Skylar couldn't stop staring at Kayla behind the counter.
Dan rolled his eyes for the fifth time and nudged him. "Bro, you're doing it again."
"What?"
"The staring thing." Dan groaned, then grabbed his arm. "Okay, you've officially crossed into creep territory. We're leaving."
As Dan dragged him toward the exit, Kayla finally exhaled the breath she'd been holding. She had been painfully aware of Skylar's eyes on her and couldn't figure out why it made her chest tight.
Please stop staring, she had whispered in her mind more than once.
Once they were outside, Skylar stopped walking.
"I can't," he said, brushing Dan's hand off.
Dan frowned. "Wait for what?"
"For her. I need to explain myself."
Dan blinked, caught off guard. "Explain yourself? Who even are you right now? You've never done this."
"I know." Skylar muttered. "But I have to."
Dan sighed, gave him a long look, then clapped him on his back. "You're really losing it over this girl, huh?"
"Yeah," Skylar admitted quietly.
Dan snorted, shook his head, and walked away. "Good luck, loverboy."
____________________________
Kayla had just closed the shop when she jumped, startled to find Skylar standing there in the fading light.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"What... are you still doing here?"
"I waited. I wanted to walk you home and explain— about that day. About what Sophie said."
Kayla folded her hands and gave him a skeptical look. Her head screamed no, but her heart...
She bit her lip. "Fine, but just a walk."
They walked in silence at first, the night air cool and quiet.
Then Skylar cleared his throat awkwardly. "I know we don't... talk."
"We've never talked." She chimed in.
Skylar scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "Yeah... but I really didn't like what happened that day. And Sophie—she's lying. I never—"
Kayla stopped and looked at him sideways. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I don't want you to thinking I'm like them."
For some reason, that made her heart soften.
Slowly, the conversation turned. They talked about lighter things, school, music, the weird things customers said at her job. Kayla laughed at one of Skylar's comments, and when she did, something in him shifted. Her laugh was soft and real, and he swore he couldn't feel it.
He looked at her and felt his face heat up. Quickly, he turned away and cleared his throat.
By the time they reached her house, Kayla couldn't stop feeling insecure, she looked at the cracked steps and sighed.
"This is why I can't... This," she said, motioning toward her house.
Skylar shook his head. "You don't have to feel insecure about that."
She let out a nervous laugh and they both stood in awkward silence.
Slowly, Skylar began leaning in, and she followed suit.
Then ring ring ring— Skylar's phone broke the moment.
He jumped and fumbled for it, muttering a quick excuse. He took the call and said in a rushed voice, "I'll call back."
Kayla turned away, hand over her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
Skylar came back quickly, a bit flustered. "Sorry. I—uh—goodnight I guess."
Kayla gave him a small nod and opened the door to her house.
He stood there until she walked in. Kayla closed the door and leaned against it, eyes wide.
She quickly ran upstairs to her room, and went to the bathroom. She splashed water on her face and stared at her reflection.
Was he trying to...? She shook her head. "No. I imagined it. Right?"
She flopped into bed, heart still thudding, and stared at the ceiling with a small giddy smile.
________________________________
Meanwhile, Skylar was doing the exact same thing— questioning his sanity, his heart, and how just being around her made the world feel less sharp.
_________________________________
The next morning, Skylar met up with Dan, who took one look at his glowing face and said, "Okay, what happened?"
Skylar tried to explain, of course leaving out the part where he almost kissed her, though he couldn't stop grinning halfway through.
Dan narrowed his eyes, shook his head, and muttered. "This isn't you. Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"
Skylar laughed. "Shut up"
Dan just sighed. "Guess I'm your babysitter now."
They walked into class still talking—until they saw her.
Sophie.
She sauntered over with a fake smile. "Hey, Sky--"
Skylar cut her off with a dismissive wave and turned away.
Her smile cracked for a second before she stormed out of the class.
She stormed down the hallway, heels clicking like gunshots on the tile. She was still fuming – face flushed, heart pounding, her pride in tatters from Skylar's rejection.
How dare he.
So when someone bumped into her, she didn't even think. She spun around, ready to lash out.
"Well, well, well... look who it is," she sneered.
Kayla blinked, startled, her thoughts having been somewhere else entirely. "I--I'm sorry." she said quickly, stepping back.
But Sophie grabbed her wrist. "You're not going anywhere."
Kayla froze. "Let go."
"Not until I'm done with you." she said with an evil smile.
In one swift motion. Sophie yanked her by the hair and dragged her into the nearest bathroom. Kayla stumbled, catching herself on the sink, but didn't fight back.
"You've got some nerve," Sophie hissed. "Do you know what you've done?" Skylar won't even look at me because of you. You ruined everything."
"Sophie, i didn't mean--"
SLAP.
The sound echoed off the tiled walls. Kayla's head whipped to the side, her cheek burning.
Sophie raised her hand again, eyes wild with fury. But this time, Kayla caught it.
Everything inside her broke loose.
SLAP.
Kayla's hand met Sophie's cheek.
Then again—SLAP—on the other side.
Sophie stumbled back in shock, her mouth open in disbelief.
"I've had enough!" Kayla shouted, voice shaking with rage. "Enough of your bullying, enough of your threats, enough of you!"
Her chest rose and fell as she stood there, hands clenched, eyes shining with tears and fury.
"You think i care about the scholarship anymore? Let your father take it! Let the world see who you really are! I'm done being afraid of you! F*CK YOU!"
She didn't wait for a response. She shoved the bathroom door open and stormed out, her footsteps echoing in the now silent hallway.
Sophie stood frozen in front of the mirror, one hand on her stinging cheek, eyes wide.
For the first time, she wasn't in control.