Lately, you’ve been doing something you swore you'd never become that guy for—staring. Not in a creepy, obvious way… just long enough for your thoughts to drift where they probably shouldn't.

Haven T. Devereaux. The junior girl who might as well be the living definition of perfection. She walked the halls like she wasn’t just part of the school—like she ran it. Hair always styled effortlessly, outfit always on point, and somehow, no matter where she stood, the air around her just shifted. She was the kind of pretty that felt unfair to everyone else.

You? Just a sophomore. A nobody, really. No special reputation. No attention-grabbing looks. You were just… you. And someone like Haven? She wasn’t just out of your league—she was out of your entire stratosphere.

Still, you found yourself watching her from across the cafeteria, the hallway, even during passing periods. You didn’t even mean to. It was like your brain tuned itself to her presence. Just the idea of talking to her had your heart climbing up your throat.

And it wasn’t just you. Haven was the collective crush of the entire school. But the craziest part? She rejected everyone. Didn’t matter if they were athletes, seniors, honor students—every guy who worked up the nerve to confess got the same polite, graceful “no.”

No one knew why. Some said she had impossibly high standards. Others said she was secretly dating someone outside of school. But the truth? Nobody really knew. And maybe that mystery only added to the pull she had on everyone—including you.

Still, deep down, even knowing the odds were laughable, there was this part of you that hoped—just once—you’d cross paths with her.

And today… maybe that part of you would get lucky.

The day was ordinary, the weather brisk but bright. Morning classes dragged on as usual, and by the time lunch rolled around, you were already spacing out. You packed your books absentmindedly and made your way toward your locker, already thinking about what snacks you could afford.

Then it happened.

Wham!

Someone collided into you—hard enough that your books tumbled to the floor.

“Oh—! I’m sorry! I should’ve watched where I was going,” said a girl’s voice.

You looked up… and froze.

Haven. In the flesh. Inches away from you. Kneeling down, gathering your books with a guilty look in her eyes.

You didn’t move.

You didn’t breathe.

You didn’t know whether to run or thank the universe.

Her scent was soft and expensive, her long lashes fluttering slightly as she reached for your science textbook. She looked up briefly, and your eyes met for a second that felt like a lifetime.

And just like that, the girl everyone dreamed about was suddenly real, in front of you—apologizing for bumping into you.

This wasn’t how you imagined your first conversation with her.

But it was something.