People think life changes because of big decisions.
But sometimes… it changes because of something stupid.Something small.
Like a follow request.
My name is Elina Carter, and this story didn't start with love.It started with boredom.
It was the spring of 2023.
London was the same as always — loud, restless, and too fast for people like me. Every day thousands of strangers crossed paths without even looking at each other. The city never stopped moving.
My school life wasn't anything special. I was an average student, the kind teachers never complained about but never praised either.
But my friends said something else about me.
"Too stubborn.""Too loud.""Too funny for your own good."
Maybe they were right.
Most days after school we would roam around the city instead of going straight home. Our favorite place was Piccadilly Circus.
Every time the signal changed, crowds of people crossed the streets from all directions. The bright screens lit up the evening sky, and the noise of the city never seemed to stop.
I liked watching it.
Standing there with my friends, eating cheap street food, laughing about random nonsense… it felt like life was simple.
That day was no different.
Jack was complaining about school again.
"This math teacher seriously hates me," he said dramatically.
"You say that about every teacher," Noah replied.
I laughed. "Maybe the problem isn't the teachers."
Jack glared at me."Shut up, Carter."
Typical.
Among all of them, there was always one person who said the least.
Ryan Parker.
He was standing slightly behind us, leaning against a railing, quietly observing the crowd.
"Why are you staring like a serial killer?" I asked him.
He shrugged."Just watching people."
"That's creepy."
"Maybe."
That was Ryan. Quiet. Strange. But dependable.
Our group had known each other for years. Nothing dramatic ever happened between us.
At least… not yet.
Later that evening, after I reached home, I was lying on my bed scrolling through Instagram.
Endless reels. Endless random people.
And then I saw a profile.
Alex Walker.
I didn't know him personally. I had seen him once or twice in the school corridors. He was a year senior to me.
Tall. Calm. Always minding his own business.
He didn't look like someone who laughed a lot.
I don't even remember why I opened his profile.
Maybe curiosity.
Maybe boredom.
Maybe fate.
I stared at the Follow button for a few seconds.
"Whatever," I muttered.
And pressed it.
That should have been the end of it.
But ten minutes later, something unexpected happened.
Alex Walker followed you back.
I blinked at the screen.
"Huh."
Then a message appeared.
Alex:"Do I know you?"
I smirked.
Me:"Maybe."
There was a pause.
Then another message.
Alex:"You're Carter from second year, right?"
Okay, that surprised me.
Me:"So you do know me."
Alex:"Everyone knows you."
I frowned.
"Why?"
His reply came almost instantly.
Alex:"Because you're loud."
I stared at the message… and burst out laughing.
"Rude."
That was the first conversation between us.
No flirting.No dramatic moment.
Just a stupid conversation between two teenagers who had too much free time.
But over the next few days, something strange started happening.
We kept talking.
Not about anything important.
Just random things.
School.Teachers.Food.Friends.
Sometimes he would send a message first.
Sometimes I would.