Invisible Hearts

Here's to Us.

The morning light crept in through the curtains, though the world outside remained dark. I had woken up way too early, too eager for the first day of high school. The excitement buzzed in my veins as I glanced at the clock—it was barely 5:30 AM. My dad insisted on driving me later, around 7:00, but I couldn't contain the anticipation. I had never felt so ready for something in my life.

By the time we arrived at school, the air was crisp, and the buzz of first-day nerves filled the parking lot. After thanking my dad, I made my way inside. The security guard, seeing my confusion, kindly pointed me toward my class building, and I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement.

When I saw my friends in line, my heart skipped a beat. It was like a moment out of a movie.

"Hey, guys!" I called, my voice bubbling with excitement.

In line stood Asia, Makayla, S'nae, and Kayla—each of them a reminder of the friends I'd made over the years. S'nae and Kayla went way back to primary school, and Asia and Makayla had been my companions since middle school.

Asia grinned, her eyes wide. "Isn't this school like SO NICE??"

I laughed, nodding eagerly. "It really is. I woke up at like 4:00 AM just to get ready because I was way too excited to be here."

Kayla raised an eyebrow. "You always want to be at school."

"Whatever you say, Kayla," I teased, and we all burst into laughter, the excitement of the day overwhelming us as we headed to class.

The campus was alive with energy, and everywhere I looked, there were cute guys. My heart skipped every time I caught a glimpse of a handsome face. But there was one guy I couldn't stop thinking about. His name was Chris. He'd been my best friend since Pre-K, but that didn't stop him from getting under my skin. He would flirt with me relentlessly, teasing me until my face turned red.

"Why can't you let your own man touch your pretty little face?" Chris said one day, leaning in too close, his voice teasing.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "First of all, Chris, you are NOT my man."

His towering 6'1" frame loomed over me, making my stomach twist with nerves, though it wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling. As always, I ran away, trying to avoid him. But no matter how much I tried to steer clear, Chris always seemed to find me, showing up in the most unexpected places.

Eventually, I gave in. Chris became my guy best friend, goofy, weird, and constantly making me laugh. There was something comforting about his presence, something that made my world feel a little less lonely.

But there was another guy who caught my eye—the one who made my heart race just thinking about him. Kevii. He was the definition of a Greek god, with his striking eyes, medium-length dreads, and abs that looked like they belonged in a magazine. His basketball skills were unmatched, and I couldn't help but watch him play whenever I had the chance.

We shared common interests—sports, video games, anime, and sneakers—but I never told my friends about my crush on him. Not until 10th grade, anyway.

"NO WAYYY," S'nae exclaimed, her eyes widening. "I mean, he really does look hella fine. I ship y'all, fosho."

I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, girl. I knew you'd support me."

S'nae was determined to play matchmaker. "I will try everything in my power to get you two together," she said with a mischievous grin.

"I don't think you have to do that," I protested, but S'nae was unstoppable.

By 10th grade, I wasn't as shy anymore. I knew how to talk to people, how to make friends, and it paid off when Kevii eventually asked me out. He took me to fancy restaurants, and I was amazed by how effortlessly cool he was. His family was well-off, and Kevii ran his own successful business.

Being with Kevii felt like a dream, especially one night when we were parked outside his house, laughing and talking about everything and nothing at all.

"I'm really enjoying tonight," I said, smiling at him. "Are you sure your parents are okay with me staying over?"

Kevii shrugged. "They're on a 5-week cruise, so the house is all mine. My little sister's staying with my aunt, too."

"Oh, okay!" I said, feeling at ease.

He looked at me, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I got a question though. Are you a virgin?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, unsure how to respond. My mind raced, wondering if I'd say the wrong thing.

"Uh, yeah, I am," I replied hesitantly.

Kevii leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "That's good, that's really good," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Now, can I be the one to take it, huh, babe...?"

His words hung in the air, sending my heart into a frenzy. I didn't know where this was going, but I was both excited and terrified, unsure what this moment would mean for us.