The alarm rang once.
Teresa reached out and turned it off before it could ring again.
For a moment, she didn't move. She just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the quiet settle around her.
She didn't feel like getting up.
She never really did.
School meant noise. People. Attention she didn't want and conversations she didn't know how to keep.
She closed her eyes again, hoping for just a few more seconds of stillness.
"Teresa!" her mom called from downstairs. "You're going to be late!"
She sighed softly.
"I'm up!" she called back, even though she hadn't moved yet.
A second passed.
Then another.
Before she finally pushed herself up, dragging a hand through her hair.
"I'm not even hungry," she muttered.
But she already knew that wouldn't matter.
Getting ready didn't take long.
It never did.
She moved through it quietly...uniform, bag, hair pulled back just enough to stay out of her face.
Simple.
Easy.
Unnoticed.
Just the way she liked it.
The smell of food reached her before she stepped into the kitchen.
Her mom turned immediately. "Sit."
"I'm not hungry."
"And I didn't ask."
Teresa paused, then quietly took a seat.
A plate was placed in front of her.
She picked at it, not really eating.
"You've been quiet," her mom said.
Teresa shrugged slightly. "I'm always quiet."
"That's not what I mean."
She didn't answer.
"You're going to be late," her mom added, softer now.
That got her moving.
She stood, grabbing her bag. "I'm going."
"You barely ate."
"I'll be fine."
"You always say that."
"I mean it."
Outside, the air was cool.
Fresh.
Calm.
Too calm.
She adjusted her bag and started walking.
Same street.
Same turns.
Same routine.
Everything exactly where it should be.
Still
Something felt different.
She ignored it.
By the time she reached the school gates, the noise had already started.
Students gathered in groups, laughing, talking, moving like they belonged.
Teresa slipped in quietly.
Not trying to be seen.
Not trying to disappear either.
Just… there.
The hallway was louder.
Lockers slammed. Voices echoed. Footsteps rushed past.
Normal.
She walked through it like she always didhead slightly down, focused on where she was going.
At her locker, she pulled out her books, blocking everything else out.
"Hey, Tessa."
She glanced slightly as her friend leaned against the locker beside hers.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"That's what you always say."
"…I am."
Her friend gave her a look but didn't push.
"Tara."
The voice came from behind them.
Confident.
Casual.
Wrong.
Teresa froze.
Then slowly turned
And her heart skipped.
It was him.
Standing right there.
Looking at her.
Her mind went blank.
"That's not her name."
Her friend's voice cut in immediately.
Firm. Certain.
He frowned slightly. "…It's not?"
"No," her friend said. "It's Teresa."
A brief silence followed.
He looked at Teresa again.
Really looked at her.
And for some reason
She couldn't look away.
"Teresa," he repeated.
Like he was trying it out.
Saying it properly this time.
She still hadn't said anything.
Couldn't.
Her thoughts were too loud, her chest tight.
All she could focus on was the fact that he was talking to her.
Her friend glanced between them. "Did you need something?"
That pulled his attention back.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Nah," he said. "Just making sure."
"Making sure of what?" her friend asked.
He didn't answer.
Instead, his eyes lingered on Teresa for a second longer.
Then he stepped back.
"See you around… Teresa."
He walked away like it meant nothing.
Like it hadn't mattered.
Teresa didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even realize she was still staring until he disappeared into the crowd.
Her friend nudged her.
"…Okay. What was that?"
Teresa blinked, snapping out of it.
"I...." she started, then stopped.
She didn't know.
Her friend narrowed her eyes. "You know him?"
Teresa shook her head quickly. "No."
"Then why did he come up to you?"
A pause.
"I don't know."
But her voice was quieter now.
She turned back to her locker.
Tried to focus.
Tried to move on.
But it didn't feel the same anymore.
Because out of everyone—
He had walked up to her.
And she couldn't stop thinking about it.