---
I felt like crap.
No, scratch that—this was worse than crap. My brain was a whirlwind of regrets and unease. Everything felt off. My body was sluggish, like it hadn't fully recovered from whatever the hell Theo drugged me with. But worse than the physical fatigue was the mental chaos. I couldn't get him out of my head.
Theo.
His name alone made my chest twist. I hated how he made me feel—furious, confused, weak. And that kiss… damn it. I bit down on the inside of my cheek.
How did things even get to this point?
The teacher was pacing around the class handing out sheets. "This assignment is important, people," she said. "It's going to count as a major part of your grade, so don't slack."
Yeah, okay. Like I cared right now. The paper landed on my desk and I barely glanced at it. My eyes wandered outside, through the large window next to me. We were on the top floor, so I had a pretty wide view of the back part of the school—some awkward corner of the building where people went to smoke or screw around when they thought no one was watching.
I wasn't paying attention to class anyway, so when some movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention, I turned slightly. There were guys down there. A group of them. They were... what the hell?
It looked like a fight—no, a beatdown. Someone was getting jumped.
My heart slammed in my chest. Aiden.
My eyes narrowed. I couldn't make out any faces from up here, but what if it was him? What if he was the one being—
Shit.
I raised my hand. "Miss, I think I left something in the nurse's office—"
She cut me off without looking. "No. You're not leaving class again for another 'urgent reason'."
"It's important—"
"So is your education, Isaaq. Sit down."
Damn it.
I tried again. "My mom... she just texted me, she said it's—"
"Isaaq!"
She was seconds away from erupting, and I was seconds from completely losing my mind—then, like divine timing, the bell rang.
Saved.
I didn't even wait for her to dismiss us. I was up and out of that room before anyone could blink. She called my name once, but by then I was halfway down the stairs.
I ran. Fast.
Pushed past some juniors, ignored a couple stares, turned a corner and bolted to the side of the building where I thought the fight had happened.
Empty.
There was no one there.
Just a cold silence, a splatter of blood, a dented bat lying on the ground, and a torn piece of school uniform caught on a broken piece of fencing.
"Oh shit…"
My stomach twisted.
What the hell happened here?
I needed to find Aiden. Fast.
My hand instinctively went into my pocket, ready to shoot him a text or maybe call him. But the second my fingers hit nothing but my jeans, reality slapped me.
Shit.
We hadn't even exchanged numbers yet.
What kind of idiot am I?
I muttered under my breath, clenching my jaw. How the hell do I even find him now? I glanced up at the sky, then down at my watch.
Seventh period. Friday.
Okay, come on, brain. Think.
I scratched the back of my head, letting out a frustrated grunt. Where would Aiden be right now? Think… think… He mentioned something—plants? A project?
Then it hit me.
I snapped my fingers. "The botanical garden."
He'd been working on something there. I wasn't paying attention at the time, obviously, but now? That little detail felt like gold.
I didn't waste another second. I sprinted across campus, dodging slow-walking students and ignoring a girl who called my name.
I got to the garden.
Empty.
Just a couple of girls sitting on a bench, gossiping and giggling like it was their life's mission. No sign of Aiden.
Shit.
I turned, jogging back toward the school building, scanning everything like a hawk. And then, just as I reached the hallway, I saw him.
Aiden.
He had just stepped out of a classroom, holding a folder, walking like he was heading to the garden—maybe I had been right, just early. I didn't even think. My mouth moved on its own.
"Aiden!"
He turned, surprised. "Hey—"
But I was already in front of him.
Before either of us could register what was happening, I'd cornered him against the wall. One hand braced on each side of him, blocking him in. His wide eyes looked up at me. His breath caught slightly. I wasn't even thinking about how it looked. I just needed to make sure he was okay.
"Are you okay?" I said, voice tight. "Are you hurt?"
He blinked, flustered. "I—I'm fine. I'm okay—what? What's going on?"
I didn't answer.
I brushed his bangs aside, my fingers gentle against his forehead, checking for injuries, cuts, anything. I tilted his chin slightly, eyes scanning every inch of his face. No bruises. Nothing. His uniform was untouched, crisp and clean.
Relief flooded me like a wave. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.
"Thank God," I murmured. "For a second, I thought you'd gotten into another fight again."
Aiden was quiet.
At first, his expression shifted—irritation, maybe? Embarrassment? I wasn't sure. But then he sighed, gave me a look like I was a complete idiot, and patted me on the shoulder.
"You do the most out-of-pocket things, Almasi," he muttered, walking past me casually.
I stood there, dumbstruck.
That's when I noticed it. The eyes.
People were staring. Students lined the hallway like an audience I hadn't asked for, gawking like it was a damn school drama.
Oh. My. God.
It hit me all at once—the position I'd had Aiden in. The way I held him. The way he looked up at me. My arms, his back against the wall. Holy shit!
My face flamed instantly.
"Oh shit," I muttered, turning on my heel and speed-walking away as fast as possible, head down, eyes locked on the floor like it held the secrets of the universe.
If the ground could open up and swallow me whole, now would be the time.
I was never showing my face again.
_ _ _
School was finally over, but I couldn't even pretend to be relieved.
I sat in my car, one hand on the wheel, the other tapping my thigh nervously. Every few seconds, I glanced toward the school's main doors, hoping—dreading—that I'd see Aiden walk out. Normally, I'd call out to him or wave him over, but today?
Today, I wasn't sure he'd even want to get in the same car with me.
That scene in the hallway… I groaned and leaned my head back against the seat. What the hell was I thinking? Cornering him like that? In public? With half the school watching? I mean, sure, I was worried—but there had to be better ways to show it.
He probably thinks I'm a lunatic.
I started wondering if I should just drive off and spare us both the awkwardness. Maybe he already left? Maybe he found another ride?
Then the passenger door popped open.
Aiden slid in, smooth and casual, dropping his bag at his feet. "Hey."
My brain short-circuited.
I just stared at him, eyes wide, mouth halfway open. He looked…normal. Not pissed. Not weirded out. Just…Aiden.
"Um…" he frowned slightly, turning his head toward me. "Are you okay?"
I blinked, snapping out of it. "Yeah! Yeah, I'm, um…" I scratched the back of my neck, burning with secondhand embarrassment all over again. "Listen, about what happened back there, I just—I wanted to say I'm sorry. I was—"
Before I could finish, Aiden grabbed my tie and pulled.
His lips crashed softly against mine.
I froze.
Like, literally forgot how to move, breathe, exist—everything.
He pulled back after a second, calm as anything, and said with a little smile, "It's okay. I'm not mad. Just realized you cared about me. It was cute. Super embarrassing… but cute."
My brain exploded.
I swear I heard the sound of static in my head. I coughed, awkward as hell, trying to clear my throat and keep my cool. Thank God for melanin—no way he could see how red I was under all this tan.
"Uh…" I mumbled, gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing tethering me to this planet. "Okay. So… to your apartment, then?"
Aiden nodded, leaning back in his seat like he hadn't just kissed me like it was no big deal.
I started the engine, heart thundering so loud I could barely hear myself think.
And we were off.