I keep walking, my head held high, my eyes fixed straight ahead as if he isn’t even there. I refuse to look down, because I haven’t done anything wrong. If anyone should feel ashamed, it’s him. As he rides up beside me, I try to pass him, but he reaches out and grabs my arm, forcing my steps to falter.

  I flinch at his touch but don’t stop right away. His grip tightens slightly, not enough to hurt, just enough to make it clear he won’t let me walk past him so easily.

  “Scarlet, wait,” he says, his voice low, almost pleading.

  I don’t want to stop, but I also don’t want to draw attention. The houses are nearby, and chances are, a few of them know my mom.

  I finally stop and turn toward him, my expression cold and guarded. “What do you want?” I ask, keeping my voice tight.

  His eyes search mine, soft with a depth of feeling I’m not prepared to face. I could fall into it again, forgetting what he did to me, so I look away. I’m not ready to let my guard down. At least not yet.

  “Where were you?” he asks, as if I’m the one who disappeared without a word.

  I blink, fighting the sting behind my eyes, because the ache in my chest from his deception is still too raw to ignore. “Like you don’t know,” I shoot back.

  “You waited for me at the track this whole time?” he asks, sounding genuinely stunned.

  “I thought we had a plan,” I reply, my tone dry, though some of the disappointment still leaks into my words, much to my frustration.

  “You didn’t get my messages?” he asks, regret creeping into his voice. “When I set everything up, I completely forgot about the visit to Tom’s house that we planned a week ago. I tried everything to get out of it, but I couldn’t. That’s why I messaged you.”

  That’s a relief, though I’m still angry. At least it’s not a prank, and I’m not being made to look like a fool in their group. I sigh, thankful.

  “I didn’t bring my phone today,” I say quietly.

  “Why not?”

  “I forgot,” I mutter.

  His face clouds over, and sadness settles into his eyes. He lets out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Oh, Scarlet. I’m really sorry. I honestly thought you saw my message.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Then why can’t you talk to me at school?” I ask, the frustration spilling over despite my efforts to stay calm. My voice lifts, trembling a bit. “Why do you act like you don’t even know me? We were in class together all day, and the only time you even looked at me was when I got off the bus. Why?”

  He exhales slowly, like he’s choosing his words carefully. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to upset me any further. “Because I’m not ready to tell everyone about us, especially Selena. I… need a little time.”

  I stare at him, my chest tightening. All the questions I’ve been running through my head today come out at once. “Is it because I’m not good enough? Not pretty enough? Do you think I’m not a match for you? Are you worried your friends will make fun of you? Are you embarrassed to let people know you’re into-”

  “Stop,” he says, giving me a soft, almost disbelieving smile. He lets go of my hand, the one he’s been holding while balancing the bike with the other. His fingers brush over my mouth, silencing me. “Just stop. Do you even hear yourself? You’re the most beautiful girl in the entire school. Every guy I know has had, or still has, a crush on you.”

  I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out if he’s messing with me. In my entire school life, no boy has ever approached me with even a hint of interest. “What kind of prank is this?”

  “There’s no prank,” he says firmly. “You’re beautiful, Scarlet, and you don’t even see it. You spend so much time buried in books that you forget to look up sometimes.”

  A short, bitter laugh escapes me. “Then why hasn’t anyone ever said anything? If all these guys supposedly like me, how come not one of them ever told me?”

  “Because you’re hard to approach,” he admits. “You’re always in the library, focused, serious. You come across as intimidating, even if you don’t mean to. People hesitate.”

  “Were you scared to talk to me?” I ask, half-expecting him to laugh it off.

  “If I’m being honest, yeah,” he says. “I’ve liked you since the first time we met. You probably don’t remember, but we bumped into each other at school, and your books fell everywhere. I brought you a chocolate the next day, hoping you’d get the hint, but you didn’t.” He smiles, a little shy now. “Most of the time when you come over to see Selena, I’m not around. But if I know you’re coming, I stay home and watch from the window, not in a weird way. Don’t misread me as a creep. I’m not. I always waited for you to look back at me every time you walked away. I wanted it so badly it was unbearable. You never did.” He pauses, his voice softer. “Yesterday, I actually had plans to go out, but then you sat beside me, and I couldn’t pretend anymore. I needed you to know how I feel. It also felt like you had some feelings for me, though I wasn’t completely sure. That’s why I stayed. That’s why I finally said something.”

  I can’t find the words to respond.

  He steps off his bike, sets the brake, and leans it against the curb before moving closer.

  “Scarlet, you need to understand your worth,” he says. “You’re smart, you’re attractive, and people notice you, even if you don’t realize it.”

  “So… you like me?” I ask, still unsure, still protecting myself.

  “I love you,” he says quietly, his eyes shining. “I love you, Scarlet.”

  There’s something in his gaze, part affection, part longing, and something deeper I can’t quite name. He glances around, then leans in without warning and kisses me softly on the lips.

  I stand there, frozen, caught in the moment, feeling like the world has slowed down just for us.