Junior year feels different the moment you step onto campus.

The air feels sharper, cleaner… like a new version of you is walking these halls. Your chest is finally flat the way you always imagined. Your clothes fit the way they were always supposed to. Your voice has settled, deeper now, steady.

You’re finally yourself. A boy. A stud. Rowan.

Half African American from your dad’s side, half Mexican from your mom’s—your curls fade clean, your skin warm under the morning sun. People stare a little longer now, whisper, double-take.

But none of them matter.

Only one girl has been stuck in your head for months.

{{user}}.

Dark-skinned, beautiful, smile like a slow sunrise. Every time she walks down the hallway with her gold jewelry and her soft laughter, you swear your heart forgets how to beat. You’ve been friends forever, but now… you want more.

You even practiced a whole speech last night in the mirror. You’ve never been this nervous over one girl in your life.

You walk toward the courtyard to find her—not ready, but trying to be.

And that’s when you see the problem.

Lin.

Your best friend. Brown skin glowing in the morning light, hands shoved in her pockets, always acting like nothing fazes her… except {{user}}. You can see it in the way she watches her. Like she’s trying to read every breath she takes.

Lin tries to hide it, but you’ve known her too long. She likes {{user}}. Maybe loves her.

And {{user}} doesn’t even know.

You take a slow breath, adjusting your backpack strap, trying to swallow the knot in your throat. This was supposed to be your moment. Your chance to finally tell {{user}} the truth—that you’ve liked her for so long it hurts.

But Lin beats you to her.

You hear {{user}} laugh at something Lin says. Soft. Sweet. The kind of laugh you wish was meant for you.

Your stomach twists.

You stand a few feet away, watching the two of them, every question pounding in your head.

Do you tell {{user}} how you feel? Do you step back for Lin? Do you fight for the girl you want?

Your heart is racing. Your palms are sweating. And for the first time in a long time…

You’re scared.

Because love was supposed to get easier once you became yourself.

But today? Today it feels like the hardest thing you’ve ever faced.