The first rays of sunlight slipped through the thin curtains of Miles's room, painting streaks of gold across the walls. He stirred under the warmth of his hoodie, blinking against the bright light. For a moment, the world felt calm, quiet—then the memories hit him, sharp and electrifying: the moon, the waves, Leia's hands in his.
He shifted on the bed and let out a low, Incredulous laugh. We're actually together. We didn't just… fall apart. We didn't screw it up.
Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling, letting his thoughts drift. He could still feel her beside him, like a phantom weight that made his chest ache with happiness. His phone buzzed against the nightstand. He snatched it up and grinned:
Leia: morning
Miles: morning… can't believe we're real
Leia: haha real as hell
A blush crept up his neck. Real as hell. She'd said it so casually, like it was the most obvious truth, but to him, it was a miracle.
He got out of bed and paced, still half-dreaming about her. The excitement buzzing in his veins made his heart race. He grabbed his backpack, tossing in a hoodie and his headphones. He could feel the same giddy energy he felt as a kid sneaking around the lake, pretending the world wasn't watching. Only now, the world was about to watch—school.
Meanwhile, sunlight hit Leia's room, and she groaned, burying her head in her pillow. Her hair was a tangled mess, but she didn't care—Miles's text was already making her heart race. She clutched her phone like a lifeline. Real as hell.
She rolled onto her side, smiling against the pillow. Her room smelled faintly of the sea, maybe just a leftover from their beach night, and it made her think of the moonlight, the waves, and the way Miles had looked at her. She hugged her blanket around her chest and giggled softly.
Showering quickly, she hummed a tune she didn't recognize, heart fluttering uncontrollably. Today wasn't just any day—it was the first day after the confession. And even though she had spent months dreaming of this, the nerves were impossible to ignore.
Staring at herself in the mirror, she ran a hand through her hair. Do I look normal? Does my hair look okay? Will people notice? Will he notice if someone whispers something about us? Her mother's voice echoed from downstairs, asking about breakfast, but she ignored it. Miles was on her mind, the way his lips had brushed hers, the way he had whispered things that made her heart ache with warmth.
The walk to school felt like a movie scene. Every step amplified, every breeze teased her senses, and then, there he was. Miles stood by the school gates, hoodie slightly oversized, hands in his pockets, scanning the crowd with that familiar tension in his shoulders. When he saw her, his eyes lit up like the moon had split open just for her.
She waved, and he waved back, but his smile was slow, deliberate—like he couldn't believe she was actually here. Her stomach fluttered uncontrollably. She jogged the last few steps to him, and he reached for her hand as soon as she came close. She didn't pull away, letting the warmth of his fingers anchor her.
"Hey," he said, voice low, almost afraid someone would hear.
"Hey," she whispered back, and it was enough.
The first bell rang, and everyone started moving toward their classrooms, but they lingered, holding hands like it anchored them in a world that suddenly felt chaotic.
Every pair of eyes seemed to flicker toward them. She could feel whispers brushing her ears, but she didn't care. She wanted to focus on the small, steady pressure of his hand against hers. It grounded her.
They smiled at each other, the brief exchange making the entire morning pause. The hallway, the lockers, the chatter—all melted away, leaving just them.
Lunch came too quickly. The cafeteria smelled of pizza, fries, and chatter. They found their usual corner, slightly hidden, but everyone seemed to know anyway. A few friends waved, teasing, but he didn't care. He leaned back against the wall, letting her reach for his arm.
"You okay?" he asked softly, eyes scanning her face.
She nodded. "Yeah. I'm… I'm better than okay."
He grinned, squeezing her hand. "Good. Because I'm not letting anyone ruin this. Not a single person."
She laughed softly. "Promise?"
"Promise," he said, eyes locked on hers. For the first time in months, he felt untouchable.
Between classes, they texted each other little jokes and emojis, stealing glances whenever the teacher's back was turned. Every brush of their arms, every shared laugh made the butterflies in their stomachs multiply.
By the end of the day, the whispers were louder. Rumours were forming, curiosity buzzing around them like static electricity. But the world outside their bubble didn't matter. They held hands in the crowded hallways, leaned in close during class, and whispered secrets that only they understood.
When the last bell rang, they lingered for a few extra minutes, reluctant to leave each other. Outside, the late afternoon sun painted the schoolyard in gold, casting long shadows on the pavement.
He turned to her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Ready to go?"
She nodded, letting him lead the way. They walked together, fingers intertwined, stepping over the scattered leaves, sharing small smiles and soft laughter. Around them, the world moved on, but for this moment, it was just the two of them—messy, perfect, and completely together.
As they walked out of the school gates, the wind picked up, tugging at Leia's hair. She laughed as Miles caught a strand that threatened to cover her face, holding it behind her ear with a gentleness that made her stomach flip. He smirked at her, a playful glint in his eyes.
"You know," he said, letting go of her hand just long enough to gesture toward the crowd, "I think everyone's staring."
Leia rolled her eyes and tugged him along. "They're not. Stop trying to make this dramatic."
"Dramatic? Me? Never," he teased, matching her pace as they walked toward their usual hangout spot near the park. "But come on… don't act like it's not exciting. We're officially together now. This is history-making, Leia."
She shook her head, laughing softly. "History-making chaos, maybe. But yeah… it's exciting. I just… I don't want anyone ruining it. Not yet. Not like this."
Miles reached out again and squeezed her hand, pressing it against his chest. "Hey, nothing's ruining this. Not a single person. You and me—we've got this." His voice was soft, reassuring, but there was a teasing undertone that made her cheeks warm.
They found a quiet spot under a tree at the park, away from the whispers and stares. Miles flopped onto the grass, sprawling casually, and Leia followed, lying on her side to face him. They stared at the sky, the clouds drifting lazily above, and for a moment, neither spoke.
"I still can't believe we finally did it," she murmured, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his arm.
Miles tilted his head, resting on his elbow, his eyes never leaving hers. "Believe it, Leia. We're here. And I don't plan on letting go anytime soon."
She felt a warmth spread through her chest, the kind that made her toes curl and her heart race. She reached out, brushing her fingers through his hair. "You're really sweet when you want to be."
He smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. "Sweet and perfect. You're welcome."
Leia laughed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."
"And you love it," he shot back instantly, his grin widening.
"I do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, but enough for him to hear.
They sat like that for a while, tangled together, hands intertwined, stealing soft smiles and quiet laughter. Around them, the park hummed with life—kids chasing balls, dogs barking, parents chatting—but it all faded into the background. For Miles and Leia, there was only this moment, this connection that had finally shifted from friendship to something deeper, something undeniably theirs.
When it was finally time to head home, neither wanted to break the spell. Miles offered her his hoodie, she teasingly insisted on carrying her own bag, and they walked side by side, the late afternoon sun warming their backs. Every glance, every brush of skin sent tiny sparks up their spines, and they both knew this was just the beginning of something wild, messy, and beautiful.