The next day at school, I woke up feeling nervous, which was unusual for me. I couldn't shake off the excitement and anxiety about possibly running into the mysterious guy again. I spent an extra five minutes in front of the mirror, trying to make my hair look presentable and fighting the urge to overthink every outfit choice. Why was I stressing so much?
When I arrived at school, Lily was already waiting for me at the entrance, practically bouncing on her heels. "Are you ready for today?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I sighed dramatically. "Lily, it's just another day."
"Just another day where you might run into your mysterious hero," she teased, nudging me with her elbow.
"Shh! Keep it down!" I hissed, glancing around to see if anyone was listening. "It's not like that!"
"Uh-huh," she said, her smirk growing wider. "Come on, you can't deny you're curious about him."
Before I could respond, we heard a commotion coming from down the hallway. I turned just in time to see the mysterious guy with messy black hair—him—leaning against a locker, chatting with a group of students. I felt my heart race. What if he saw me?
"Looks like he's popular," Lily whispered, her eyes gleaming. "Should we go say hi?"
"What? No!" I nearly shouted, but the words came out in a squeak. "I can't just walk up to him!"
"Why not? You're a Tree Hero, remember?" she said, her teasing tone making me blush.
"Stop it!" I hissed, but my mind raced. Should I really try to talk to him? Just as I was about to suggest we go grab coffee instead, the bell rang, signaling the start of class.
"Guess we'll have to wait," Lily said, rolling her eyes but grinning. "You've got this, Abi!"
---
In Class
I spent the first half of class daydreaming, my thoughts drifting to the guy. What was his name? Did he even remember our encounter? I barely paid attention to the teacher, and when Lily whispered questions about the upcoming project, I could only mumble random responses.
"Earth to Abi!" Lily nudged me. "Focus! This is serious stuff."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, trying to shake off my distraction. "Just thinking about... you know... school stuff."
She gave me a skeptical look but didn't press further, much to my relief.
---
At Lunch
At lunch, I was a bundle of nerves. I scanned the cafeteria for the mysterious guy, only to spot him at a corner table, engrossed in a book. I could feel my heart racing. Should I go over there?
Lily noticed my hesitation. "Just go for it! What's the worst that could happen? You'll embarrass yourself in front of your crush?"
"Great, thanks for the support," I muttered, feeling a mixture of fear and determination.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up. "Okay, I'm doing it." I began walking towards him, but just as I approached, I tripped over a backpack someone had carelessly left on the floor.
"Ah!" I squeaked, arms flailing as I lost my balance.
Just as I thought I was going to faceplant right in front of him, I felt a strong hand grab my arm, steadying me. I looked up, and there he was, looking down at me with an amused expression.
"Nice save," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"Uh, thanks," I stammered, heat flooding my cheeks.
"Are you okay?" he asked, still holding onto my arm.
"Yeah, just… um, tripped over nothing," I managed, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.
"Careful next time," he said, letting go of my arm. "I'm not always going to be around to catch you."
My heart fluttered at his words, and I couldn't think of anything clever to say. "Right, I'll just… try to not fall."
He chuckled softly. "I'm sure you'll manage." Then, to my surprise, he nodded at the empty seat across from him. "You can sit here if you want."
I blinked, stunned. Is he actually inviting me to sit with him?
Lily was nowhere to be seen, and I felt the pressure of my own nerves. I hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down, feeling both excited and terrified.
"So, what are you reading?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
---
After Lunch
After lunch, I walked back to class, my head spinning with what had just happened. I could hardly focus on anything else, replaying the encounter over and over in my mind. *Did I really just talk to him?*
When I reached class, I noticed my brother leaning against the wall, arms crossed and a smug grin on his face. "So, how was your lunch with your hero?" he asked, obviously having heard something.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't suppress my smile. "Shut up!"