Chapter 6
The next morning, Liana walked into school with a strange mix of nerves and excitement. The moment she stepped onto the campus, her mind replayed yesterday's conversation with Aiden. The way he had asked her to hang out, the warmth in his eyes, the quiet intensity of his smile—she couldn't shake it.
She told herself she had to act normal, but normal didn't feel possible anymore. The hallways, once dull and predictable, now seemed alive. Every glance felt like it could hold meaning. Every step echoed differently.
As she approached her locker, she spotted Brianna leaning against the opposite wall, perfectly poised, scrolling on her phone. Her gaze flicked toward Liana as she passed, and Liana quickly looked away, pretending not to notice. Brianna's subtle glare was sharp enough to remind her of yesterday, but Liana refused to let it ruin her day.
She opened her locker, arranging her books carefully. That's when she felt it—a presence she couldn't ignore.
Aiden.
He was standing a few lockers down, leaning casually, yet deliberately watching her. That quiet intensity again. Liana's chest skipped a beat.
"Hey," he called softly as she approached.
"Hi," she replied, trying to sound composed while her stomach fluttered wildly.
"You ready for the day?" he asked, his tone light but carrying that same warmth that always made her pause.
"I think so," she murmured.
He gave a small smile and nodded. Then, almost shyly, he leaned slightly closer. "About hanging out… do you want to meet after school?"
Liana blinked. "Yes… I mean, sure. That would be nice."
"Great," he said with a small, genuine smile. "We'll figure out the time and place later."
The bell rang before they could say more. Students streamed past, laughing and jostling, but somehow Liana felt like she and Aiden were in their own little world, separated by an invisible bubble that no one else could penetrate.
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Class passed in a blur. Liana tried to concentrate on her lessons, but her mind kept drifting back to Aiden's smile, the gentle way he had spoken to her, the quiet sincerity that made everything feel possible. Even Brianna's occasional pointed stares couldn't shake the small spark of excitement growing in her chest.
By lunch, Liana found herself at her usual corner table, tray in hand. She hadn't noticed anyone watching until she felt a shadow near her.
Aiden.
He pulled out a chair beside her and sat down without a word. For a moment, they just looked at each other, sharing a quiet, mutual acknowledgment of yesterday and what it meant.
"Did you… sleep well?" he asked softly, breaking the silence.
Liana tilted her head slightly, considering. "I… did. I guess I was just thinking about… yesterday."
He smiled, small and reassuring. "Me too."
She bit her lip, unsure what to say next. There was a tension in the air—not awkward, but delicate, like a thread that could snap or strengthen depending on what they did.
"Do you… want to sit with me for a while?" he asked finally.
"I'd like that," she said, smiling, the words feeling lighter than she expected.
For the rest of lunch, they talked quietly, sharing small details about their lives. Nothing dramatic. Nothing extraordinary. But every word felt like a step closer, every glance a bridge over a space Liana had never thought could be crossed.
Brianna watched from across the cafeteria, her expression unreadable. Liana noticed the glare but refused to let it ruin this moment.
Because for the first time, she realized: it didn't matter what anyone else thought. She had been noticed by someone who mattered to her—and somehow, that made everything else fade.
By the time lunch ended, Liana's heart was lighter. Her steps felt faster as she headed to class. She knew the next encounter with Aiden wouldn't be the last, and the thought made her chest tighten with anticipation.
Something inside her had shifted irreversibly, and she knew deep down that life at Eastwood High was no longer the same. Not with Aiden around.
The space between them was still growing, still fragile, still uncertain—but it was shrinking in ways she had never dared to imagine.
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