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Chapter 1: The Unspoken Connection
It's the first day of senior year, and the halls feel different, like something is about to change. As the bell rings, signaling the start of class, I make my way through the crowded hallway, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. But the second I pass the lockers and glance across the hallway, my breath catches in my throat. There he is—Ethan.
His dark hair is slightly messy, as usual, and he's leaning against the locker, talking to a group of friends. Even from here, I can see the smile playing on his lips, the kind that makes my heart skip a beat. We've been friends for years, but today, something about him feels different. Maybe it's the way he stands taller, or the way he seems to notice me more than he used to.
I force myself to look away before he sees me staring, but it's too late. Ethan's eyes lock with mine, and for a split second, it feels like the entire world fades away. His gaze lingers just a bit too long, and my pulse quickens. I look down at my shoes, trying to keep the blush from spreading across my cheeks.
"Hey!" a voice calls out, snapping me back to reality. It's my best friend, Sarah, tapping me on the shoulder. "You're zoning out again. What's up?"
I shake my head, trying to act casual. "Nothing. Just… first-day nerves."
Sarah raises an eyebrow but doesn't press further. "If you say so. Anyway, I heard Ethan's girlfriend is in town for the weekend. Looks like he won't be distracted anytime soon."
The words hit me like a cold wave. Ethan has a girlfriend—Charlotte. They've been together for months now, and it's no secret that they're pretty serious. I swallow the knot forming in my throat, trying to push away the feeling of disappointment.
Still, I can't shake the thought that something has changed. The way he looked at me earlier—maybe it was nothing, but maybe it wasn't. Maybe he sees me as more than just a friend, even if he's with Charlotte.
As the day drags on, I catch glimpses of him here and there. The more I see him, the more the feeling lingers in my chest. We've always had this unspoken connection—like we understand each other without words. But today, it feels… stronger. My heart races every time he's near, even though I try my best to act normal.
Finally, after the last class of the day, I find myself walking to my locker, my thoughts still swirling around Ethan. That's when I see it.
A note.
It's folded neatly, tucked into the side of my locker, as though someone has carefully placed it there. My name is scribbled across the front in messy handwriting: "Can we talk after school? There's something I need to say."
My breath hitches. Ethan. The note is from him.
I glance around the hallway, but there's no sign of him. My pulse quickens as I quickly slip the note into my pocket, unsure of what to make of it. My mind races with a thousand questions. What does he want to talk about? Is it about Charlotte? About us?
I try to focus, but it's impossible. My thoughts are consumed by the idea of what he might say. Maybe this is it—the moment I've been waiting for. Maybe Ethan feels the same way, and he's finally going to tell me.
But then a voice breaks through my thoughts, and I freeze.
It's Charlotte, walking down the hallway toward me with a smile on her face.
I force myself to smile back, but the tension in my chest is unbearable. What does this mean for Ethan and me? What is he planning to say?