The next day at school, I didn't see Aiden at all.
Not in the hallways. Not at lunch. Not even near the library where we usually met. It was like he just disappeared.
I tried not to think about it too much. But every time I passed by an empty spot where he usually stood, I felt a little knot in my stomach.
Charlotte noticed.
"You keep looking around," she said at lunch. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"I'm not lying. I'm just... looking for someone."
She raised an eyebrow. "Aiden?"
I didn't answer. That was enough for her.
"He canceled on you, right? And he hasn't texted back?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe he's just busy."
"Maybe."
But I didn't believe it. Aiden wasn't the type to just disappear without a reason. Something was wrong. I just didn't know what.
Dani sat down next to us with a tray of food. She looked at me and then at Charlotte.
"Did I miss something?" she asked.
"Just girl talk," Charlotte said. "Nothing important."
Dani shrugged and started eating. She was easy to be around. She didn't ask too many questions. She just fit in.
"So," she said after a while. "Who's this Aiden guy everyone keeps talking about?"
Charlotte smirked. "He's a guy."
"Obviously. But who is he?"
I sighed. "He's my project partner. And he's complicated."
"Complicated how?"
I thought about it for a second. "He's cold. And mean sometimes. But also not. It's hard to explain."
Dani nodded like she understood. "I know the type."
"You do?"
"Yeah. My brother is like that. Cold on the outside but soft inside. You just have to get through the walls."
I looked at her. "How do you do that?"
She smiled. "Patience. And not giving up."
I thought about that for the rest of the day.
***
After school, I had cheer practice again.
I was still terrible. But I was slightly less terrible than yesterday. Charlotte said that was progress. I wasn't sure if she was lying to make me feel better or if she really meant it.
Dani was already there when I arrived. She was stretching with the other girls. She waved at me and I waved back.
"Okay, okay," Charlotte clapped her hands. "Let's run through the routine one more time."
We did. I messed up twice. But I didn't fall. That was a win.
After practice, I was packing my bag when Dani came up to me.
"Hey," she said. "You want to walk home together?"
"Sure."
We walked out of the school together. The sun was starting to set. The air was cool.
"So," Dani said. "You like that guy, right? Aiden?"
I almost tripped. "What? No. We're just partners."
"Uh-huh."
"You sound like Charlotte."
"That's because I'm learning from the best."
I laughed. "Fine. Maybe I like him a little. But it's complicated."
"Everything is complicated."
"You're right."
We walked in silence for a bit. Then she said, "If you like him, you should just tell him."
"It's not that easy."
"It never is. But it's better than wondering."
I looked at her. She was smiling. She was so sure of herself. I wished I could be like that.
"Maybe you're right," I said.
"Maybe."
When I got home, the house was still empty.
I went up to my room and lay on my bed. I pulled out my phone and looked at Aiden's message again.
"Change of plans. Don't come to the library today. Something came up. We'll reschedule."
I typed a new message.
"Hey. I know you said you're busy. But I just wanted to make sure you're okay. Let me know if you need anything."
I stared at it for a moment. Then I hit send.
I put my phone down and closed my eyes.
I had no idea what was going on with Aiden. But I was starting to realize something.
I actually cared.
And that scared me more than anything.