Crossed Spells

Chapter 10: Half-Revealed Truths (Part 1)

The day following their confrontation in the classroom, Lucas woke up with a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time: hope. The weight that had been pressing on his shoulders for years seemed to have lightened, if only slightly. He was no longer alone with his secret. Aria understood, Aria was like him.

As he prepared for school, Lucas found himself smiling at his reflection in the mirror. The idea of seeing Aria, of being able to exchange knowing looks without having to pretend or hide, gave him new energy.

"You seem to be in a good mood this morning," his father remarked as Lucas came down for breakfast.

Lucas shrugged, trying to appear casual. "It's just... excitement for the next game, I guess."

Damien Blackwood observed his son with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "I see," he said slowly. "Don't forget that football shouldn't interfere with your training. Our... responsibilities come first."

Lucas nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt. He hated lying to his father, but he knew he couldn't tell him about Aria. Not yet, at least.

On her side, Aria woke up with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The prospect of seeing Lucas, of sharing this secret with someone, was both exhilarating and terrifying. All her life, she had been taught to hide her powers, to trust no one. And now, in the space of a week, everything had changed.

"Aria, you're going to be late!" her mother called from downstairs.

Aria startled, realizing she had been lost in thought longer than she intended. She dressed quickly and went downstairs, grabbing an apple on her way.

"You look... different this morning," Elena remarked, scrutinizing her daughter's face.

Aria felt her heart speed up. Her mother had always had a gift for reading her. "Different?" she asked, trying to appear surprised.

Elena narrowed her eyes. "Yes, as if... as if a weight had been lifted from your shoulders."

Aria forced a smile. "I just feel more comfortable at Ravenswood, that's all. I'm starting to adjust."

Elena seemed to accept this explanation, but Aria could see she wasn't entirely convinced. "That's good," she finally said. "But don't forget to be careful, okay?"

Aria nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. She hated keeping secrets from her mother, but she knew she couldn't tell her about Lucas. Not yet.

The journey to Ravenswood High seemed to pass in the blink of an eye for both teenagers. When Aria arrived in the main hallway, her eyes immediately searched for Lucas. She spotted him near his locker, surrounded by his football teammates.

Their eyes met and the world seemed to stop for a moment. A knowing smile passed between them, a shared secret that bound them in a way no one else could understand.

"Earth to Aria!" Ivy's voice abruptly brought her back to reality. "Are you with us?"

Aria blinked, realizing Ivy had been talking to her for a while. "Sorry," she said, feeling her cheeks flush. "I was... lost in thought."

Ivy followed her gaze and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "Mmm-hmm," she said suggestively. "Thoughts about a certain quarterback, perhaps?"

Aria felt her heart speed up. "What? No, not at all," she protested, perhaps a bit too vehemently.

Ivy laughed. "Relax, I'm teasing you. But seriously, what's going on between you two? A week ago, you were avoiding each other like the plague, and now you're exchanging longing looks in the hallways."

"They're not longing looks," Aria muttered, but she knew her protests sounded hollow.

The day passed in a blur for Lucas and Aria. Each class seemed to last an eternity, each minute separating them from their next exchange of glances a torture. They knew they had to be careful, that they couldn't draw attention, but it was harder than they had imagined.