The first day of school was always a mix of excitement and nerves. As I glanced over my schedule, I was pleased to see I had two classes with Izzy.
But what caught my attention more was my third-period history class. As I walked into the room, I noticed a boy sitting in the back, doodling in his notebook. He looked up and smiled, a bit startled.
"Hey, is this seat taken?" I asked, pointing to the empty chair next to him.
"No, go ahead," he replied, pushing his stuff aside to make room for me.
"I'm Eve," I said, sitting down.
"Gabe," he introduced himself, extending a hand.
He had big brown eyes, short curly hair, and a kind of geeky charm that was oddly attractive. His tan skin and thick eyebrows gave him a distinctive look, and he exuded a warm, approachable vibe.
We started chatting before class began, and I quickly found out that Gabe was funny and creative. He loved to draw and was quite talented at it. He showed me some of his sketches, and I was impressed.
"These are amazing," I said, genuinely awed by his talent. "You've got a real gift."
"Thanks," he replied, a bit embarrassed by the praise. "I just draw for fun."
As the weeks went by, Gabe and I grew closer. We had two classes together, which gave us plenty of opportunities to hang out and get to know each other. He was the kind of guy who could make you laugh without even trying, and his creative spirit was contagious.
One day, during a free period, Gabe pulled out his sketchbook and started drawing. I watched him, fascinated by the ease with which he brought his ideas to life on paper.
"Do you ever think about doing this professionally?" I asked.
"Maybe," he shrugged. "But for now, it's just a hobby."
Our friendship felt natural, and I found myself looking forward to our time together. He was like the guy best friend I never had, always there with a joke or a kind word. But despite our growing closeness, there was always a part of me that stayed guarded, aware of how quickly things could change.
One afternoon, after class, Gabe turned to me with a serious expression. "Eve, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what's up?" I replied.
"Are you and Izzy... together?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.
The question caught me off guard, but I nodded. "Yeah, we are."
He smiled, a genuine, happy smile. "That's cool. You two seem really good together."
"Thanks, Gabe," I said, feeling a wave of relief. "We are."
As I walked away, I couldn't help but think about how different this year was turning out to be. With new friends like Gabe, and my relationship with Izzy growing stronger every day, I felt hopeful. But I also knew that high school had a way of throwing curveballs, and I would need to stay vigilant to protect the happiness we had found.
