Aella couldn’t shake the weird tension that had hung in the air after her encounter with Grayson and Alex. Even as she drove back to the café on her scooty, her mind replayed the moment over and over. The way Grayson had reacted—how his eyes had darkened, the tension in his voice—it wasn’t like him. Not the Grayson she knew, at least.
He was always so confident, cocky even. She’d grown used to their arguments, their constant back-and-forth that always seemed to leave her either fuming or oddly energized. But this? The jealousy, the almost possessive way he’d spoken to her—it was new. And it made her heart race in a way she wasn’t prepared for.
As she pulled into the parking spot behind the café, she took a deep breath, trying to push Grayson out of her thoughts. It wasn’t her problem. Grayson didn’t control who she could or couldn’t talk to. Besides, it wasn’t like she and Alex had anything serious going on. It was just a flirtatious exchange. A harmless joke. Right?
Aella walked into the café, feeling the familiar warmth of the space envelop her. Her mom was behind the counter, chatting with a regular customer. The soft sound of pages turning and the scent of coffee beans filled the air, grounding her. This was where she belonged—far away from the chaos of school drama and confusing feelings.
But as she took her usual spot at the reception desk, her thoughts drifted back to Alex. He’d been so… smooth. His confidence, the way he’d effortlessly brought a smile to her face—it was different from the way Grayson acted. Alex’s charm felt light, playful, without the sharp edges Grayson seemed to have. Still, she couldn’t deny that her mind kept returning to Grayson, no matter how hard she tried to focus on anything else.
Just as she was lost in thought, the door to the café swung open, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Alex walk in.
He spotted her immediately, his face lighting up with a smile that made Aella’s stomach do a little flip. "Aella! Twice in one day. You must be getting sick of me by now."
She rolled her eyes but smiled back, leaning against the counter. "I’m starting to wonder if you’ve got nowhere else to be."
Alex laughed, his blue eyes twinkling. "Maybe I just like the coffee here. Or maybe," he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, "I just like the company."
Aella felt her cheeks warm, but before she could respond, her mom called from behind the counter. "Aella, could you help with the new stock of books?"
"Sure," Aella replied quickly, grateful for the distraction. "I’ll be right back," she told Alex, slipping into the back room.
As she helped her mom unpack boxes of books, she couldn’t help but think about how easy it was with Alex. He made her laugh, and his compliments—though bold—never felt like they were meant to make her uncomfortable. They felt… fun. Harmless.
But then there was Grayson.
The thought of him made her stomach twist in a completely different way. Every argument, every time they clashed—it was like a storm she couldn’t escape. And even though he could be infuriating, there was something between them that she couldn’t deny. Something she didn’t understand yet.
"Aella," her mom’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Are you okay? You seem distracted."
"Yeah," Aella muttered, stacking the books absentmindedly. "Just thinking about school stuff."
Her mom gave her a knowing look, but didn’t press the issue. "Well, when you’re done here, there’s a customer waiting for you."
Aella’s heart skipped again. "Customer?" she asked, suddenly feeling nervous.
YOU ARE READING
RIVALS IN THE HALLWAYS
Romance"Aella and Grayson were inseparable as kids, the perfect duo-until middle school hit. What once was friendship turned into fierce rivalry, with both determined to outshine the other at every turn. Now in high school, their competition has only heate...
