1: Humiliated

Emily.

7 years ago.

The roar of the crowd sounded around the field, but I barely heard it. All I could focus on was him…Cole Grayson. He stood in the center of the field, the late afternoon sun had a golden halo over his dark hair. His movements were without effort, calculated, as he dodged past opposing players. The ball seemed like an extension of him, and every time he scored, the crowd erupted in cheerslike a storm.

From my spot on the bleachers, tucked away in the furthest corner, I watched through the safety of my thick-rimmed glasses. My cheeks burned, though I told myself it was just the sun. Who was I kidding? I was completely smitten. Damn.

The cheerleaders screamed his name, waving banners with Cole scrawled in bold letters. Even the guys who pretended not to care shot him envious glances. Cole wasn’t just the star player; he was the star of the entire school.

I sighed, hugging my knees. It had been four months since I joined Westbridge, and ever since that rainy day, he’d been on my mind. It wasn’t much…he’d just handed me an umbrella. I was stranded outside the library, soaking wet and fumbling with my books, when he walked up, calm and unreadable. He didn’t say much, just handed me his umbrella and walked away into the rain as if it were nothing. But to me? It was everything.

I knew it was silly. Girls like me didn’t belong in the orbit of someone like Cole. He was untouchable, like a shooting star streaking across the sky while I sat on the ground wishing I could be closer. Still, I couldn’t stop staring. His smile when he scored, the way he high-fived his teammates…it was magnetic. A world I’d never belong to.

“Emily, stop staring,” I muttered to myself, shifting uncomfortably on the bleachers. But my eyes betrayed me, glued to the field where he stood, shining brighter than anyone else. Did he even remember me? Probably not. To him, I was just some random girl with glasses and bad hair.

The final whistle blew, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Cole’s team had won, of course. His teammates swarmed him, shouting and slapping his back. The cheerleaders screamed his name, waving their banners. Cole stood in the middle of it all, grinning that easy, heart-stopping grin of his. His hair was damp with sweat, his jersey clinging to him, and yet he looked like he’d stepped out of a glossy magazine. He waved at the crowd, soaking up their adoration like it was his birthright.

As he left the field, girls swarmed him. Some held out water bottles, others just giggled and tried to catch his attention. He didn’t push them away; he leaned into it, laughing and tossing a few playful winks. My stomach twisted, but I couldn’t stop the ridiculous hope bubbling inside me.

I adjusted my glasses, my heart hammering as I clutched the strap of my backpack. Cole had smiled at me before…not often, but enough to make my pulse race. I convinced myself it meant something. Maybe it was crazy, but I’d made up my mind. Today, I was going to tell him. What’s the worst that could happen? At least I’d know.

I waited outside the locker room, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure anyone passing by could hear it. The hallway was quiet except for occasional laughter or footsteps, but my nerves made everything seem amplified.

When the door finally opened, my breath hitched. Cole stepped out, still damp from his shower, his hair slightly tousled, droplets of water clinging to his neck. He wore a crisp white t-shirt and jeans, his effortless style making him look like he belonged in a fashion ad. A group of his friends followed, their laughter carefree as they shoved each other playfully.

I clutched the strap of my backpack tighter and took a shaky step forward. My knees felt like jelly, and my palms were sweating, but I had to do this. “Hey… Cole,” I said, my voice trembling.

He stopped mid-laugh and turned to look at me, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. “Hey,” he replied casually, his voice smooth, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone.

One of his friends nudged him, smirking. Cole exchanged a quick glance with them before turning his full attention to me, his brows slightly raised.

“I—uh—I need to… talk to you. About something.”

“Alright,” he said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. He tilted his head, the hint of a smirk playing on his lips. “Go ahead.”

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I stared up at him. He was so tall, so… magnetic. Everything about him screamed confidence, and it was overwhelming. My words jumbled in my head, my tongue suddenly refusing to cooperate.

“It’s…it’s kind of private,” I stammered, glancing nervously at his friends, who were still standing nearby, clearly interested in the unfolding scene.

Cole raised an eyebrow, the smirk growing a little. “Relax,” he said, his voice almost teasing. “Just say it.”

His gaze was steady, and it felt like I was standing under a spotlight. My heart raced, and my throat felt dry. But this was it… my moment. I had to say it.

I sucked in a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage I had. “I—I like you,” I blurted out, my words rushing out in a panicked jumble. I winced as soon as I said it, wishing I could disappear. “I mean, I’ve had feelings for you… for a while now. Ever since…” I trailed off, my voice faltering as I glanced down, too scared to meet his eyes.

My hands twisted together in front of me as I kept going, my words tumbling out awkwardly. “I know it’s probably silly, but… you’re amazing, Cole. You’re kind, and talented, and—” I paused, finally glancing up. His expression made me falter.

At first, he seemed stunned, his brows furrowing slightly as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. For one fleeting moment, I thought I saw something softer in his eyes. But then, his lips curled into a slow smirk, and the warmth in his gaze vanished.

“Wait… what?” his tone was laced with utter disbelief when he asked.

“I—I said I like you,” I repeated, with a trembling voice.

And that was when it happened.

His face twisted into pure amusement, and before I could brace myself, he threw his head back and laughed…a big, boisterous laugh that echoed through the hallway. It wasn’t just a chuckle or a polite laugh. It was the kind of laugh that made his friends snicker and glance at each other, and it felt like a sledgehammer against my chest.

I froze, my breath hitching as I watched him. He clutched his sides, shaking his head like what I’d said was the funniest joke he’d ever heard.

“You… you have feelings for me?” he repeated the question between laughs, his voice already filled with complete incredulity.

My face burned as humiliation sank in, and my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. His laughter still continued, loud and cruel, and it felt like the world had stopped spinning, leaving me stranded and exposed.