First period was English, and I tried to keep my head down, focused on the assignment. That's when I noticed him—Simon.
I had seen him yesterday in the cafeteria, sitting quietly with a book, but I never realized he was in my English class too. He was tucked into the back corner, glasses slightly slipping down his nose, completely absorbed in a thick novel.
Curiosity got the better of me. "Hey… what are you reading?" I asked, leaning slightly toward him.
He looked up, startled, and blinked at me. Then a shy smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Uh… the title's… How to Train Your Hamster to Speak Klingon," he said softly, almost whispering, and then added with a nervous little shrug, "I know, I don't even know why I picked it."
I couldn't help but laugh, and a faint blush crept up my cheeks. There was something in the way he said it—quiet, thoughtful, endearingly awkward. I nodded, smiling. "That's… actually really funny."
He gave a tiny nod back before returning to his book, and I turned my attention to my own work, heart still fluttering a little.
Next was science class. Halfway through, the teacher paused mid-lecture.
"Everyone, we have a new student joining us today," she said, gesturing to a boy standing awkwardly by the door. "This is Ben."
Ben's eyes met mine for the first time. He smiled softly, holding his notebook against his chest. "Hi… mind if I join here?"
"Of course," I said, scooting over.
We began working on the experiment together, and I immediately felt a warmth in his presence. He was calm, patient, and genuinely interested in what I had to say. Every word he spoke made me feel… lighter, like maybe things could be simple for once.
By the end of class, I couldn't stop smiling. "Thanks," I said as we packed up. "This was… really fun."
"Yeah," he said softly, a little shy. "I enjoyed it too."
At lunch, I found Rose and slid into a seat across from her. We chatted about classes and homework, but I barely had time to enjoy it.
Ben appeared with his tray, walking over to where we sat. "Mind if I join?"
"Not at all," I said, moving my tray to make room.
We started talking again, picking up where we left off in science class. I laughed at something he said, feeling that same spark of connection.
That's when I felt it—the awareness of eyes. Jason, sitting across the cafeteria, confident and bold, and Simon, tucked at a corner table, quietly observing. I didn't look up, but I could feel their attention like a weight pressing down on me.
Suddenly, Jason got up and walked toward us, his voice easy and loud enough for Ben to hear. "Hey, I've never seen you around here, Ben. Where did you come from?"
Ben smiled politely, a little shy, giving off the soft, puppy-like vibe. "Uh… I just moved here. Science is… new for me too."
Simon quietly gathered his things and slipped away, leaving the scene as quietly as he always did.
Rose leaned toward me, whispering, "Let's just go to the bathroom."
I nodded, grateful for the excuse. As we stepped inside, the bell rang, saving me from lingering in the tension.
Walking home later, I collapsed on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind replayed the day: Simon, shy and endearingly awkward; Ben, warm and easy to talk to; Jason, bold and effortlessly confident.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. This is a lot.
And somehow, I had the feeling tomorrow would be even more complicated.