Chapter 25
Thursday afternoon arrived with a quiet tension that Liana could feel the moment she stepped into the school. The morning had passed with Brianna's usual smirks and sharp glances, but Liana had held her ground. Still, a lingering unease remained in her chest, a mixture of nerves and excitement. Today, she decided, she wouldn't let fear dictate her every thought.
Second period dragged slowly. Liana's notebook was filled with doodles and half-finished notes, her attention repeatedly drawn to the small, comforting gestures she had shared with Aiden over the past week. Every glance, every touch, every quiet word seemed to anchor her in ways she hadn't thought possible.
A soft tap on her shoulder pulled her out of her thoughts. Aiden leaned slightly over her desk, his gray eyes warm and attentive.
"You okay?" he whispered, leaning just enough that no one else could hear.
"I… I think so," Liana murmured. "It's just… everything."
He gave her a small, reassuring smile and slid a note across her desk. Curious, Liana opened it: Meet me behind the school after classes. I need to talk to you.
Her heart fluttered. Quietly, she slipped the note into her notebook, anticipation mixing with nervousness. She glanced up at Aiden, whose calm gaze encouraged her without a word. She felt seen, truly seen, in a way that made her chest ache with warmth.
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After the final bell, Liana made her way to the quiet streets behind the school. Aiden was already there, leaning casually against the low brick wall, but his expression softened the moment he spotted her.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hey," Liana replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart raced—not from nerves alone, but from the intimacy of the moment.
For a brief pause, neither spoke. The world seemed to shrink around them, leaving only the soft warmth of the late afternoon and the quiet electricity in the space between them.
"You've been… amazing," Aiden said finally, voice low. "I mean it. You've faced everything she's thrown at you—and you're still… you. Strong, brave, and… you."
Liana felt her cheeks warm, her chest fluttering. "I… I couldn't do it without you," she admitted softly. "You make me feel like I can actually… stand up, even when it's scary."
He stepped slightly closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's because you can. I see it. And… I want to be here, all of it, with you."
Liana swallowed, her heart hammering. For the first time, she let herself fully absorb the truth of his words. She didn't need to hide her feelings, her fears, or her hopes. He saw her—and he accepted her.
A gentle silence stretched between them, comfortable yet charged. Her hand brushed against his, and she didn't pull away. Instead, she let herself lean just a little closer, feeling the small sparks of connection growing stronger.
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From the corner of her eye, Liana noticed the distant shadow of Brianna's gaze peeking from the school windows—but it felt insignificant now. The interference, the smirks, the tension—they all paled against the quiet certainty of this moment with Aiden.
"You're… special," Aiden said softly, squeezing her hand gently. "And I don't just mean that casually. You make me… feel things I didn't think I would."
Liana's chest warmed, her nerves transforming into something exhilarating. "I feel the same," she admitted, a small smile breaking across her face.
The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over them, highlighting the fragile yet undeniable bond forming between them. In that quiet space behind the school, Liana realized that with Aiden by her side, she could face anything—even Brianna, even the chaos of high school, even her own doubts.
And in that simple, vulnerable moment, she knew something thrilling and undeniable: she wasn't just growing stronger—she was beginning to truly live.
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