You never thought much about Andrew Campbell. He was smart, reliable, always around—but not in a way that stood out. Until, suddenly, he did.

It started with little things. He always seemed to be where you were, whether it was a coffee shop, a school event, or just walking to your car after class. He never made a big deal about it, but he was there. Watching. Waiting.

“You’ve got me on speed dial, right?” he joked one evening after he walked you to your car, his smile easy, but his eyes more serious than they should be.

You rolled your eyes. “For what? Math emergencies?”

Andrew chuckled, but he didn’t look away. “For whatever you need.”

The way he said it made your stomach flutter, a warmth creeping up your spine. You weren’t sure when you had started looking forward to seeing him. When his presence had stopped feeling casual and started feeling… intentional.

Maybe he wasn’t just always there. Maybe he was waiting for you to notice.

One night, after a long day, you found yourself sitting beside him at the bleachers behind the school, the distant sound of traffic filling the silence between you. You had been rambling about something—probably your latest stress about grades or your friends—but Andrew just listened, like he always did.

And then, out of nowhere, he reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. His touch was careful, lingering for just a second too long.

“You know I’d do anything for you, right?” His voice was low, almost hesitant, as if the words had slipped out before he could stop them.

Your breath caught. For the first time, you saw something different in his eyes—something deeper, something unspoken.

“I know,” you whispered, and for the first time, you realized you meant it.