chapter five: Unspoken feelings:
The bell rang, signaling the end of the first period. The students filed out of the classroom, chatting excitedly as they headed to their next class. Aria and Ethan, as always, were still seatmates. Since elementary school, they had been assigned to sit next to each other, and despite all the years that had passed, they stuck together even now in high school. It felt natural, like they had their own unspoken bond. No matter where they went, they always sat together, and today was no different.
As they gathered their things, Aria gave Ethan a playful nudge. "Can you believe it? We're already in our senior year. It feels like just yesterday we were freshmen."
Ethan grinned, adjusting the straps of his backpack. "Time flies when you're stuck with me as your seatmate," he teased, and Aria rolled her eyes with a smile.
Then, their class teacher, Mrs. Johnson, walked in, her bright energy filling the room. "Alright, everyone! Settle down, we have a few announcements to make," she said, causing the room to quiet. Aria and Ethan exchanged a quick glance before turning their attention to Mrs. Johnson.
She went on to welcome them back and talked about the excitement of their final year. It wasn't long before she dropped the big news. "Homecoming is in four weeks! And you know what that means—a night to remember. I'm sure all of you are already thinking about what you'll wear, who you'll go with..." She winked, drawing a few giggles from the class.
Aria's eyes sparkled. "Homecoming... I'm so ready for it," she whispered to Ethan, who gave her a half-smile.
"Right, because you've been planning for months," Ethan muttered, though his tone was more amused than anything.
Mrs. Johnson wasn't done yet. "And, there's more!" she added, her voice rising with excitement. "We're going on a camping trip before the holidays. A perfect way to spend time with your classmates and bond before everything gets too busy. It'll be great, trust me."
Aria's smile grew wider. "A camping trip? Oh, I can't wait!" she said, already imagining how fun it would be. Ethan nodded beside her, though he didn't seem as excited. His focus was already on the details of the school year.
With a final cheer, Mrs. Johnson wished them well, reminding them to get ready for the adventures ahead. She left the classroom, and the students began to gather their things for their break.
Aria and Ethan walked down the hallway together, their footsteps in sync. Aria was practically bouncing with excitement. "Can you believe it? A camping trip! And Homecoming!" she exclaimed. "This year is going to be amazing. Maybe I'll even get a boyfriend... You know, maybe one of the boys from the trip."
Ethan gave her a pointed look. "Ari, we've talked about this. Dad doesn't want you dating anyone yet, remember?" His voice softened as he spoke, but there was a firmness there, as if it was a rule he was set on following.
Aria raised an eyebrow, giving him a playful look. "Oh, right. Daddy doesn't want me to date. I forgot." She was teasing him, but the truth was, she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold off. She was a senior now—definitely ready for the next chapter, including a boyfriend, if she could find one worth her time.
They reached her locker, and as Aria turned the key, she noticed something fall to the ground. She bent down to pick it up. It was a pink piece of paper, folded neatly in a way that suggested it had been placed there carefully.
"What's this?" Aria murmured to herself as she unfolded the paper. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the handwriting on the inside.
Ethan glanced over at her as she held up the letter. "What is it?"
Aria didn't answer immediately. Her fingers traced the words, but her attention was half on the letter and half on Ethan's curious expression. She tried to hide the slight blush creeping up her cheeks, but it didn't work.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Ari? What's that? A love letter? To you?" he teased with a mischievous grin.
Aria felt her cheeks redden further, but she quickly covered it up with a smirk. "It's nothing. Just a note, probably from someone who doesn't know what they're doing." She stuffed the letter into her bag, hoping Ethan didn't push the issue any further.
But as Ethan started to walk away toward his own locker, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the letter in her bag. This was just the beginning of senior year, and it already felt like things were changing.
---
When Aria sat down again at her desk, the bell rang to signal the start of their next class. She barely heard it. Her mind was still racing with the letter she'd just read. She was too curious to ignore it. She couldn't stop thinking about the words—"It's getting hard to hide these feelings. You're so beautiful."
Aria felt something stir in her chest, a strange mix of excitement and uncertainty. She had to know who it was. The mystery was killing her. With a glance toward Ethan—who was talking to his friend across the room—she pulled the letter out of her bag, the pink paper soft against her fingers.
Lily, sitting beside her, saw the movement and leaned in with a grin. "What's that? A love letter? Someone has a secret crush on you."
Aria felt her face go warm again, but she kept her voice steady. "I think so," she said, unfolding the letter once more and reading it aloud, her words quieter now, just for Lily.
The note read:
"It's getting difficult to hold back how I feel about you. I've been trying for a long time, but every time I see you, it gets harder to keep it in. You're so beautiful, Aria. It's not just your looks—it's your heart, your spirit. I just had to tell you. Maybe one day, you'll know who I am. But for now, I just wanted you to know."
Aria finished reading and looked at Lily, her heart racing.
Lily raised an eyebrow, clearly teasing. "Ohh, someone's definitely got it bad. So, who do you think it is?"
Aria tucked the letter back into her bag, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity. "I don't know... Maybe it's just some random person trying to get my attention. But it's kind of sweet, right?"
Lily leaned back in her seat, grinning. "Sweet? That's an understatement. It's a full-on confession! Looks like you've got a secret admirer, Ari."
Aria shrugged, but her curiosity wouldn't let her settle. "I don't know... It's kind of strange, right? Who would send me a letter like that and not even say who they are?"
Lily gave her a sly grin. "Maybe they're just shy. But you know what? You should just go for it. If they're really that into you, they should come forward. You're ready for this, Ari. You deserve a boyfriend. Who knows? Maybe he's someone from this class."
Aria felt a flutter in her chest. She wasn't sure whether she was ready, but something in her stirred at the thought. Maybe this senior year would be full of more surprises than she had anticipated.
Two weeks had passed since Aria first received the mysterious letter, and in that time, the letters hadn't stopped. If anything, they'd become more frequent, each one arriving in a different shade of paper. One was lavender, the next a pale blue, then deep red. Each note carried the same fervent confession—how much the writer needed her, how deeply he longed for her. The words seemed to swirl in her mind like a whisper in the dark, growing louder and more insistent with each passing day. Yet, no matter how much they tugged at her heart, Aria couldn't bring herself to tell anyone—except Lily, of course.
She wasn't sure why she hadn't told Ethan. After all, they'd always shared everything, every little detail of their lives. But this—this felt different. She was certain he'd laugh it off or worse, think she was making it up. Ethan had always been the kind of guy who liked to joke around, to poke fun at everything. What if he thought she was being dramatic, seeking attention? The thought of being dismissed like that stung, even if she didn't want to admit it.
Lily, on the other hand, was the only one who knew about the letters. They had spent endless nights together, Lily egging Aria on with teasing and encouragement. "Come on, Aria, this is a dream! You have a secret admirer! Who knows? Maybe it's someone from the football team." Lily's eyes had sparkled with mischief every time they discussed it. And though Aria appreciated her friend's enthusiasm, a part of her wasn't sure what to do with it. The mystery only seemed to deepen with every new note.
Now, with just one week left before the Homecoming dance, and Ethan deep into football training, Aria was starting to feel an unsettling emptiness. Every practice, every moment he spent focused on the game, seemed to push him further away from her. It was understandable—he had to focus on winning the big game, on being the star quarterback. But it didn't stop Aria from missing him.
It wasn't like before. They'd always been close, inseparable even, but these past few days, the space between them had felt heavier. It wasn't just the absence of his presence—it was the absence of their usual banter, their easy conversations, the jokes, the subtle teasing. Aria found herself counting down the hours until she could see him again, but when she did, he was usually too tired, too distracted, to really talk.
She didn't know what to make of this feeling. Was it just because they'd been best friends for so long, or was it something more? She kept telling herself it was natural to miss him. After all, they had been through so much together. But even with that reasoning, a part of her couldn't ignore the way her heart fluttered when he smiled, when their eyes met, when his laughter filled the room.
She sighed as she sat down in her room, absentmindedly twirling one of the colorful letters in her hands. The most recent one had been written on rich emerald paper, the ink shimmering in the light. She carefully unfolded it and read the words once more:
"Every day, I find myself thinking about you. It's not just your beauty, Aria. It's the way you light up a room, how your laughter can turn the darkest day into something worth living. I need you. I want you in a way I can't put into words, but I'll try my best. If only you could see how much you mean to me."
She let out a shaky breath. The words were almost too much. She could feel her cheeks flushing as she read them. The mystery of who this was only deepened with every letter. The anonymity only made the feelings more intense, like they were wrapped in layers of intrigue.
Lily had said she should enjoy the attention, that maybe it was someone special who just needed the courage to show himself. But the longer it went on, the more Aria wondered if she would ever find out who it was. The excitement mixed with a twinge of doubt—what if it was someone she didn't even know? What if she didn't feel the same way?
As if on cue, her phone buzzed on her desk. Aria glanced at it, seeing Ethan's name flash on the screen. Her heart skipped. She quickly grabbed it, typing out a message in seconds.
"Hey, miss you. Hope practice is going well! Any chance you're free tonight?"
She stared at the screen for a moment, wondering if she was pushing too much. But then, she hit send. She needed to hear from him, needed to know he was still the Ethan she had always known.
Moments later, his reply came through.
"I miss you too, Ari. Practice is brutal, but I'll survive. Can't talk long tonight, but we can catch up tomorrow. I'll make some time for us, I promise."
Aria smiled, feeling a mix of relief and longing. Tomorrow. That was something to look forward to, at least.
As the evening wore on, her thoughts drifted back to the letters. Who was sending them? And why did they feel so real, so genuine? Was she really ready for whatever it was they might lead to?
She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. Homecoming was just around the corner, and with it, the dance, the excitement, the mystery of the secret admirer... and the complicated feelings that seemed to bubble to the surface more every day.
One week. That's all she had left.
And she had no idea what would happen next.