Chapter 15
Friday afternoon always carried a different rhythm, but today it felt electric. Liana's heart had barely settled since lunch. The spark from the earlier touch with Aiden lingered in her chest, a warm, fluttering rhythm that made her steps lighter as she navigated the crowded hallways. Every glance from him felt deliberate, intimate, as if he were silently acknowledging the awakening she had felt just hours ago.
She approached the lockers near the exit, her bag strap digging slightly into her shoulder, but she hardly noticed. There he was—Aiden—leaning casually against the wall, hands tucked in his pockets, his gaze searching for her. The sight made her stomach tighten and her pulse spike.
"Hey," he said softly as she approached, his voice calm but carrying that subtle weight that always made her heart skip.
"Hi," she whispered, her words barely audible.
"You ready for our walk?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. His gray eyes held that quiet intensity she couldn't ignore, the kind that made ordinary moments feel charged with possibility.
Liana nodded, trying to steady herself. "Yes."
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They stepped outside into the crisp afternoon air, the streets humming with the usual flow of students leaving for the weekend. But as soon as they turned onto the quieter path lined with maple trees, the world seemed to shrink around them. It was just the two of them, walking side by side, a silence filled with unspoken thoughts.
Aiden glanced at her, small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You seemed a little tense today," he said quietly.
Liana bit her lip, unsure how to respond. "I… I guess I'm still getting used to… all of this," she admitted. "You noticing me… spending time with me… it's… new."
He nodded knowingly. "I get it. It's different, isn't it? But it's not wrong. You deserve to be noticed, Liana. More than anyone else has ever done."
Her chest warmed at his words. No one had ever said anything like that to her with such sincerity. The sting of Brianna's words and past insecurities felt distant now, overshadowed by the quiet certainty in Aiden's eyes.
They continued walking, and after a few moments, Aiden's tone softened further. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Liana's heart leapt. "Yes," she whispered.
"I… really like spending time with you," he said quietly, almost shyly. "Being around you… it just… feels right. And I think… I've felt that since the first day I noticed you."
Liana felt her cheeks burn. Her pulse raced so fast she could hardly breathe. "I… I feel the same," she admitted softly, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.
For a moment, the world held still. The leaves rustled gently above them, but all Liana could focus on was Aiden, the honesty in his words, and the warmth spreading through her chest. The space between them seemed smaller now, charged with new meaning and quiet understanding.
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A sudden rustle of leaves from the sidewalk ahead reminded them that the world still existed outside their bubble. They laughed softly, the tension breaking into something lighter, freer. Aiden nudged her gently with his shoulder, playful and comforting.
"You make everything feel… different," he whispered.
"And you make me feel… seen," Liana replied, realizing for the first time how deeply she had wanted that—to be seen, truly, and without judgment.
By the time they reached the corner where their paths diverged, Liana's heart was still fluttering, but it was steady in a new, thrilling way. Aiden gave her a small, shy smile.
"See you tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied firmly, a small smile spreading across her face.
As she watched him walk away, she felt a quiet strength settle within her. Brianna's shadow still lingered, challenges would come, and the world would keep testing her—but for the first time, Liana knew she had someone by her side who truly saw her.
And that made everything feel possible.
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