If someone had told me that Wednesday morning would feel different the moment I stepped into the hallway, I would've rolled my eyes. But honestly? The air really was different. Students were grouped around in tiny clusters, whispering about something like they were waiting for a surprise announcement.
I walked in with Lara and Jade flanking me like usual. Lara was still ranting about how her mom woke her up with gospel music blasting at 6 a.m, while Jade was listening quietly, nodding at every right moment. I was just trying to keep my bag from slipping off my shoulder as I looked around.
"Why's everyone so… chatty?" I asked, looking around.
Lara shrugged. "Maybe free food?" she said hopefully.
Jade rolled her eyes. "I heard something about new students coming today. Transfers."
"Mid–term?" I asked. "Who transfers in the middle of the term?"
"People with money," Lara mumbled, then shrugged again.
We kept walking until we reached our lockers. Then I saw an unfamiliar face.
She was standing near the administration office door, holding a small envelope and looking around carefully, not in a lost way, just calmly assessing the place like she was deciding if she liked the décor. She had light brown hair that curled neatly toward the ends, tidy braid at the side, soft lip gloss, and an air of quiet confidence you couldn't fake even if you tried.
"Who's that?" Lara whispered.
"I think… one of the transfers," Jade said.
The girl looked up at that exact moment, her eyes landing on us. She didn't smile nervously or look away. She simply walked over with this polite confidence that made her feel older than she probably was.
"Hi," she said, her voice warm. "Do you know where I can find the admin? I'm supposed to give them this." She lifted the envelope slightly.
"Oh! It's right there," I said, pointing at the correct door. "The sign is a little faded."
She turned her head, then nodded. "Thank you."
Then she paused, her eyes taking us in properly. "I'm Maya, by the way."
I smiled. "I'm Tasha."
"Lara," Lara said, adding a small wave.
"And I'm Jade."
Maya smiled again. "Nice meeting you."
Before we could respond, she stepped toward the office. Her steps were light and confident—not trying to impress anyone, just someone who knew how to carry herself.
Lara leaned closer to us. "She's… pretty," she admitted quietly.
Jade nodded. "Very."
I didn't say anything. I couldn't decide how I felt yet.
We were closing our lockers we heard voices drifting down the hallway. Girls whispering, then giggling. I didn't need to turn around to know exactly why.
Ethan was walking down the hall with two basketball teammates, hands in his pockets, hair slightly messy like he'd run a hand through it one too many times. He had that relaxed, calm walk he always did, like he didn't notice all the attention he got which only made him more noticeable.
Girls acted like they were immune until he passed. Then suddenly someone would start fixing her hair, or adjusting her backpack, or pretending to cough while hiding a blush.
I looked away before I made it obvious I'd noticed him too.
But then something a bit unexpected happened.
Maya stepped out of the admin office at that exact moment, and her eyes landed on Ethan.
She widened her eyes a little, not dramatically, but like someone who recognized a celebrity but was trying not to make it a big deal. She didn't wave or gasp or flip her hair. She simply looked… aware.
Ethan gave her a quick glance, not long enough to mean anything, then he looked forward again.
But for some reason, that tiny moment felt like dropping a pebble in water. Small, but enough to make ripples.
Lara nudged me lightly. "Okay… interesting."
"Don't start," I said quietly.
"I didn't say anything," she replied, smiling too innocently.
We went to homeroom a few minutes later, and that was where the next wave of new faces arrived.
Our homeroom teacher came in holding a small clipboard. "Good morning, class. We have three new students joining us today."
Three?
I only saw Maya earlier. So that meant...
"Come in," the teacher said.
The door opened, and three figures stepped inside.
First Maya, still calm and composed.
Behind her was a tall boy with chestnut-colored hair, sharp jaw, and a casual confidence that reminded me of someone who probably flirted without even realizing it. His sweatshirt sleeves were rolled up carelessly. I didn't know him, but he gave off "probably plays a sport" vibes.
The third boy looked softer. He had a curly hair, and a slightly confused expression, like he hadn't slept enough. He had this shy smile that made him look approachable too.
"Please introduce yourselves," the teacher said.
Maya gave a clean, simple introduction. "I'm Maya Thompson. I'm transferring from Ridgeview Academy."
The second guy stepped forward. "I'm Zach," he said, flashing a grin that told me he definitely knew he was attractive. "Just Zach is fine."
Girls giggled.
The last boy raised a hand. "Uh… Chris. Nice to meet you all." He gave a nervous smile.
We all greeted them politely.
Then came seating arrangements. The classroom was full, so the teacher had to shuffle things around. Maya ended up sitting one row ahead of Ethan but slightly diagonal — close enough to talk if she turned, but not next to him.
Zach got placed two desks behind Ethan, and Chris somewhere near the window.
Class started normally until I heard a quiet voice in front.
"So… you're the basketball guy, right?" Maya asked softly.
I froze for no reason.
Ethan glanced at her. "Yeah. Something like that."
"You're good," she said, factually. "I saw a clip of last year's championships when I was checking the school website."
Ethan didn't blush or lean closer, he simply nodded."Thanks."
Their voices weren't loud, but it was close enough for people around to hear, which meant our whole row went unusually quiet pretending not to.
I blinked hard and stared at my notes.
Why was I even listening?
The rest of homeroom went by normally. When the bell rang, the three new students were instantly surrounded by curious classmates. Zach and Chris looked overwhelmed in different ways — Zach amused, Chris shyly smiling. Maya answered every question calmly, never raising her voice or trying to look superior.
I didn't know how, but she already seemed… liked.
At lunch, me, Lara, and Jade sat at our usual table. Lara was tapping her juice box like she was drumming.
Maya walked in with Zach and Chris behind her. They sat at a table not far from us.
A few minutes later, Ethan walked into the cafeteria with Ryan and a few other teammates. Girls watched. Boys watched the girls watching.
Maya's eyes followed Ethan automatically, though just briefly. I noticed, but I couldn't tell what that tiny look meant.
I told myself I wasn't bothered.
"So," Lara said, chewing a fry slowly. "The transfers are interesting."
Jade nodded. "Maya's nice."
"She is," I admitted.
Lara gave me a tiny smirk. "Relax, I'm not teasing you."
"Good," I said, stabbing my food dramatically.
After school, our usual gym day rolled around. We changed into our training clothes and headed to the indoor court. The basketball team was wrapping up their own practice.
The court smelled faintly like rubber, floor polish, and sweat — but in a normal school-gym way, not disgusting. Whistles echoed, shoes squeaked.
Ethan was at the far end with Coach, wiping his face with a towel. A few of his teammates were already packing their stuff.
Maya wasn't inside the gym, but I saw her through the glass talking to Zach in the hallway. She seemed relaxed, leaning against the wall slightly.
I didn't think much of it. Really.
We started our workout — warmups first, then treadmill rotations. Jade was counting quietly while Lara was complaining loudly. I was just somewhere in between.
Eventually, I paused to catch my breath, pushing a stray hair behind my ear.
Across the court, Ethan finished packing his things and slung his bag over his shoulder. As he walked toward the exit, his eyes drifted around the gym casually, and then they landed on me.
Just for a second.
He didn't stop walking or change his expression into anything dramatic.
He simply gave a small, quiet smile. The kind of smile someone gives when they recognize you in a crowd and don't mind the sight.
So subtle I almost thought I imagined it.
My heart didn't jump, exactly. It just… skipped lightly, like it hit a small bump in the road.
"Did you… see that?" Jade asked softly, like she wasn't sure she should say it.
Lara turned fully toward me. "l don't why I had to see that."
"He's cute innit?," I cut in, pretending to be cool.
Lara and Jade exchanged a tiny knowing look, but thankfully neither of them teased me too much.
I went back to my workout, pretending my face wasn't warm.
A few minutes later, as the basketball guys finally filed out of the gym, I heard a loud laugh from behind the wall.
Then a voice — Zach's voice — floated out clearly...
"Bro… she's cute though."
My stomach dropped.
I didn't know if he was talking about me, or another girl, or if I was just assuming the worst. But something about the casual confidence in his tone made the words stick to my skin.
Ethan then said in a much quieter voice...
"Zach. Seriously."
He didn't sound angry or flustered. Just… kinda warning him with a calmness I couldn't decode.
Lara and Jade both froze mid-stretch, their heads snapping toward me.
I swallowed. "We're… not thinking anything weird, right?"
"We didn't say anything," Jade said gently.
"But we heard everything," Lara added.
"Lara!" I called giving her that 'like seriously? Look'.
"What? I'm just being honest."
I turned away, pretending like I was suddenly very interested in tying my shoelace.
We finished our routine and packed up. By the time we stepped out of the gym doors, the basketball boys were gone.
But I couldn't shake Zach's voice replaying in my head.
Bro, she's cute though.
And I definitely couldn't shake the two seconds of silence that followed — the ones where Ethan didn't rush to deny it, didn't scoff, didn't joke.
Just quiet.
Quiet enough to make me wonder what he thought in between.