Morning sunlight streamed through Rhaine's curtains, hitting her square in the face.
She groaned, rolled over, and buried herself under the blanket. Her mind immediately replayed yesterday Sam leaning over her desk during history, laughing softly at something Rhaine had said.
It wasn't even a big deal. Just a study session.
Friendly. Academic. Nothing more.
Right?
Her phone buzzed with a message from Maya:
Maya: We're walking in 15. Don't be late.
Rhaine sighed, shoved herself out of bed, and got dressed in the least thought-out outfit possible: her school polo, a loose sweater, and her hair tied back in a low ponytail. She told herself it had nothing to do with avoiding looking too nice.
---
When she met Maya and Eli at the gate of their subdivision, Maya gave her a once-over.
"You look like you slept in that sweater."
"That's because I basically did," Rhaine replied, adjusting her bag strap.
Eli smirked. "Rough night? Thinking about your study partner?"
Rhaine groaned. "Don't start. It was homework. That's it."
Maya's grin was too knowing. "Mhm. Sure."
---
The school courtyard was already buzzing with students. As they walked in, Rhaine spotted Sam near the benches with a few science club members, her laughter carrying across the space.
Sam glanced over, caught Rhaine's eye, and waved.
Rhaine waved back a tiny, awkward flick of her hand then quickly looked ahead.
Maya noticed. Of course. "You could've gone over and said hi."
"She's busy," Rhaine muttered. "And I'm not"
"Interested, we know," Eli said, grinning.
Rhaine exhaled sharply and kept walking.
---
First period started with the usual announcements, then a group activity that required rearranging seats. Rhaine found herself across from Sam.
"Morning," Sam said with that easy smile.
"Morning," Rhaine replied, eyes on the worksheet.
Jeric, the boy beside her, leaned in. "Hey, Rhaine, are you joining basketball for sports fest? You're tall enough to block half the guys."
"No," she said flatly.
"You'd be popular," Jeric continued. "Tall girls"
"Not interested," she cut him off.
Sam, looking mildly amused, asked, "Not into basketball or not into guys?"
Rhaine froze. "Basketball," she said, too fast. "Obviously."
Sam just hummed and went back to writing.
---
At lunch, Rhaine and her friends sat under their usual tree. Sam was across the courtyard with her science club friends, showing them something on her phone.
Maya followed Rhaine's gaze. "She's right there, you know. You could"
"No," Rhaine said firmly.
Eli tilted his head. "You're acting like she's dangerous."
"She's just… Sam," Rhaine said, stabbing her lunch with her fork.
Maya leaned forward. "You like her."
"I don't," Rhaine shot back, maybe a little too quickly. "Why does everyone keep assuming I just… get along with her. That's it."
"Alright," Maya said, though her smirk suggested otherwise.
Rhaine took a deep breath, trying to ignore the heat crawling up her neck.
---
The library after lunch was supposed to be safe territory. She had to pick up a reference book for history.
Except Sam was already there, crouched in the aisle she needed, pulling a massive book from the bottom shelf.
"Hey," Sam said, holding it up. "This one's got the maps we need."
Rhaine stepped closer to take it, her fingers brushing Sam's. The contact sent an inexplicable jolt through her.
She stepped back quickly. "Thanks."
"You okay?" Sam asked.
"Fine."
"You look like you just saw a ghost."
"I'm fine," Rhaine repeated, shoving the book into her bag like it might protect her from whatever that feeling was.
---
Walking home with Maya later, the conversation circled back like it always did.
"So…" Maya began.
"No," Rhaine interrupted.
"You don't even know what I was going to say."
"Yes, I do."
Maya's smile was all mischief. "It wouldn't be the worst thing if you"
"I'm not like that," Rhaine said, sharper than she meant.
"Like what?"
Rhaine swallowed. "You know… into girls."
The words felt heavy in her mouth, like she was forcing them into shape.
---
At home, she threw her bag onto the floor and sat on her bed.
She wasn't into girls. She'd never had a crush on one before.
She'd never looked at a girl and thought about her hair, or her laugh.
Her mind betrayed her with an image of Sam leaning casually on a library shelf, smiling like she knew a secret.
Rhaine shook her head. That didn't mean anything.
Lots of people noticed when their friends looked nice. That was normal.
Normal.
And she was normal.