INTERTWINED FATES: THE RED STRING

CHAPTER 10

Thyme had her reasons for getting close to Tiana. On the surface, she seemed like the perfect friend—always ready to listen, laugh, or offer support. But inside, she had her own hidden motives. Tiana, unaware of this, trusted Thyme with her secrets and feelings, not realizing that her friend might have other plans.

One afternoon, Thyme and Tiana were sitting under a big oak tree behind the school. The shade was cool, and the rustling leaves made the conversation relaxing. As they talked and laughed, Tiana suddenly went quiet and looked thoughtful.

"I think I have a crush on someone," Tiana said, her cheeks turning pink as she fidgeted with her hands.

Thyme raised an eyebrow, pretending to be curious. "Really? Who?" she asked, leaning in.

Tiana hesitated before answering. "It's someone from the football team. But I'm too shy to say anything," she admitted quietly.

Thyme nodded, looking understanding, but inside, she was already planning her next move. "You should go for it," Thyme encouraged, putting a reassuring hand on Tiana's shoulder. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Tiana sighed. "What if they don't like me back?"

Thyme smiled warmly. "Trust me, Tiana. You're amazing. Anyone would be lucky to have you."

Tiana felt better and more confident, not realizing that her trust in Thyme might be misplaced.

Meanwhile, Nabi's conversations with Zade were growing more personal. They talked about their families, dreams, and fears. Zade shared how he felt pressured as a top football player and wished he could just be a normal student. Nabi talked about her insecurities and how she felt overshadowed by her more outgoing friends. She did tell Helena and Isa that she was in a relationship with Zade, and they were happy for her, but she kept some details to herself.

Nabi looked forward to Zade's messages every night, her heart racing with each notification. The connection between them was clear, and Nabi wondered where it might lead. But she also feared it might just be a fleeting interest for him.One night, as Nabi lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a new message from Zade.

 "Hey," it read.

"Hey," Nabi replied, her fingers nervously hovering over the screen.

"Can I tell you something?" Zade's next message made her heart race.

"Sure," she typed back.

There was a short pause before Zade's next message. "I like talking to you," he said simply, but it meant a lot to Nabi.

Her heart skipped a beat. She had felt the same way but hadn't said it out loud. Now that Zade had expressed it, it made everything feel more real.

"Me too," Nabi replied, smiling.

They continued chatting, their conversation flowing easily with a new sense of understanding between them. Nabi felt hopeful about what might come next.

Meanwhile, Tiana was lying in bed, thinking about her conversations with Thyme. She planned to confess her feelings soon, following Thyme's advice. Little did she know, Thyme had her own plans, which Tiana couldn't even guess.

Everyone was excited and anticipating what might come next, unaware of the twists and turns that lay ahead. As secrets and desires clashed, they would soon find that the path to happiness was more complicated than they had ever imagined.