Shooting star

runaway baby

Adeline's POV

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the school courtyard as I made my way through the bustling halls, a sense of anticipation bubbling within me. Yesterday's confession had lifted a weight off my shoulders, filling me with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose.

As I approached Beau's locker, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips, eager to see her and continue our conversation from the night before. But as I turned the corner, my heart sank at the sight before me.

One of the girls from the lacrosse team stood beside Beau, her hand resting lightly on Beau's bicep as she laughed at something Beau said. My breath caught in my throat as I watched them, a pang of jealousy coursing through me.

Beau glanced up and our eyes met, but instead of the warm smile I had been expecting, her expression faltered, confusion flickering in her eyes before she quickly averted her gaze. My heart twisted painfully at the sight, a knot forming in my stomach.

Without a word, I turned on my heel and stormed off down the hallway, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. I needed to get away, to clear my head before I did something I would regret.

As I reached the end of the hallway, I spotted Hadley leaning against the lockers, a concerned expression on her face as she watched me approach. "Adeline, what's wrong? You look upset."

I shook my head, unable to find the words to explain the turmoil raging inside me. Instead, I simply wrapped my arms around Hadley, burying my face in her shoulder as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

Hadley held me close, her embrace a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling around me. "It's okay, Adeline. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

But as I stood there in Hadley's arms, the image of Beau and the lacrosse girl burned into my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that gnawed at my heart.

Beau's POV

I stood beside my locker, chatting with Maddie, one of the girls from the lacrosse team, about our chemistry project.

As Maddie leaned in closer, her hand lightly touching my arm, I couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort. Sure, Maddie was friendly, but there was something about her proximity that made me uneasy, especially with Adeline on my mind.

Just then, I looked up and saw Adeline standing a few feet away, her expression stunned as she locked eyes with me. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze, the intensity of her gaze sending a shiver down my spine.

I tried to offer Adeline a reassuring smile, a silent gesture to let her know that everything was okay, but before I could say anything, she turned and ran off down the hallway, leaving me standing there in confusion.

"Beau, is everything alright?" Maddie asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

I tore my gaze away from where Adeline had disappeared, my mind racing with a million questions. "I... I'm not sure. I need to go after her."

Excusing myself from Maddie, I pushed through the crowd, scanning the hallway for any sign of Adeline. But no matter how hard I looked, she was nowhere to be found, lost in the sea of students milling about.

A sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach as I realized that I had no idea where Adeline had gone or why she had run off so suddenly. All I knew was that I needed to find her and talk to her, to figure out what had happened between us.

As I continued to search the crowded hallway, my heart heavy with worry, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between us, something that threatened to unravel the fragile bond we had begun to build. 

As I stepped into the empty basketball gym, the echoes of my footsteps reverberating off the walls, I spotted Adeline at the top of the bleachers, her posture tense as she stared out at the empty court. With a heavy heart, I made my way up to her, each step feeling like an eternity.

"Adeline," I called out softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "What's wrong? Why did you run off like that?"

Adeline didn't turn to look at me, her gaze fixed on some invisible point in the distance. "It's nothing, Beau. Just forget about it."

But I could hear the strain in her voice, the thinly veiled emotion that she was trying so hard to hide. Something was bothering her, something big, and I wasn't about to let her push me away without getting to the bottom of it.

"Adeline, please," I pleaded, my heart breaking at the sight of her withdrawing into herself. "You can talk to me. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

Adeline hesitated for a moment, her shoulders tense with uncertainty. "It's just... I saw you with Maddie, and... I don't know, I guess I got jealous."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, the realization dawning on me with startling clarity. Adeline was jealous, and not just a little bit. She was consumed by it, to the point where it had driven her to run away from me in a blind panic.

But as I looked into Adeline's eyes, the vulnerability shining through despite her attempts to hide it, I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for her. She cared about me, more than I had ever realized, and that meant more to me than anything else in the world.

"Adeline," I said softly, reaching out to gently cup her cheek in my hand. "Maddie is just a friend. Nothing more. You're the one I care about, the one I want to be with."

Adeline's eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat. "But... why me? I'm not... I'm not like Maddie or any of the other girls you could be with."

I couldn't help but smile at her self-deprecating remark, the absurdity of it filling me with warmth. "Adeline, you're perfect just the way you are. You're strong, and smart, and beautiful, and... and you make me feel things I've never felt before."

As I spoke, I watched as a blush spread across Adeline's cheeks, her eyes shining with a mixture of embarrassment and hope. And in that moment, I knew that I had to take a chance, to tell her how I truly felt.

"Adeline," I said, my voice barely a whisper as I leaned in closer. "Will you go out with me?"

Adeline's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in surprise. But as she looked into my eyes, a slow smile spread across her face, lighting up the darkness with its brilliance.

"Yes, Beau," she whispered, her voice filled with joy. "I'd love to."