The alarm blared, and Rhaine slammed her hand down on it.
Friday.
Last day before the weekend.
Just survive this and she could spend two full days not thinking about Sam.
She rolled out of bed, threw on her uniform, and tied her hair up in a neat ponytail. No makeup, no extra effort. She told herself it was because she was tired, not because she was afraid Maya would notice if she looked too put together.
---
At the subdivision gate, Maya and Eli were already waiting.
"You're late," Maya said, eyebrow raised.
"Three minutes," Rhaine replied. "Relax."
Eli smirked. "Was it because you were picking the right sweater? Or maybe..."
"No," Rhaine cut him off. "Don't even finish that sentence."
Maya chuckled. "You know, if you didn't react so fast, people might actually believe you."
Rhaine glared. "Believe what? That I..."
"That you like someone," Maya finished, grinning.
"I don't."
"Sure," Eli said in a tone that clearly meant sure you don't.
---
The courtyard was already buzzing when they arrived at school. Sam was by the vending machines with two friends, sipping an iced coffee. She looked up as Rhaine passed, her smile easy and bright.
"Morning, Rhaine," she called.
"Morning," Rhaine replied, forcing her tone into casual territory and walking faster before her friends could pounce.
---
First period was history. Their teacher handed back the group worksheets from earlier in the week.
"Nice work," Sam said, sliding their paper toward Rhaine. "We actually got the highest score."
Rhaine shrugged. "You did most of it."
"That's not true," Sam replied. "You kept me focused. I get distracted easily."
Rhaine raised an eyebrow. "So I'm your… focus keeper?"
Sam grinned. "Guess so."
Rhaine stared at her notes like they were the most fascinating thing in the world. She could feel Sam's eyes on her, but she refused to look up.
---
By break time, Maya had apparently decided it was "poke Rhaine" day.
"You've been smiling more in history lately," Maya observed, biting into a snack bar.
"I smile all the time."
"Not like that," Maya said. "That was a Sam smile."
Rhaine choked on her drink. "There is no such thing as a Sam smile."
"Sure," Maya replied, voice dripping with disbelief.
Eli joined in. "You're the only one who says her name like that, you know. Like it's some… special word."
Rhaine felt her face heat. "You guys are so annoying."
Maya leaned closer. "You like her."
"No."
"You so do."
"I'm not" Rhaine hesitated, then said firmly, "I'm not into girls, okay?"
Maya raised an eyebrow. "That's a weirdly defensive thing to say."
---
Lunch was worse.
They were eating under their usual tree when a group of their classmates wandered by. One of them, Leo, grinned at Rhaine.
"Hey, I heard you're tight with Sam now. You two make a good pair."
Rhaine almost dropped her fork. "We're not a pair. We're just… friends."
"Friends who study together, eat together sometimes…" Leo teased.
Rhaine's voice came out sharper than she meant. "I don't like her like that."
From the other side of the courtyard, Sam looked over at the commotion, curiosity written on her face.
"See?" Leo said, smirking. "You got loud about it. That means you do like her."
Maya laughed, and even Eli was grinning.
Rhaine crossed her arms. "I don't. And even if I did which I don't it's not like I'm…" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
"Not like you're what?" Maya prompted.
Rhaine muttered, "You know. Like… into girls."
Eli looked like he was trying not to laugh. "Denial's a river, Rhaine."
---
When the lunch bell rang, Rhaine practically bolted toward their next class. Unfortunately, Sam caught up with her in the hallway.
"Hey," Sam said lightly, "so… what was all that about under the tree?"
Rhaine blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I heard my name. And you saying something about… not liking me?" Sam tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. "Should I be offended?"
Rhaine's mouth went dry. "No! It's just Maya and Eli won't stop teasing me, and then Leo joined in, and I just…"
Sam grinned. "Got defensive?"
"I wasn't defensive."
"You kind of were."
Rhaine frowned, desperate to steer the conversation elsewhere. "We're going to be late."
Sam chuckled. "Alright, focus keeper. Lead the way."
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur, but Rhaine couldn't shake the feeling that Sam's smile lingered longer whenever their eyes met.
And she hated that she noticed.
Because noticing was dangerous.
Noticing meant admitting something she had zero intention of admitting.
---
Walking home, Maya asked, "So, did Sam say anything about earlier?"
"No," Rhaine lied.
"You're a terrible liar," Eli said.
Rhaine sighed. "She just… joked about it. That's all."
Maya smirked. "And you survived?"
"Obviously," Rhaine said, but her voice lacked conviction.
---
That night, lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling.
She told herself she wasn't into girls. That Sam was just a friend. That the quickened heartbeat whenever Sam smiled at her was meaningless.
She repeated it like a mantra.
She almost believed it.
Almost.