Hazel's Pov
Thea practically flew across the hallway as soon as the bell rang. Her ponytail swished like she was in some sports ad, and Melody trailed behind her, rolling her eyes but grinning all the same.
They both cornered me before I could even touch my locker.
"Spill." Thea's eyes were gleaming, arms crossed like she was interrogating a criminal.
"Spill what?" I blinked, clutching my books tighter.
"Don't play dumb, Hazel," Melody chimed in, smirking. "We saw the way you were blushing when the new boy sat next to you."
I felt my cheeks heat instantly. "I wasn't blushing. I was… just surprised, that's all."
"Uh-huh." Thea's voice was laced with sarcasm. She leaned closer, whispering, "So, how close did he sit? Close-close? Or just normal close?"
I groaned, burying my face in my locker. "Normal close! Can you both stop making a big deal out of nothing?"
Melody chuckled. "If it's nothing, then why are you as red as a tomato right now?"
I snapped my locker shut, glaring half-heartedly. "You guys are impossible."
But even as I denied it, Hunter's smile flashed in my mind again—the way his eyes lingered on me, amused, like he knew exactly what he was doing. My stomach flipped, and I quickly looked away so my friends wouldn't notice.
Of course, Thea noticed anyway. Her grin faltered for just a moment, a flicker of something—jealousy, maybe?—crossing her face before she masked it with another dramatic sigh.
"Fine. Be mysterious if you want," she muttered. "But don't forget who spotted him first."
I rolled my eyes, but my heart was thumping.
---
The rest of the day was filled with stolen glances and brief exchanges with Hunter—passing notes during class, shared smiles when the teacher wasn't looking, his voice low and teasing whenever he asked me a question. It was like our own secret world, hidden in plain sight. During one of the classes I felt like someone was staring at me. Only for me to look behind and Thea was staring daggers. She smiled when our eyes met but I felt a chill run down my spine.
By the time I got home, I was buzzing with nerves. My brother Keith was at the door, keys jingling in his hand.
"Where are you going?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
Keith flashed me his trademark grin. "Going out with the boys. How was school today, baby? Hope none of those guys are bothering you."
I narrowed my eyes. "You just called me baby. You want something, don't you?"
"C'mon," he said innocently, pressing a hand to his chest. "Can't I ask after my baby sister without having an agenda?"
I crossed my arms. "You only call me baby when you're up to no good. Spill."
He caved instantly, leaning closer like we were co-conspirators. "Alright, fine. I need you to cover for me when Mom gets home. I'll be back before ten, promise."
I gasped. "Keith! Where exactly are you going —actually, you know what, I don't even want to know."
He pouted, and despite myself, I laughed. "I'll try, but if you come back late, that's on you."
"Love you, baby. I owe you one." he said, grinning as he slipped out the door.
"You better not come home drunk!" I yelled after him.
"Not a promise!" he shouted back, already halfway down the street.
I shook my head, smiling despite myself.
---
Later that night, after dinner, I bought Keith a few hours with Mom by pretending he was upstairs working on a project. My nerves were stretched tight, but what really kept me awake wasn't my brother's antics.
It was Hunter.
His face, his voice, the way he'd said my name like it meant something. My stomach twisted, and before I knew it, I was blushing into my pillow.
There was just something about him, something I couldn't put into words. And for the first time in forever, I was… excited to go to school tomorrow. Excited to see him.
Was this what having a crush felt like?
I was acting like a giggly school girl. Technically, I was.
I groaned, hiding my face in my blanket. How can I be blushing over the thoughts of someone I just met. If Thea and Melody could see me now, they'd never let me live it down.
But a darker thought slipped in. What if he met them and liked their bold, fun personalities more than mine? What if he didn't even remember my name? I mean I didn't remember people's names like that on till like after a while.
"Ugh, I'm overthinking everything," I muttered into the dark. "He's still practically a stranger, pull yourself together."
Still, sleep didn't come easy. The night stretched longer than usual. It felt unending filled with thoughts of Hunter's smile.
---
Across town, Hazel wasn't the only one restless.
Hunter's Pov
I leaned back against the headboard, headphones dangling around his neck. My new room still smelled faintly of cardboard and fresh paint, like a space that wasn't mine yet. I did not like moving—it always felt like pressing "reset" on a game he'd been winning.
Another school. Another set of faces. Another round of questions.
But today had been different. Today, I noticed someone.
I thought of her—the girl with oversized glasses, tucking her hair behind her ear like she wished she could disappear. Hazel. The name fit her somehow. Smart and calm looking but a bit of storm. There was something about the way her eyes lit up when she laughed at her friend's joke, like she had a whole world inside her no one else cared to notice.
"Yo, Hunter," one of my friends cut into my thoughts "You still haven't told us how day one at Nerd Academy was?"
I smirked. "Could've been worse. Teachers love talking about rules, students love pretending they don't care. Same script, different cast."
"Any cute girls?" Another chimed in, his tone teasing. "Don't tell me you're gonna be brooding and single again."
I rolled his eyes but didn't answer right away. My mind went back to Hazel—her surprised glance when she caught me staring in class. The way she looked away so fast, like she'd been caught. Like she was hiding something. Damn… she was adorable.
"There might be one," I admitted finally. Ready for their teasing.
"Ohhh,"
"Already? My man hasn't even unpacked his bags and he's plotting."
"It's not like that," I said quickly. "She's just… different."
"Different how?"
One of my buddies snorted. "Damn, dude. You just met her. Don't go scaring her off."
Another chuckled. "Never thought I'd see you go goo-goo over a girl, Hunter. Guess moving schools was worth it."
I leaned back, smirking to myself. "Yeah. She's one hell of a girl… My girl." That sounded so nice to say
And I meant every word.
"Hunter got little crush, na na na na na"
"Shut up," I muttered.
B there was a grin on my face now. Still, as the laughter from my friends echoed in my room, my mind kept circling back to Hazel.
And the strange, unshakable thought—
Next Morning
Morning came faster than I expected. For the first time, I actually cared about how I looked for school. I checked my reflection twice, made sure I smelled good, and felt a strange nervousness I hadn't experienced in years.
Why am I acting this way? I thought, shaking my head.
But the moment I saw Hazel at her locker, chatting with her friends, everything clicked. She looked dazzling in the simplest way, and suddenly I understood.
I forced myself to move forward, every step heavier than it should've been.
"Hey, Hazel. Good morning," I said, my voice casual, though my heart wasn't.
She turned, and her whole face lit up. "Hi. Good morning, Hunter."
Before I could say more, one of her friends jumped in. "Hi, I'm Thea. That's a name you won't forget, trust me." She grinned, eyeing me up and down. "And this is Melody. We're Hazel's best friends."
"Hello," I said politely, though my attention never strayed from Hazel.
"So, Hazel," I continued, "I was wondering if you could give me a tour around the school. I kind of got lost yesterday." (A lie, but a necessary one.)
Her cheeks turned pink, her gaze dropping. "Of course, I'd love to—"
But Thea cut in sharply. "I can totally give you a tour. You won't regret it."
Melody frowned. "Thea, he asked Hazel, not you."
Thea scoffed, folding her arms. "Well, if Hazel's too shy to talk to him, how is she supposed to give a tour? I'm just being practical."
The tension thickened. Hazel's eyes dropped to the floor, clearly uncomfortable.
Not wanting to make things worse, I forced a smile. "It's fine. I'll see you girls later. See you around, Hazel."
I walked away, though my chest burned with frustration.
Behind me, I could still feel her eyes following.