Chapter 10
By midweek, the tension between excitement and nerves had become a constant hum in Liana's chest. Every glance from Aiden made her pulse quicken, and every passing whisper from Brianna made her stomach knot. But something had shifted—she no longer felt like a shadow in the hallway. She had a spark now, and she could feel it growing.
Second period felt impossibly long. The teacher droned on about formulas Liana barely heard. Her notebook was open, pen in hand, but her thoughts kept drifting. Aiden had sat a few rows ahead of her, focused on his work, but occasionally glancing back, his eyes meeting hers for a heartbeat before looking away. Each glance felt deliberate, and every time, her heart raced faster than before.
Then, as the teacher paused to write on the board, Aiden leaned over slightly, his voice just above a whisper.
"Hey, after school… want to walk home together?"
Liana's pen froze mid-sentence. She swallowed hard, trying to control the rush of excitement that threatened to spill out. "I… yes, I'd like that," she whispered, her voice shaking slightly.
He gave a small, satisfied smile and returned to his work, leaving her heart pounding and her hands trembling slightly.
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The rest of the day dragged slowly, each minute feeling stretched as Liana anticipated the walk home. When the final bell rang, she packed her bag quickly, heart hammering in her chest. As she stepped into the hallway, she spotted him waiting near the lockers, casual but deliberate, exactly as she had imagined all week.
"Ready?" he asked, his tone easy, but his eyes held that quiet intensity she couldn't ignore.
"Ready," she replied, trying to steady her voice.
They walked together in comfortable silence at first, side by side but not touching. The street outside was bustling with students heading home, but somehow, the world seemed smaller when they were together, almost private.
Finally, Aiden spoke. "You know… I've been thinking."
Liana tilted her head, curious. "About what?"
He shrugged slightly, smiling softly. "About us… about how we keep finding these moments, even when the world seems like it's trying to push us apart."
Her cheeks heated. "It's not easy," she admitted. "With Brianna… and everything."
"I know," he said quietly, looking ahead but speaking to her alone. "But I don't care. I want to spend time with you. Even if it's complicated."
Liana's heart swelled. No one had ever said that to her before. Not with sincerity. Not with patience. Not with that quiet confidence that made her feel safe and seen all at once.
They walked a few more steps before Aiden glanced at her, expression soft but serious. "Liana… I just want you to know something. You don't have to hide who you are. Not with me. Not ever."
Her chest tightened, and she found herself nodding, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. "I… I won't," she whispered.
For a moment, they continued walking without another word, letting the quiet stretch between them, comfortable and unspoken. Liana felt something shift inside her—a tiny, fluttering courage she hadn't felt before. For the first time in years, she realized that maybe she could stand tall, not shrink away, and still belong.
Then Aiden slowed slightly, glancing at her with a small smile. "Tomorrow… same time?"
"Yes," she said, smiling back, her voice steadier than she expected.
As they reached the corner where their paths diverged, Liana felt a strange combination of excitement and longing. He waved softly, and she waved back, already counting the moments until they could meet again.
Walking home, her thoughts were a tangle of anticipation and wonder. Aiden had not only seen her but wanted to be part of her world. And even though Brianna's shadow lingered somewhere behind, Liana felt stronger now. She wasn't invisible anymore. Not to him. Not when it mattered.
And that realization alone made the rest of the week feel full of possibilities.
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