The next day at school felt surreal. Mia replayed her conversation with Aiden over and over again, unable to shake the butterflies that danced in her stomach. For the first time in months, everything seemed to be falling into place. She liked Aiden, and he liked her back. It was as simple—and as complicated—as that.
As Mia walked through the school halls, she couldn't help but wonder if anything had changed. Would people notice something different about her and Aiden? Would their friends? She hadn't told Lily yet, and part of her was dreading the inevitable interrogation when she did.
When Mia reached her locker, she saw Lily waiting for her, arms crossed and eyebrows raised in mock suspicion. "So," Lily began without preamble, "you left the party with Aiden last night. Spill."
Mia smiled, trying to play it cool. "We just walked home together. It wasn't a big deal."
Lily scoffed. "Please. I saw the way you two were looking at each other during the game. Something definitely happened."
Mia bit her lip, debating whether to tell her friend the truth. But she knew Lily wouldn't let it go until she got an answer, so Mia sighed and decided to come clean.
"Okay, fine. We talked," Mia admitted, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "And… he told me he likes me."
Lily's eyes widened in excitement. "I knew it!" she practically squealed. "I told you! Oh my gosh, this is huge! So, what did you say?"
"I told him I like him too," Mia said, feeling her cheeks flush at the memory.
Lily gasped, grabbing Mia's hands and jumping up and down in excitement. "This is amazing! You two are, like, the cutest couple ever. Are you guys, like, official now?"
Mia hesitated, suddenly unsure. "I… don't know. We didn't really talk about that. I mean, we both admitted our feelings, but we didn't label anything."
Lily waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. It's only a matter of time before you two are official. Everyone can see the chemistry between you."
Mia smiled, feeling a little more at ease. Lily always had a way of making her feel like everything would work out. Still, there was a part of Mia that couldn't help but worry. What if things got complicated? What if dating Aiden changed everything between them?
Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw Aiden walking down the hall toward her. He looked just as calm and composed as always, but when their eyes met, Mia's heart did a little flip.
Lily noticed too and gave Mia a sly smile. "Speak of the devil. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." She winked at Mia before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Mia standing there, her heart racing.
Aiden approached her with a soft smile. "Hey."
"Hey," Mia replied, feeling her nerves kick in.
"How's your morning been?" Aiden asked, leaning casually against the locker next to hers.
"Good," Mia said, trying to sound normal even though her heart was pounding. "I told Lily about… you know."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "About us?"
Mia nodded, biting her lip. "She's really excited."
Aiden chuckled. "I figured she would be."
There was a brief silence, and Mia felt the tension between them return. She wasn't sure how to navigate this new dynamic. Were they supposed to act differently now? Were they supposed to be more… couple-like?
"So… about last night," Mia started, fidgeting with the strap of her backpack. "What happens now? I mean, are we… dating?"
Aiden's expression softened, and he reached out to gently take her hand. "If you want to be."
Mia looked up at him, her heart swelling at the sight of his warm smile. "I do," she whispered.
Aiden gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Then we are."
Mia felt a wave of relief wash over her. The uncertainty that had been nagging at her all morning finally faded, replaced by a sense of calm and clarity. They were together. Officially.
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of their first class. Aiden gave her hand one last squeeze before letting go. "I'll see you at practice later?"
Mia nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I'll be there."
As Aiden walked away, Mia couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was happy—happier than she'd been in a long time. But she also knew that dating Aiden would come with its own set of challenges. Being with the star basketball player meant more attention, more pressure, and more expectations. Could they handle it?
That thought stayed with Mia throughout the day. At lunch, when she sat with Lily, Mia noticed the way people glanced at her and Aiden, like they were trying to figure out if the rumors were true. Lily, of course, was all smiles, but Mia felt the weight of their stares.
"Everyone's talking about you two," Lily said, taking a bite of her sandwich. "Word's already out."
Mia sighed, pushing her food around on her plate. "I guess I should've expected that. Aiden's kind of a big deal around here."
Lily shrugged. "You'll get used to it. People will move on to the next big thing soon enough."
Mia wasn't so sure. She knew Aiden was popular—he was the captain of the basketball team, after all—but she hadn't anticipated how much attention their relationship would attract. It wasn't that she minded people knowing, but she wasn't used to being in the spotlight.
Later, during basketball practice, Mia couldn't help but feel self-conscious. As she stood on the sidelines, watching Aiden practice with the team, she could feel the eyes of her teammates on her. Kyle, especially, seemed to be watching her more closely than usual, his usual playful smirk replaced by something more serious.
When the team took a break, Kyle approached Mia, wiping sweat from his forehead. "So, you and Aiden, huh?"
Mia shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. "Yeah, I guess so."
Kyle chuckled, but there was something off about it. "Didn't see that coming. But hey, if anyone can handle Aiden, it's you."
Mia wasn't sure if Kyle's comment was meant to be a compliment or a warning. There was something in his tone that made her uneasy, but before she could ask him what he meant, Aiden walked over and slung an arm around her shoulders.
"Everything okay?" Aiden asked, glancing between her and Kyle.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Mia said quickly, offering Aiden a reassuring smile.
Kyle shrugged, giving them both a casual wave before heading back to the court. But the tension in Mia's chest lingered. Something about Kyle's words—about the way he had looked at her—didn't sit right with her.
As Aiden pulled her in for a quick hug before practice resumed, Mia tried to push the feeling aside. She and Aiden were finally together. That's what mattered.
But as she watched Aiden return to the court, the unease remained. Was it just her imagination, or was there something else going on? Something that neither of them saw coming?