"Suzy Chan!!! What are you doing here?" Mia's voice rang out excitedly as she approached Bella and the blonde girl seated beside her…
"Mia West, is that you?" Suzy's eyes lit up with delight, jumping to her feet.
"Oh my goodness, Suzy!!! I missed you so much!"" Mia said happily , handing Bella the drinks and snacks she had bought before launching herself into Suzy's arms for a tight hug.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Bella asked, puzzled by the sudden reunion...
"Of course! Suzy was my best friend and my favorite person from high school,," Mia said with a beaming smile.
"And she left me behind the moment she found you as her roommate,," Suzy teased, pretending to be hurt, though the mischievous glint in her eyes betrayed her.
"Come on, Suzy, you're still my number one," Mia laughed, taking her seat beside Bella.
Bella, watching their banter, couldn't help but smile. "So, you're the Suzy Mia always talks about?"
Suzy turned to Bella, her eyes twinkling. "I see Mia's been spilling all my secrets." She laughed
"More like singing your praises!!" Mia added with enthusiasm. "Bella, Suzy is the best fashion designer I've ever known, hands down.."
Suzy waved her hand dismissively, but her smile widened. "Oh stop, you're going to make me blush."
"But Suzy," Mia said, her curiosity piqued, "I thought you weren't really into basketball. What are you doing here?"
"I got invited by one of the Blazers players," Suzy admitted with a smirk. "He practically begged me to come, so I figured why not? And then, I spotted Eldor University's new sweetheart over here," Suzy said, nodding toward Bella with a teasing grin.
Bella's eyes widened in protest, her cheeks immediately heating up. "I am not his sweetheart!!"
Both Mia and Suzy laughed, clearly enjoying Bella's embarrassment. "Well, only time will tell," Suzy said, winking playfully.
Before Bella could argue further, Mia's attention shifted. "Guys, the game's about to start!!" she said excitedly, pointing toward the court as the Webs players began making their entrance.
Bella looked around, noticing the energy in the air ramp up. The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the players from J University marched in confidently.
"Hey, where are the Blazers?" Suzy asked, craning her neck to spot Eldor University's team.
"Oh,, there they are!!!" Mia exclaimed, bouncing in her seat as the Blazers appeared.
As Bella followed Mia's gaze, her eyes immediately locked onto a familiar face. Adrian. Her breath caught in her throat as she whispered his name softly under her breath, "Adrian…"
He looked different, even more striking in his athletic gear, a captain's band around his arm. He exuded confidence, effortlessly leading his team onto the court. Though she wasn't a sports fan, Bella couldn't help but admire how effortlessly commanding he seemed, as though he belonged in the spotlight ' wait he does belong in the spotlight' he thought
"Oh my gosh, they're really hot!" a girl seated nearby squealed, causing a ripple of excited giggles to echo among the surrounding crowd.
"Well, I won't deny that," Mia chuckled.
As the game began, the court erupted in cheers. Bella, who had never really paid attention to basketball, found her eyes glued to Adrian. He moved with precision and grace, his focus unwavering. It was mesmerizing, watching him lead the Blazers against the Webs, who were proving to be tough competition. But Adrian and his team were relentless, scoring with ease despite the pressure.
'Is he good at everything?' Bella thought as she watched him, realizing just how capable he was ,not only in academics but in sports as well. The more she watched, the more captivated she became. The intensity in his eyes, the way he directed his team, the sheer determination ,it was a side of him she hadn't expected.
Time seemed to slip away, and before Bella knew it, the game was nearing its final stretch. Feeling her stomach rumble, she reached for the hot dog Mia had bought for her earlier.
"Suzy, do you want some?" Bella asked, offering a piece to her new friend.
Suzy smiled and shook her head. "No thanks, Bella. I'm good with the drink I've got."
As Bella took a bite, savoring the taste, she glanced back toward the court, but something was different. Adrian, who had been entirely focused on the game, suddenly seemed distracted. His eyes were wandering—until they landed directly on her.
Bella froze, a piece of the hot dog still in her mouth. Adrian's gaze locked on her, and a slow smile crept across his face. He seemed almost amused, like he'd just spotted something ,or someone unexpected.
'Bella! So she's been here the whole time ' Adrian's thoughts were interrupted as the ball whizzed past him.
"Adrian, the ball!!!" Ben called out, snapping him back to reality.
"Right, sorry " Adrian quickly regained his focus, effortlessly throwing the ball into the basket. The gym exploded with cheers as the buzzer sounded, signaling the Blazers' victory.
"Oh my goodness, we won!" Mia screamed, jumping up in excitement.
Bella clapped along with the crowd, but her heart raced for a different reason. As the team celebrated their win, she noticed Adrian heading toward the bleachers—and directly toward them.
"Wait, why is Adrian coming over here?" Suzy asked, looking at Bella with a knowing smirk.
Mia laughed, nudging Bella's side. "Maybe he just wants to say hi to a certain someone?"
Bella's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, what? No, he ,"
Before she could finish her sentence, Adrian was standing in front of them. "Hey, girls," he greeted, his voice warm and casual, though his eyes were focused solely on Bella.
Bella could feel the eyes of everyone around them. The whispers began immediately.
"Is that the girl Adrian's chasing?" someone murmured.
"She's wearing his cap!" another girl exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh, they're so cute together," a nearby voice gushed.
"PDA overload!" someone else teased.
Bella wanted to shrink into her seat as the attention intensified, but Adrian seemed unfazed. In fact, he appeared to be enjoying it.
"Bella, you look amazing with my cap on," Adrian said with a teasing smile.
Suzy couldn't help herself. "Senior Adrian, I didn't know you were such a sweet talker," she said with a smirk, clearly amused by Bella's reaction.
Bella's cheeks burned as she looked away, trying to hide her blush, but Adrian noticed something,. His gaze softened, and before she could protest, he reached out, brushing his fingers gently against the side of her lips.
Bella froze, her heart hammering in her chest as his touch lingered for a moment longer than necessary. Then, with a soft chuckle, Adrian leaned in and whispered, "You've got a little mustard on your lips."
Bella's face flushed deeper, and her mind went blank as Adrian pulled back, that signature smirk still playing on his lips.
This was definitely not how she expected the day to go.