Noah sat on the bleachers after school, tossing a small pebble between his hands. His best friend, Mason, joined him, looking unusually serious.
"You've been weird lately," Mason said. "Like… distracted all the time. What's going on?"
Noah hesitated, then shrugged. "Nothing. Just… stuff at home, school… you know."
Mason sighed, leaning back. "Come on, man. I know it's not nothing. It's Ava, isn't it?"
Noah froze. "What about her?"
Mason ran a hand through his hair. "I liked her. Back in the day, okay? I thought I had a chance… but then… you got there first. And now, seeing you with her… I dunno, I guess I'm jealous. A little. It's stupid."
Noah blinked, processing. "Wait—you liked her… and never said anything?"
Mason shrugged. "I didn't want to mess things up. You're my best friend. And now I see how happy you are with her… it's just weird, man. I don't want to be upset, but I can't lie—I'm feeling it."
Noah's jaw tightened. He understood, but it still stung. Friendship was supposed to be simple. Supportive. Not tangled with jealousy over crushes.
"Look," Noah said finally, voice calm, "I get it. And you're my friend, Mason. Nothing about this changes that. But… I like her. And I think she likes me too. I just… want to be honest with you about it."
Mason nodded slowly, still a little tense. "Yeah… I guess I just need some time to… get used to it."
Noah clapped him on the shoulder. "Take all the time you need. We'll figure this out."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the sun dip behind the school. Noah knew this wasn't the end of the story—it never would be when hearts and friendships collided—but it was a start.
A start of honesty. A start of understanding. And maybe, just maybe, a start of letting jealousy fade.
It started as a normal afternoon. Ava was helping Noah gather materials for their next science project.
"Hey, you good?" she asked when she noticed him a little quieter than usual.
Noah shrugged, flashing his usual grin. "Yeah… just tired, that's all. Nothing serious."
But Ava noticed the small things. The way he sighed when he thought no one was looking, the tiny circles under his eyes, the quiet hum of exhaustion he couldn't quite hide behind his jokes.
Later, she found out the truth, almost by accident. Noah had to take care of his little brother after school because his mom worked late. He cooked, did homework together, even made sure his brother got to bed on time.
He never complained. He never asked for help. He just did it—juggling responsibilities, hiding the stress behind his playful chaos, his goofy jokes, his teasing smile.
Ava watched him one evening from the doorway of the kitchen (she'd dropped by to return a book), and her chest tightened. The messy-haired boy who always seemed so invincible… he wasn't. He was human. Vulnerable. Caring. Brave in a quiet, unseen way.
She felt her heart swell. It wasn't just attraction anymore—it was admiration, respect, and a soft, deepening affection she couldn't ignore.
"Hey," Noah said suddenly, noticing her at the doorway. His voice was gentle, a little tired. "You okay?"
Ava smiled, brushing back a strand of hair. "Yeah. I just… I see you, you know?"
He raised an eyebrow. "See me?"
"The real you," she said softly. "Not just the jokes or the chaos. The… everything."
Noah blinked, a small, surprised smile spreading across his face. For the first time, he didn't have a comeback or a tease. He just nodded, quiet and thoughtful.
And Ava realized: seeing him like this made her feelings grow in a way she hadn't expected. Not just a crush, not just a flirty spark—something deeper, something real.