The school bell rang, signaling the end of another long day. Sophie Davis stepped out of her classroom, her mind heavy with thoughts of the previous night. The images of Aiden Wilson's handsome face were still fresh in her mind. She couldn't believe how one glance had made her heart race like that. She had tried to push the thought away, but it lingered, distracting her throughout the day. Her best friends, Zara and Ella, were absent, and Sophie felt an odd emptiness without them. They would have listened to her rambling about the boy she had just met. Instead, she walked to the bus stop alone, trying to focus on her work later at the restaurant.
The Queen Victoria Market had been busy earlier that day, but now, as Sophie walked through the market's aisles towards her job at the restaurant, the usual noise seemed distant. She had to focus on her shift tonight, especially with so many orders to take. She couldn't afford any mistakes—especially not after what happened the other day. Her mind kept wandering, and no matter how hard she tried, Aiden Wilson kept appearing in her thoughts.
Inside the restaurant, Sophie put on her apron and quickly went to her station. She was a waitress at a small family-owned place, and though it wasn't glamorous, it was the only job she could manage after school. She worked hard, balancing school, family, and work. She had no time for distractions, especially not now.
The doorbell chimed as the restaurant door opened, signaling the arrival of a customer. Sophie turned, only to freeze in her tracks. Aiden Wilson walked in, followed by none other than Amelia Morris—his girlfriend. Sophie's heart sank at the sight of them. Amelia looked stunning as usual, with her blonde hair and perfectly tailored dress. She had always been the picture of perfection, and now, standing beside Aiden, it was like a slap to Sophie's heart.
Aiden was as handsome as ever, his presence commanding attention as he smiled softly at the hostess, who quickly showed them to their table. Sophie stood frozen, her heart racing, her breath caught in her chest. She couldn't believe this was happening. He was here—at the restaurant where she worked. But there was no way to avoid them. Sophie took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She grabbed her notepad and walked toward their table, her hands shaking slightly.
"Good evening. How may I assist you today?" Sophie managed to ask, forcing a smile.
Amelia looked up, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Sophie. "I'll have the special, please," Amelia said with a haughty tone, completely ignoring Sophie's nervousness. Aiden, on the other hand, gave her a brief smile.
Sophie nodded and turned to leave, but as she did, her hand slipped. The tray she was holding tipped, and in the next instant, a glass of water splashed all over Amelia's pristine outfit. The water soaked her dress, causing Amelia to gasp in shock.
"What the hell?" Amelia snapped, standing up abruptly.
Sophie's eyes widened in horror, and she quickly tried to apologize. "I—I'm so sorry! It was an accident, I didn't mean to—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Amelia slapped her across the face. The sting of the slap left Sophie stunned, her face burning with embarrassment and humiliation. Aiden quickly stood up, his eyes filled with concern as he reached out to grab Amelia's arm.
"Amelia, calm down," Aiden said softly, trying to soothe his girlfriend. But Amelia was having none of it.
"You should watch where you're going," Amelia spat, glaring at Sophie with a venomous look. "You think you can just mess up and get away with it?"
Sophie stood there, unable to speak. Her hands trembled as she tried to hold back the tears threatening to fall. She had never been slapped before, especially not in front of Aiden. Her face burned with humiliation as she turned to leave the table, but not before she caught a glimpse of Aiden's troubled expression. He was looking at her, but there was nothing he could do.
Aiden walked with Amelia toward the door, his expression unreadable. Sophie's heart shattered as she watched them leave. Her mind was a blur of emotions—anger, shame, and an overwhelming sense of defeat. She couldn't believe she had messed up so badly. Why did he have to be with her? Why couldn't she just have one chance to be noticed by him?
Later that night, after her shift had ended, Sophie couldn't stop replaying the incident in her mind. She had tried to shake off the embarrassment, but it lingered, gnawing at her insides. As she lay in bed that night, she couldn't help but think about Aiden again. But this time, it wasn't the happy, fleeting thoughts from earlier. Now, there was a sense of longing, of wondering if she would ever get a chance to speak to him again. Would he remember her? Would he even care?
To her surprise, she was woken up the next morning by a news update on her phone. She clicked the notification to read a headline that made her heart stop: Aiden Wilson Breaks Up With Amelia Morris, (as son of Richest man it was simple to get news)
Sophie stared at the screen in disbelief. It couldn't be true, could it? The very same day she had humiliated herself in front of him, he had broken up with his girlfriend? Was it fate? Or was it just a coincidence?
She couldn't help but wonder: Was this the start of something new? Or was it simply the end of a dream she could never reach?
...