Hearts in Bloom

Chapter 1

"On the shy boy's first day of school, all it took was a smile from the cheerful girl to ease his nervousness. Little did they know it was the beginning of something far greater than just friendship."
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The morning sun painted the sky with strokes of orange and pink, bathing the quiet suburban neighborhood in a gentle glow. Birds chirped merrily from the treetops, their songs blending with the distant hum of a lawnmower. The crisp air carried the faint scent of dew-soaked grass, signaling the start of another school day.

At the corner bus stop, a group of lively children had already gathered, their voices filling the air with excited chatter. Bright backpacks adorned with cartoon characters, shiny sneakers fresh out of their boxes, and neatly combed hair hinted at the anticipation of a new school year.

Standing slightly apart from the group was Tobias Sinclair. His small frame seemed to shrink further as he glanced nervously at the others. His dark hair, which his mother had hastily combed that morning, already looked messy. His brown eyes darted around, taking in the scene but avoiding prolonged eye contact.

Tobias was new in town, moved with his parents just a week ago. They had assured him that having a fresh start in a new school and a new town would be exciting, a chance to make new friends and experience new things. But all Tobias felt was a pit of dread in his stomach.

He adjusted the straps of his backpack—a black one with galaxies and stars pictures in it,which his parents bought him yesterday—and bit his lip. His thoughts raced, each one more unsettling than the last.

What if I don't make any friends? What if the kids laugh at me? What if I say something stupid? What if they don't like me? O god, please save me. I don't wanna go to school. Can I still go home right now? I guess no. What should I do?

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sweater. The chatter around him seemed louder, almost overwhelming. He felt like an outsider, a stranger in a world that had moved on without him.

Across the bus stop, a girl's laughter rang out, clear and melodic. Tobias glanced up, his gaze landing on the source of the sound. His gaze landed on Aria Frost. His gasped at her radiating beauty and it seemed like he almost forgot how to breathe. His heart skipped a beat.

Aria Frost was laughing with her friends. She was like a burst of sunlight on a cloudy day. Her long, waist length light brown wavy hair was in two low pigtails, shimmered in the morning light and her green eyes sparkled with uncontainable energy. She was surrounded by a group of older kids, her hands moving animatedly as she was telling something which Tobias couldn't hear because of the distance. Her laughter was infectious, drawing smiles from those around her.

Aria was everything Tobias wasn't—confident, outgoing, and seemingly unafraid of the world. She had an air of warmth that made people gravitate toward her, as if she carried a little piece of summer wherever she went.

As Tobias watched her, he felt a pang of envy mixed with admiration. How did she make it look so easy? He quickly looked away, feeling his face and ears heat up when she glanced in his direction.

Aria, however, had noticed him. She had an uncanny ability to sense when someone was in need of a friend. The boy was standing alone, his shoulders hunched. He was fidgeting his fingers and his gaze was downcast, tugged at her heartstrings.

Without hesitation, she excused herself from the group and made her way over to him.

"Hi!" she said brightly, her voice warm and inviting.

Tobias startled, his head snapping up to meet her gaze. His cheeks flushed and his ears were crimson red. "H-hi," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.