The next day, Cedar Heights felt… different. Maybe it was me, over-caffeinated and slightly nervous. Or maybe it was the universe, finally realizing it had to introduce me to Eden in person.
I was balancing my books—well, pretending to—because math was not my friend, when the door opened. And there he was. Eden. Standing tall at the front of the classroom like he owned the place (which, in some mysterious way, he did).
"Class, this is Eden Sterling," our teacher announced. "He's a transfer from St. Clair Academy."
And just like that, all eyes shifted. Everyone stared. I tried not to stare. I really did. But there was no chance.
Eden's eyes scanned the room slowly, deliberately. And then… they landed on me. Or maybe I imagined it. My heart skipped, tripped, and did an interpretive dance in my chest.
Great. Just great.
"Hi," I whispered to myself.
"Hi," he said back—low, calm, with just a hint of a smile. And I swear, the world slowed for a second.
Then Stella's perfect laugh rang out like a siren. "Oh look, the nerdy boy. How… adorable."
She sauntered past, flipping her hair like she owned the universe. Eden didn't flinch. He didn't even smirk. He just kept looking at me like… well, like he was already five steps ahead of everyone else.
I had to remind myself not to roll my eyes. Do not roll your eyes, Aisha. I muttered the mantra silently, but my inner monologue betrayed me: Yeah right, try not to hyperventilate instead.
By lunch, Eden had somehow become the epicenter of chaos. Everyone wanted to sit near him, talk to him, or just… exist in his mysterious orbit. And me? I was both terrified and fascinated.
"Why are you staring at him like a lovesick emoji?" my one friend whispered. She was the only reason I hadn't completely crumbled under Stella's tyranny. She was strong, funny, and unshakably God-centered—the perfect counterbalance to my drama.
"I'm not staring," I said, though my neck probably screamed the opposite.
"Uh-huh," she said, rolling her eyes. "You are. Big time. And you're going to make a fool of yourself if you don't chill."
I ignored her, because let's be real—I wasn't just staring. I was analyzing. Studying. Preparing for battle. Or maybe… romance? I wasn't sure yet
And then Eden turned, giving me that same unreadable look. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. That one tiny, perfectly dangerous smile, and suddenly the cafeteria felt like a battlefield and a stage all at once.
I had a feeling—no, I knew—that my life was about to get messy. Funny messy. Emotional messy. And maybe, just maybe… dangerously messy.
And if I survived, well… maybe I'd actually fit in. Or at least… have some fun trying.