Love, Lies, and Loyalty

Chapter 1: The New Crush

The school hallway buzzed with its usual energy. Lockers clanged, voices bounced off the walls, and laughter echoed from small clusters of friends scattered along the corridors. Mia threaded her way through the crowd, her mind occupied with one person—Ryan.

Ever since Ryan had transferred to their school last month, he had invaded her thoughts like an unexpected song stuck on repeat. He wasn't the loud, flashy type like most boys in their grade; he had this calm, mysterious energy that intrigued her. She admired how he didn't feel the need to dominate the conversation in class. When he spoke, it was always sharp and clever—words that made everyone pause and consider. It was hard not to notice him, and now it seemed impossible not to think about him.

Mia approached her locker, her fingers nervously twisting the combination as her mind raced through scenarios of how their first conversation would go. Just as she opened it, her best friend Sarah appeared by her side, leaning casually against the metal door with her usual bright smile.

"Guess who's sitting with us at lunch today?" Sarah asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Mia didn't have to guess. "Ryan?"

Sarah nodded, laughter bubbling from her. "Yup! I heard him telling Lucas he was going to join our table."

Mia felt her heart give a little leap, like a firework ready to explode. Ryan was going to sit with them. That meant she'd have a chance to talk to him—really talk to him. Her imagination spiraled into overdrive, crafting casual conversations, shared laughs, maybe even a deep discussion about art.

"That's... cool," Mia said, her voice barely concealing the excitement bubbling beneath her calm exterior.

"Yeah, it'll be fun. He's pretty chill, right?" Sarah replied, oblivious to the whirlpool of emotions Mia was navigating.

Mia nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah, chill," she echoed, feeling a thrill run through her. She could practically feel the anticipation tingling in her fingers.

When lunchtime finally came, Mia found herself sitting at their usual spot, her tray untouched as she watched Ryan approach. He had this effortless way of moving, as if he didn't care what anyone thought, and that made him even more intriguing. Sarah was already deep in conversation with Lucas about an upcoming school event, but Mia's attention was laser-focused on Ryan.

He sat down next to Sarah, flashing a quick smile at the group before settling in. For a moment, Mia felt her breath catch in her throat. Ryan was right there, just inches away from her. She had spent so long watching him from afar, analyzing every quirk of his smile, and now she had the chance to actually talk to him.

"Hey, Mia," Ryan said casually, turning his head slightly to look at her.

Mia blinked, caught off guard. "Oh—hey! How's your day going?" Her mind raced, frantically trying to think of something clever to say, but all she managed was a soft, nervous laugh.

"Not bad," he replied, giving her a small smile that sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "I was actually going to ask if you're still doing that photography club thing. I've seen some of your pictures around."

Mia felt her heart skip a beat. He had noticed her photos? A wave of warmth washed over her. "Yeah, I'm still doing it. I didn't know you were into photography," she replied, trying to sound casual, though her pulse was racing.

"I'm not," Ryan admitted with a shrug, his honesty disarming her, "but I thought your stuff was pretty cool."

Mia's cheeks flushed with warmth. Ryan thought her work was cool? Her smile widened, feeling the beginnings of a connection form. "Thanks! I really appreciate that," she said, the words tumbling out with genuine enthusiasm.

The rest of lunch passed in a blur. Mia oscillated between trying to engage Ryan in conversation and stealing glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Sarah, as usual, was animated and talkative, effortlessly leading the group, but Mia was too wrapped up in her own world to notice.

That evening, Mia lay in bed, replaying their conversation in her head like a favorite movie scene. Ryan had actually talked to her—noticed her. For the first time, she felt like maybe, just maybe, something could happen between them. She hugged her pillow close, grinning into the fabric as excitement bubbled inside her.

She and Sarah had always been close, sharing every little secret. But this crush? This was different. It was too new, too delicate. Mia wanted to keep it to herself for a while, savoring it like a secret daydream.

Besides, there was no way Sarah would understand how she felt. Ryan was the first guy Mia had ever really liked, and she wasn't ready to share that with anyone just yet—not even her best friend. What if it didn't work out? The thought made her stomach twist.

As she drifted off to sleep, Mia couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring. The thought of Ryan made her heart race, and she could already feel the air around them shifting, but she wasn't sure just how much.