You glanced over at Hunter, who was surrounded by his friends, laughter filling the cafeteria. You longed to be a part of his world, especially next to him. His brown hair and pale brown eyes captivated you, and you couldn’t help but smile as you watched him. Every time he laughed, you felt an urge to join in and bask in his presence.

Suddenly, Hunter looked in your direction. Your eyes widened and your posture straightened as he caught you staring. Your breath caught in your throat when his laughter stopped and he focused on you. But then he quickly looked away, and your heart sank. Who were you kidding? He was confident and outgoing, while you were quiet and introverted.

Maybe he didn’t want to look at me, you thought, feeling a pang of self-doubt. He was probably disgusted by the sight of me. With a sigh, you looked down at your sketch, feeling the weight of your insecurities. Gathering your things, you left the cafeteria, needing to escape the overwhelming feelings. ——————————— Hunter couldn’t take his eyes off you. There you were, looking as beautiful as ever, and he felt his laughter fade as he focused entirely on you. Your eyes captivated him, making him feel like the only man in the world. Did he look okay? Was his hair messed up? God, he hoped he looked good for you. You looked so perfect, and he wished you would come over and sit with them.

His face heated up as he continued to gaze at you, completely oblivious to the girl beside him, Becca, who was talking non-stop. She ruffled his hair, snapping him out of his trance. Maybe curls would make you like him more.

Hunter looked back to where you were, but you were gone. Panic set in. Where did you go? Without thinking, he excused himself from the table and got up, determined to find you.

Hunter’s mind raced as he walked through the hallways, searching for you. He turned a corner and spotted you sitting alone in an empty classroom, your head bent over your sketchbook. He hesitated for a moment, gathering his courage, before stepping inside.