Lunch break felt different that day.
Sharon sat with Mia as usual, but her attention kept drifting across the courtyard.
To Dylan.
He was laughing with his friends, looking completely relaxed.
"Okay…" Mia said, narrowing her eyes. "Why do you keep looking at him?"
"I'm not," Sharon said quickly.
"You are."
Before Sharon could deny it again, someone approached their table.
"Hey, Sharon."
She looked up.
It was Ethan, one of the boys from her class. He smiled nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"I was wondering… um… if you'd like to study together sometime?"
Mia's eyes widened.
Sharon blinked. "Oh… I—"
"Or maybe go to the school dance together?" Ethan added.
Sharon froze.
"The dance?" she repeated.
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "With me."
Before she could answer, she felt something shift.
Someone was standing behind her.
Dylan.
"What's going on here?" he asked casually, but his voice sounded… different.
Ethan turned. "I was just asking Sharon to the dance."
Dylan's jaw tightened slightly.
"Oh," he said. "That's… nice."
Sharon looked between them, confused by the sudden tension.
"So?" Ethan asked. "What do you say?"
Sharon hesitated.
"I'll… think about it," she said finally.
Ethan smiled. "Okay. Let me know."
As he walked away, the silence between Sharon and Dylan felt heavy.
"What was that?" Dylan asked.
"What do you mean?" she replied.
"You're actually considering going with him?"
Sharon frowned. "Why does that bother you?"
Dylan looked away.
"It doesn't," he said quickly.
But Sharon noticed it.
For the first time…
Dylan looked jealous.