitting alone in the cafeteria, even at home with
her sketchbook on her lap Elena occupied her thoughts. Maya didn't know what it all meant
yet. She wasn't even sure if she was ready to find out.
But one thing was certain: Elena wanted her attention.
And, surprisingly, Maya wanted it too.