soulmate

Chapter 7: The Kidnapping

The next morning, I woke up with a mix of excitement and nerves. The memories of last night's party lingered in my mind, especially the conversations with Dylan. I couldn't help but replay our talk over and over again, wondering if it meant something more.

As I got ready for school, the usual routine felt different. I was eager to see Dylan again, to find out if he felt the same way I did. But at the same time, I was nervous. What if it was all in my head? What if he was just being friendly?

As I made my way to the front of the school, my heart was racing. I scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar face. And then I saw him, leaning against the wall with a group of friends. He looked up and our eyes met, a small smile playing on his lips. He slowly broke off from his group and walked with a smile on his face off towards me. 

"Hey, Ava," he said as I approached. "How's it going?"

"Hey, Dylan," I replied, trying to keep my cool. "It's going good. How about you?"

"Pretty good," he said, his smile widening. "Listen, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out after school today? Maybe grab a coffee or something?"

My heart skipped a beat. He was asking me out. A surge of excitement rushed through me, but I tried to play it cool.

"Yeah, that sounds great," I said, trying to hide my smile. "I'd love to."

"Awesome," he said, looking genuinely happy. "I'll meet you at the coffee shop across the street from school after the final bell rings."

As the school day went on, I could hardly focus. Thoughts of my upcoming "date" with Dylan consumed my mind. I kept replaying our conversation from last night, trying to read between the lines.

Finally, the final bell rang, and I practically ran out of the school. I arrived at the coffee shop a few minutes early, my heart pounding in my chest. I ordered a latte and sat nervously at a table, fidgeting with my phone.

And then he walked in, that familiar smile on his face. He made his way over to me, and my heart did a somersault.

"Hey, Ava," he said, taking a seat across from me. "Thanks for meeting me."

"No problem," I said, trying to sound casual. "I'm glad you asked."

We spent the next couple of hours talking, laughing, and getting to know each other better. Dylan was easy to talk to, and I found myself opening up about things I had never shared with anyone before. He listened attentively, his eyes never leaving mine.

As the sun began to set, I realized how much time had passed. We had been talking for hours, lost in our own little world. And in that moment, I knew that I was falling for him.

"So, um, I was wondering..." Dylan started, trailing off slightly.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling a flutter of anticipation in my stomach.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me. Like, on a real date," he said, his eyes hopeful.

My heart soared. "Yes, I would love to," I said, unable to hide my smile.

"Great," he said, grinning from ear to ear. "How about this Saturday? We could go out for dinner or something."

"That sounds perfect," I said, feeling happier than I had in a long time.

And just like that, we had our first official date planned. As we finished our coffees and said our goodbyes, I couldn't stop smiling. I had found love in the most unexpected of places, and I couldn't wait to see where it would take us.

As I walked home that evening, the world seemed brighter, the air sweeter. I couldn't wait to tell Jaime  and Noah about Dylan, about how I had found someone who made me feel truly happy.

And as I lay in bed that night, my thoughts drifted to the future. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something beautiful. And I couldn't wait to see where it would lead.