PLEASE COME BACK

CHAPTER 6

The entire night, Andrea tossed and turned, her mind racing with thoughts of what might happen the next day. Would Ryan remember her? How would she manage to appear confident in front of him again? Her excitement and anxiety kept her awake, and she hardly got any sleep.

The next day, after school had ended, Andrea stood by her locker, packing her bag. She was upset because she hadn’t seen Ryan all day. The hallway was empty, giving her the perfect opportunity to place a letter and some cookies in Ryan's locker. She hoped the gesture would brighten his day. Smiling to herself, she moved quickly, but then she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Panic seized her, and she rushed back to her locker, pretending to adjust her belongings.

The dispersal alarm rang, and students flooded the hallway, heading out of their classrooms. Andrea spotted Ryan by his locker and felt a rush of joy. She watched as he retrieved his things and closed the locker, her heart sinking a little when he didn't notice her presence. Gathering her courage, she decided to leave, but as she turned, she collided with someone, and both of them tumbled to the floor, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Andrea's heart sank when she saw Rosie, the most popular girl at their university and Ryan's best friend. Rosie was known for her fierce personality, and Andrea knew she was in trouble. She quickly gathered her belongings, trying to escape, but Rosie's voice stopped her in her tracks. Gulping nervously, Andrea turned around to face Rosie, who was smirking and glaring at her with a look that could kill.

The hallway buzzed with excitement. No one dared to mess with Rosie, and now everyone was watching the unfolding drama. Rosie approached Andrea with a menacing expression and pushed her back onto the floor. "I guess you don't have eyes even after wearing those big-ass glasses," Rosie sneered, her voice dripping with rage.

Andrea stammered, "I-I di-didn't mean to do it," her voice trembling with fear. Rosie's smirk grew more satisfied as she saw Andrea's distress. Andrea instinctively backed away, clutching her bag tightly. Rosie reached out to touch Andrea, but a voice from behind interrupted her.

"Ro, what are you doing?" Ryan's voice cut through the tension, making everyone turn to look at him. Ryan's eyes shifted from Rosie to Andrea, and he paused for a second before recognition dawned on his face. He walked towards the two girls, standing next to them. "Woah-Andrea" he asked, his tone filled with surprise and a hint of concern.

Andrea's heart fluttered with joy. He remembered her! Hearing him say her name made her feel giddy. The students around them whispered excitedly, trying to make sense of the situation. Rosie, sensing the shift in dynamics, quickly put on a friendly facade. "Do you know her, Ryan?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"Yeah, we hung out yesterday. What were you doing with her? Are you guys friends?" Ryan asked, his curiosity evident.

Rosie glanced at Andrea, a calculating look in her eyes, before smiling sweetly. "Ah yes, she is my friend," Rosie said, her tone dripping with insincerity. Andrea was stunned. When did she become friends with Rosie? But she played along, too shocked to argue.

Ryan nodded, giving Andrea a warm smile. She couldn't believe it—Ryan was smiling at her! Rosie noticed their exchange and quickly stepped in. "Anyways, Ryan, let's go. I've something to do with you."

Ryan looked back at Andrea. "Oh, alright. Bye, Andrea," he said, making Andrea feel like she was floating on air.

As Ryan and Rosie walked away, the students around them erupted into whispers and gossip. They were shocked that Ryan, the popular guy, had hung out with Andrea, the school nerd. Some students started thinking less of Ryan, unable to understand why he would spend time with her.

Andrea, however, didn't care about the whispers. She clutched the memory of Ryan's smile and his words, feeling a warmth spread through her. It was unbelievable that the guy she had admired from afar had not only remembered her but had also smiled at her. For her, it was the best day ever.
***