As they packed up their equipment, a girl approached Noah—Sophie, a popular senior known for her effortless charm.
"That was amazing," Sophie said, tossing her hair. "I had no idea you were this talented."
Noah rubbed the back of his neck, clearly flattered. "Uh, thanks. It was a team effort."
Sophie smiled, leaning in slightly. "You know, we're throwing a party to celebrate the seniors tonight. You should come."
Ella felt her stomach drop.
Noah hesitated, glancing at Ella for a second before replying, "Yeah, sure. Sounds fun."
Sophie beamed. "Great. I'll text you the details."
As she walked away, Maya shot Ella a knowing look. "You okay?"
Ella forced a smile. "Yeah. Totally fine."
But she wasn't fine.
And for the first time in a long time, she wasn't sure what to do.
That night, Ella found herself pacing in her room, staring at her phone. Should she text Noah? Should she just forget about it?
Maya's words from earlier echoed in her mind. Do you like him?
Yes. And it was killing her.
She wasn't the kind of girl who chased after someone. If Noah liked her, wouldn't he have said something by now? Wouldn't he have turned down Sophie's invitation?
Frustrated, she grabbed her jacket and left her house, needing fresh air. Before she knew it, she found herself standing outside Noah's house.
The lights were on. Music played from inside.
She hesitated, then took a deep breath and knocked.
The door swung open, and Noah stood there, surprised.
"Ella?"
"I need to talk to you," she blurted out before she lost her nerve.
His face softened. "Yeah. Of course. What's up?"
For a second, she almost chickened out. But then she saw the way he looked at her—concerned, attentive, like she was the only person in the world.
"I—"
Before she could finish, Sophie's voice called from inside, "Noah? Who's at the door?"
Ella's heart sank.
Noah glanced back, then turned to her, realizing what she must be thinking. "It's not what it looks like," he said quickly. "She just—"
Ella shook her head, swallowing the lump in her throat. "It's fine. Forget it."
And before he could stop her, she walked away.