تسجيل الدخولThe room stayed silent.Paige still standing on stage holding the microphone calmly while the giant screen behind her glowed against the dark hall.And my heart slowly stopped beating properly.The first screenshot stayed frozen across the screen.Paige:"You’re really dragging this fake thing that far?"Then Aaron’s reply underneath.Aaron:"I needed people off my back this year."Whispers immediately spread across the hall.My chest tightened.Another screenshot appeared.Paige:"And Allison agreed to this?"Aaron:"She is easy to get and she takes things seriously. Makes it easier."The entire room reacted louder this time.“Oh my God.”“No way.” “That’s actually insane.”I couldn’t breathe properly anymore.I didn't even know what to believe...But it felt too real.My eyes stayed glued to the screen while my stomach twisted painfully.Then another message appeared.The worst one.Aaron:"Soon as finals are over, everything goes back to normal anyway."My fingers curled tightly a
*The next morning*I woke up feeling exhausted.The morning wasn't peaceful, my thoughts were louder than anything else.I sat on the edge of my bed, steering at my screen.My screen lightening went up again and again.Notifications popping nonstop.Comments.My mind drifted to the message someone posted yesterday.When Aaron saw it, he acted like nothing was wrong..."Ignore it." Was what he kept saying.Then...My eyes drifted to the dress laid across my bed.Red.With a beaded lace.It was obviously expensive.It had arrived earlier this morning.Delivered neatly in a box by a Briggs staff.When I opened the box, I saw a folded note on top everything else."I'd love you to wear this tonight. I want to adore you.~Aaron."Oh my God...Thinking about the words he used alone erased most of my problems. *Later that evening* I stared at myself in the mirror for a little longer than I should have.The dress hugged me differently than anything I was used to.Like it was made exactly fo
“What was that supposed to mean?” I asked again.More furious.Paige had already disappeared into the crowd of students filling the hallway, but her words still sat heavily in my chest.'Expect the worst.'Aaron looked down at me immediately.Even surrounded by noise and people celebrating nationals, he somehow stayed calm.His fingers slipped around my wrist gently before sliding into my hand.“Relax,” he said softly.I frowned slightly. “Aaron.”He stepped closer.Close enough for the scent of his cologne to wrap around me again...Clean, warm, distracting.“Trust me, okay?”His golden-brown curls were slightly messy from the day already, falling carelessly over his forehead while those impossible hazel eyes stayed fixed on mine.And somehow…that made this worse.“Seriously,” I said quietly. “Explain.”Aaron sighed softly like he already knew I wouldn’t let it go easily.Then his fingers brushed a strand of blonde hair behind my ear carefully.“Nothing my sweet girl needs to worry
*Allison's POV* The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was Aaron.Not the sunlight slipping through my curtains. Not the soft sound of the birds outside.Aaron.He sat comfortably on the chair near my bed like he belonged there, one ankle resting over his knee while fixing the cuff of his sleeve.His damp golden-brown curls looked softer this morning, slightly messy from sleep, and the hoodie he wore earlier had been replaced with a clean white shirt that fit him unfairly well.I stared at him silently for a few seconds before realizing he was talking.“…already called the driver,” he continued casually. “He’s bringing my uniform and he’ll come back again to take us to school.”Then his eyes lifted toward me.A slow smirk appeared on his face.“Guess my girl finally decided to wake up.”Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks.“Yeah.” I mumbled tiredly. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?""I tried.""Seriously?" I asked looking at me.“You looked cute sleeping,” He leaned back
The moment she stepped aside and whispered, “Come in,” something inside me settled slightly.Not fully.Just enough to breathe again.Rainwater dripped from my hoodie onto the floor as I stepped inside carefully. The warmth of the house hit immediately, but it still didn’t calm my heartbeat.Allison closed the door behind me before turning quickly.“My mom isn’t home,” she said softly. “She’s working overnight.”I nodded once.But honestly? I barely heard anything after that.Because she was standing too close.Loose blouse. Messy blonde hair. Bare legs disappearing beneath the oversized fabric.And those eyes watching me too carefully again.“Why did you walk under the rain?” she asked.A tired smile pulled at my mouth. “I needed to tell you something.”“That urgent?”I nodded once.“Come upstairs so you can dry up a little.” She said leading the way.I followed her silently.The entire walk upstairs felt strangely intimate. Just the sound of rain outside and our footsteps.No audi
The moment the bus finally pulled into Parkview’s parking lot, everybody looked half dead.Nationals was over.We won.The entire ride back felt quieter than the trip there.Still loud because my teammates physically didn’t know how to shut up, but different.Exhausted different.I leaned back against the seat while pulling my phone out."Bring the car around."I sent the text to my driver before looking up again.Across from me, Vanessa was asleep with her mouth slightly open while two cheerleaders were still scrolling through videos from nationals.“Allison,” one of them whispered dramatically, “your face when Aaron fell was actually insane.”Allison groaned softly beside me. “Please don’t start again.”“I’m serious,” Vanessa mumbled sleepily without opening her eyes. “You looked ready to fight God.”I looked away quickly to hide my smile.Beside me, Allison crossed her arms. “They’re all dramatic.”“Not really,” I muttered.She looked at me slowly. “You’re enjoying this too much.”







