Julie never thought a simple hallway could feel like a scene from a movie. Yet, there she was, standing by her locker, heart pounding as she caught sight of him. He was tall, with messy blonde hair that seemed to catch the sunlight, his confident stride effortlessly drawing every gaze.
Noah. The new guy.
She tried not to stare, but her eyes betrayed her. Just as she turned to grab a book from her locker, she heard his voice. Deep, casual. "Hey."
Her heart skipped. She looked up, finding his blue eyes on her. For a second, the hallway noise faded. "Uh... hi," she managed, cheeks burning.
A playful smile curled at the corner of his lips before he continued down the hall, disappearing into the crowd. Julie stood frozen, replaying the moment in her head, feeling a strange warmth spread through her.
She was still standing there when Emma appeared, waving a hand in front of her face. "Earth to Julie! What's up with you?"
Julie snapped out of her trance, slamming her locker shut. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." But her heart was still racing, and she knew it was anything but nothing.
The day had just begun, and already, Julie felt different. She was sixteen, but today, her world felt brand new.