Later that night, Mia found herself standing outside Kyle's house, the muffled sound of music thumping from inside. The team had decided to throw a celebratory party after their big win, and Kyle's place had been chosen as the venue. It wasn't Mia's usual scene—she wasn't big on parties, especially not ones thrown by the basketball team. But Kyle had insisted she come, and deep down, she was curious to see how the night would unfold.
Taking a deep breath, Mia knocked on the door. It swung open almost immediately, and she was greeted by the sight of Kyle, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Mia!" he exclaimed, pulling her into the house. "You made it!"
Mia smiled nervously, stepping inside. The house was packed with people—teammates, students, and fans alike, all celebrating the victory. The air smelled of pizza and soda, and the living room was filled with laughter and conversation. Kyle led her further into the house, weaving through the crowd with ease.
"Come on, the rest of the team's in the kitchen," Kyle said, glancing back at her.
Mia nodded, following him as they made their way toward the back of the house. The kitchen was just as crowded as the living room, but Mia immediately spotted Aiden leaning against the counter, a soda in hand. He looked up as they entered, his eyes meeting hers across the room.
For a moment, the noise and chaos of the party seemed to fade, and Mia felt her heart skip a beat. Aiden gave her a small smile, one that made her stomach flutter.
"Mia!" Kyle announced loudly, pulling her toward the group. "Look who finally showed up!"
Aiden chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn't think you were the party type," he said as she reached them.
Mia shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I'm not, really. But I figured I'd make an exception for tonight."
Aiden's smile widened slightly, and Mia couldn't help but notice how much more relaxed he seemed compared to the intensity he usually carried on the basketball court.
"Glad you did," he said softly.
Before Mia could respond, Kyle clapped Aiden on the back, interrupting their moment. "Come on, man! This is your night—you've got to celebrate properly!"
Aiden rolled his eyes but allowed Kyle to drag him toward the center of the kitchen, where a group of their teammates were gathered around a table, laughing and joking loudly. Mia watched as Aiden was pulled into the mix, his usual quiet demeanor fading as he joined in on the fun.
Mia stayed on the sidelines, sipping her drink and observing the scene around her. It was strange seeing Aiden like this—so carefree, so… normal. He wasn't the brooding basketball star who carried the weight of the team on his shoulders. Here, he was just Aiden, laughing with his friends and enjoying the moment.
Lily appeared beside her, nudging her playfully. "You're staring again."
Mia sighed, unable to deny it this time. "I just… I've never seen him like this before."
Lily smirked, following Mia's gaze. "He's different when he's not on the court. Less pressure, I guess."
"Yeah," Mia murmured. "It's nice."
Lily raised an eyebrow, her smirk growing wider. "So, when are you going to tell him you like him?"
Mia's eyes widened, and she quickly turned to face her friend. "What? I don't—"
"Oh, please," Lily interrupted, rolling her eyes. "It's so obvious. You've been spending all this time together, and you're always talking about him. Just admit it, Mia—you've got a thing for Aiden."
Mia opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat. Did she like Aiden? She hadn't really thought about it in those terms. Sure, they had grown closer lately, and she definitely felt something for him, but was it more than just friendship?
Lily's smirk softened into a more genuine smile. "It's okay, you know. He likes you too."
Mia blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "What? No, he doesn't."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Are you blind? He's always looking at you, always talking to you. Trust me, Mia—there's something there."
Mia's mind spun with confusion. Could Lily be right? Could Aiden actually like her the way she was starting to like him?
Before Mia could dwell on the thought any longer, Kyle suddenly appeared beside her, his face flushed from excitement. "Mia! We're about to start a game of truth or dare—you in?"
Mia hesitated, glancing toward the kitchen where Aiden was still talking with his teammates. She wasn't sure if she wanted to join in, but before she could answer, Kyle had already grabbed her hand and was pulling her toward the group.
"Come on! It'll be fun!" Kyle insisted, grinning.
Mia found herself sitting in a circle with the rest of the group, Aiden sitting directly across from her. His eyes met hers for a brief second, and Mia felt a strange nervousness settle in her stomach.
Kyle took charge of the game, explaining the rules and starting the first round. The dares were mostly harmless, silly things like singing in front of the group or doing an embarrassing dance. Mia laughed along with everyone else, but her mind kept drifting back to Aiden.
As the game went on, it was finally Mia's turn. She swallowed nervously as Kyle grinned mischievously, clearly thinking of a good challenge.
"Alright, Mia," Kyle said, rubbing his hands together. "Truth or dare?"
Mia hesitated, glancing around the circle. She wasn't really in the mood for a dare, so she decided to play it safe. "Truth."
Kyle's grin widened, and Mia immediately regretted her choice.
"Do you have a crush on anyone in this room?"
The question hung in the air, and Mia felt her face flush with embarrassment. Her heart pounded as everyone turned to look at her, waiting for her answer. She glanced at Aiden, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.
Mia's throat went dry. She could feel Lily's gaze on her, urging her to say something, but she wasn't sure what to do. Admitting her feelings in front of everyone felt terrifying, but denying it felt wrong, too.
After a long pause, Mia finally took a deep breath and spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Maybe."
The room erupted in teasing laughter and whistles, and Mia's face turned an even deeper shade of red. She avoided Aiden's gaze, her heart racing with a mix of embarrassment and nerves.
Kyle laughed, clearly satisfied with her vague answer. "Alright, we'll leave it at that—for now."
The game continued, but Mia could barely focus on it. Her mind was spinning with what had just happened, and she couldn't help but wonder if Aiden had picked up on the truth behind her words.
As the night went on, Mia stayed mostly quiet, lost in her thoughts. When the game finally ended, and people began to head home, she decided it was time to leave too.
But just as she was about to slip out the door, she felt a hand gently touch her arm. She turned around to see Aiden standing there, his expression soft.
"Hey," he said quietly. "You leaving already?"
Mia nodded, her heart fluttering in her chest. "Yeah, I think I'm going to head out."
Aiden hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching hers. "Can I walk you home?"
Mia blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. "Um… yeah. Sure."
As they stepped out into the cool night air, the party noise fading behind them, Mia felt a strange sense of anticipation. She wasn't sure what would happen next, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something important was about to change between them.