The next week felt different. Walking through the hallways, whispers followed me wherever I went. Students nudged each other, smirking, and I realized… word had spread. Aiden Cruz and I were officially "together."
At lunch, I spotted him across the cafeteria. He waved, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips, and my chest fluttered. As I made my way over, I noticed Marco leaning casually against a table, watching us. His smirk had a sharper edge now.
"Looks like you two are really official," he said, voice loud enough for a few nearby students to hear.
I froze for a moment, cheeks burning. Aiden stepped in front of me slightly, his dark eyes locking on Marco. "Yeah, we are," he said calmly, almost coldly. "Anything you want to say?"
Marco laughed, a little forced. "Just… don't get too distracted by each other. There's still a game to play, Cruz."
Aiden smirked, glancing at me. "I think I can handle both," he said softly, brushing my hand with his.
My chest tightened at the gesture. The subtle touch, the protective stance—it all screamed that we were a team now.
The rest of the day was filled with the usual school chaos, but every glance at Aiden made my heart race. During practice, he passed me the ball with a wink that sent shivers down my spine, and every teammate noticed. Even Marco looked irritated, stealing glances when he thought no one was watching.
After practice, Aiden and I walked toward the lockers. "You know," he said quietly, leaning close, "I like that everyone knows now. Makes it feel… real."
I nodded, squeezing his hand. "It does. And I like that you're mine."
He smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Always," he whispered.
But even as we shared that private moment, I knew the challenges weren't over. Rivalries, attention from classmates, and Marco's jealousy would test us—but for the first time, I felt ready. Together, we could face anything high school threw at us.