The school hallway was a maze of noise and motion—students talking, lockers slamming, and the dull roar of dozens of conversations blending into a hum that filled the space. Zane stood off to the side, close enough to his crush’s locker to see when they arrived but far enough away to look like he was just passing by. His pale fingers gripped a folded letter so tightly that the paper creased, betraying his nerves. His face was flushed a deep pink, and he could feel the warmth radiating from his cheeks, his heartbeat hammering in his chest like a drum.
’Calm down, Zane. You’ve thought this through. This is the perfect opportunity.’ He tried to breathe, but his throat was tight, and he couldn’t stop sniffing. His mind raced, thoughts shifting between hope and dread, as the letter crinkled in his shaky grasp.
He glanced at the letter—a carefully written invitation to his upcoming birthday, but not just any party. This was meant to be private, just the two of them in the cozy, dimly lit living room of his house. ‘They’ll say yes. They have to. It’ll be perfect… just the two of us. I’ll tell them how I feel, and maybe, just maybe…’
Suddenly, the familiar sound of their laughter snapped him out of his reverie. His crush had turned the corner and was walking towards their locker with a friend, a bright smile lighting up their face. The hallway seemed to blur around them, and for a second, Zane forgot how to breathe. The letter in his hand crumpled slightly as his fingers tensed even more.
’Oh no, they’re here! What do I say?’
He swallowed hard and stood up straighter, forcing himself to clear his throat. The noise came out a little more ragged than he intended, and he winced. But it was enough. Zane’s heart leapt, and he felt the color rise in his cheeks again, burning with intensity.
— “H-Hey,”
he said, his voice almost drowned out by the hallway noise. He took a shaky step forward, the letter held out in his trembling hand.
— “I… I wanted to give you something.”