Sara barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the way Leo looked at her in the dark… the way he held her hand… the way his voice dipped when he said something was happening between them.
She hated that he was right.
She hated that he knew he was right.
She hated—
okay maybe not hated—
the way her chest fluttered every time she thought about him.
When morning came, she got ready like a girl preparing for war. Hair tied neat, lip balm on, hoodie zipped, eyes sharp.
She was NOT going to fall into Leo's trap.
Not today.
Not ever.
---
As soon as she entered school, she felt it—the quiet.
People whispered around her like something was going on.
Her stomach dropped. "Don't tell me…"
Then she saw it.
A giant poster on the notice board.
"TALENT SHOW GROUP LIST — SARA & LEO: ORGANIZERS & HOSTS"
Her soul left her body.
"No. Nope. Delete the universe. Reset me," she muttered.
Behind her, a low amused voice said, "You good, sweetheart?"
Sara spun around.
There he was.
Leo.
Smirking like he knew EXACTLY why she looked like she wanted to file a complaint to the ministry of education.
"You knew about this?" she asked.
"Found out five minutes ago."
He leaned against the wall casually.
"But your face makes waking up worth it."
"Stop flirting."
"Wasn't flirting."
"You literally—"
"That was honesty."
She wanted to throw her shoe at him.
But also maybe… kiss him.
Which made everything worse.
---
They walked to class side-by-side because the universe hated her.
Leo walked close enough that their arms brushed every few steps.
Sara tried stepping away.
Leo followed, matching her.
She stepped further.
He stepped further.
"Can you stop?" she hissed.
"Can you walk in a straight line?"
She glared. "You're impossible."
He grinned. "And you're cute when you're mad."
Sara stopped walking.
Leo nearly bumped into her.
"Stop calling me cute."
He stepped forward, eyes lowered to hers, voice dropping.
"Then stop being cute."
Her heart nearly malfunctioned.
No. She refused. Absolutely refused.
She marched ahead, leaving him behind.
Leo just laughed softly. "You can run, but—"
"Finish that sentence and I'll block you."
"—but you won't," he said, catching up instantly.
He wasn't wrong.
She hated that too.
---
Class — 2nd Period
Sara tried focusing on the lesson.
She really did.
But every time she looked down at her notes, she felt Leo's eyes burning into her side.
Finally, she snapped her head toward him.
"What?"
Leo leaned closer. "Just checking."
"Checking what?"
"If you're avoiding me."
"I'm not."
"You're definitely avoiding me."
Sara scoffed. "Leo, not everything is about you."
He grinned. "With you, it kinda is."
Her pencil snapped in half.
Leo bit back a smile.
When the teacher turned to the board, Leo leaned in again, voice barely above a whisper.
"About yesterday… in the dark—"
Sara's whole body went still.
"No."
"What do you mean, no?"
"No talking about it."
"But we—"
"No."
"Sara—"
She slammed her palm lightly on the desk. "Leo, drop it."
He stared at her for a long second.
Then sighed and leaned back.
But his eyes…
they didn't let go.
---
Lunch Break
Sara sat alone under the big banyan tree. She needed to breathe. She needed space. She needed—
"Found you."
She didn't even look up. "Go away."
Leo sat anyway, pretending not to hear the rejection.
He tossed his bag next to hers like it belonged there.
Sara groaned. "You're allergic to boundaries."
"Yeah. Especially yours."
She shot him a look. "I mean it. I need a break."
Leo's expression shifted… not serious, but softer.
"You okay?"
"No."
He paused. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Can I sit here then?"
Sara hesitated.
"…Fine."
They sat in silence for a while.
The wind fluttered the leaves.
The sun warmed her hoodie.
Leo tapped his fingers on the grass.
It wasn't uncomfortable silence.
That was the problem.
After a minute, he spoke.
"You know I was serious yesterday… right?"
Sara stiffened. "About what?"
"About something happening between us."
Her throat closed. "Leo…"
"You felt it too."
She didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
Her silence was loud enough.
He leaned closer—not too close, but enough to feel him.
"Sara. Look at me."
She didn't.
He gently nudged her knee with his.
"If nothing is there, say it. Right now. And I'll back off."
Her heart hammered.
Her palms got sweaty.
Words tangled in her mouth like wires that wouldn't untie.
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Leo's eyes softened with something dangerous and warm.
"That's what I thought."
"Leo…" she whispered.
He leaned closer, voice low and honest.
"I'm not trying to ruin your life. I'm just… trying to be in it."
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
Then—
"AHEM."
Both of them jumped.
It was the teacher.
"You two," he said, "I need you in the auditorium. We have rehearsal schedules to finalize."
Leo stood up first, brushing off his shirt.
"Saved by the bell," he whispered.
Sara glared at him.
But her cheeks were burning.
She wished she could blame the sun.
---
Auditorium — After School
The place was louder than a marketplace.
Kids rehearsed, shouted, argued, tripped over props.
Leo walked beside Sara holding a stack of papers.
They worked through names, schedules, stage setup, lights.
Leo was surprisingly responsible.
Annoyingly responsible.
Attractive responsible.
She wanted to punch the feeling out of her chest.
While she taped a schedule sheet to the wall, Leo stretched up beside her, fixing another sheet just above her head.
His arm brushed hers.
She froze.
He didn't move away.
Instead he whispered, "You're shaking."
"I'm cold."
"It's not cold."
"It is."
He smirked. "You always lie this badly?"
She tried stepping away but he placed his hand lightly on the wall beside her head, not trapping her — just close enough to make her heart sprint.
"Sara… you don't have to be scared of this."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Leo—"
"You're scared because you think liking me means losing something."
Sara swallowed hard. "Like what?"
He looked at her like he was seeing straight through her.
"Control."
Her breath stilled.
Leo's voice dropped even deeper.
"And I get it. You don't want to fall for someone who drives you insane."
He leaned just a fraction closer.
"But you're already falling."
Her chest squeezed.
Her heart pounded.
Her knees felt weak.
"Leo… stop."
He paused.
"Do you want me to?"
Sara blinked.
She didn't know.
He stepped back slowly, giving her space.
He wasn't pushing her.
He wasn't forcing anything.
He was waiting.
And that scared her more than anything.
---
As they finished the last list, Leo spoke quietly beside her.
"I'm not going to corner you about it today."
Her head jerked up.
He continued, "But I'm not pretending nothing happened either."
Sara bit her lip. "Leo…"
He lifted his bag.
"Sara. I like you. And I'm not going to apologize for it."
He walked away before she could decide what to say.
She watched him go, heart pounding like it wanted to follow him.
She pressed her hand to her chest.
What is happening to me?
---
Later That Night
Sara sat on her bed, staring at her phone.
No messages from Leo.
None.
She didn't know why that bothered her.
But it did.
She picked up her phone.
Typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Sara:
Are you home?
She almost threw the phone across the room.
Thirty seconds later, her screen lit up.
Leo:
Were you worried?
Her breath caught.
She typed back quickly.
Sara:
No. I just asked.
Leo replied instantly.
Leo:
You miss me.
Sara rolled her eyes so hard her soul cracked.
Sara:
i literally do not.
Leo:
Sure. Then why text?
Her pulse raced.
Her stomach flipped.
She didn't answer.
Leo sent one last message.
Leo:
Sleep, Sara. Tomorrow's a big day. And whether you admit it or not… you're thinking about me right now.
She stared at the screen, heart pounding too loudly.
He was right.
And that terrified her more than anything.