Hearts in Bloom

Chapter 3

The morning sun spilled into Crestwood High School, illuminating the busy hallways filled with students. Laughter and chatter echoed as Tobias and Jaxon walked together, weaving through the crowd. Now in grade 11, Tobias and Jaxon felt the familiar nervousness of high school, but with Aria and Mia who are now in 12th grade by their side, it became a shared adventure.

“Did you finish that history project?” Jaxon asked, adjusting his backpack as they approached their first-period class.

“Not yet,” Tobias admitted, grimacing. “I got too distracted trying to code that new game I’m working on.”

“Game design over homework? Bold choice,” Jaxon teased. “What’s the game about? ‘Dodge Your Homework’?”

Tobias laughed, grateful for the lightheartedness. “Something like that. But I’m pretty sure my character needs a better storyline than just avoiding schoolwork.”

As they reached Aria and Mia, who were chatting near their classroom, Aria waved them over with a bright smile. “Hey, did you two forget to do your homework again?”

“Definitely not!” Jaxon exclaimed, putting on an exaggerated innocent face. “We were just, um, researching… game mechanics!”

Mia rolled her eyes, trying to hide her grin. “Right, because that’s going to impress Mr. Thompson. He loves historical accuracy in video games.”

Tobias leaned against the wall, his gaze lingering on Aria. The way her brown hair caught the sunlight made his heart race, and he felt warmth spread across his cheeks. Stay cool, Tobias, he reminded himself. “If I ever get caught, I’m just going to tell him I was inspired by the historical accuracy of video games.”

Aria giggled, her laughter ringing like music. Tobias’s heart swelled at the sound, causing his ears to turn crimson once again. He hated that he was so easily flustered around her, but he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.

“Hey, your ears are red again, Tobias,” Aria teased playfully, arching an eyebrow. “Are you blushing or is it just really hot in here?”   she pointed at his now bright crimson ears.

Tobias's hand flew to his ears, trying to play it off with a nervous laugh. "It's nothing. I'm fine. " he said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and fondness. Aria always seemed to know when he was flustered, and though it sometimes made him squirm, there was something comforting about her teasing. It was like she always saw through him—but in a way that felt safe, not judgmental.

As the bell rang for first period, they all walked together toward their respective classrooms. Tobias and Jaxon were heading to math while Aria and Mia went to history. Tobias couldn’t help but glance back one more time, catching Aria’s smile as she waved goodbye. His heart did a little flip, and he quickly turned around, hoping Jaxon wouldn’t notice the goofy grin on his face.

“So,” Jaxon started as they sat down in their math class, “when are you going to confess to her?”

Tobias nearly choked on air. “W-what?”

Jaxon smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Dude, it's kind of obvious. Your ears turn red every time she talks to you. It’s kind of a dead giveaway.”

Tobias groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Okay, maybe a tiny crush. But it’s not like she feels the same. We’ve been friends since we were kids, Jax. It’s not like that.”

Jaxon shrugged. “Maybe or maybe not. But you’ll never know unless you try.”

Tobias didn’t respond, instead choosing to focus on the math problems in front of him. But the truth was, his mind wasn’t on equations. It was on Aria—the girl who had smiled at him all those years ago at the bus station on his first day of 3rd grade, making him feel less alone. And as much as he tried to ignore it, his feelings for her had been quietly growing ever since. He knew that he is falling for her.

---

At lunch, the group gathered at their usual table in the cafeteria. Aria and Mia were already sitting there when Tobias and Jaxon arrived, laughing about something. Tobias sat down across from Aria, trying to act normal, though he felt the familiar warmth creep up his ear again.

“So,” Mia began, leaning forward with a mischievous smile, “Aria was just telling me about this super cool art contest coming up. She’s entering, of course. Right, Aria?”

Aria nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, it’s a themed contest about ‘Reflections of Growth.’ I’m thinking of doing something with nature—like flowers blooming through cracks in the sidewalk. It represents how even in tough times, growth and beauty can still happen.”

“That sounds amazing,” Tobias said before he could stop himself. He quickly averted his eyes, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks and ears. “I-I mean, you’re really good at that kind of stuff.”

Aria beamed at him, and his heart skipped a beat. “Thanks, Tobias! Maybe you could help me brainstorm some ideas. I mean, you’re good at thinking outside the box.”

Tobias blinked, caught off guard. “M-me? Sure, I’d love to help,” he stammered, trying not to sound too eager.

Jaxon leaned over, grinning. “Don’t let him fool you. Tobias here is a creative genius. Just wait until you see the game he’s designing.”

Aria’s eyes lit up. “Oh, is it already finished? What is it about?”

Tobias shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “It’s almost finished. A platformer with different worlds, each based on a different theme—space, underwater, stuff like that.”

“That sounds incredible!” Aria said, her enthusiasm making his heart race. “I’d love to see it sometime.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Tobias mumbled, feeling a strange mixture of excitement and fear. The idea of Aria seeing something he created made him both nervous and happy.

As lunch went on, Tobias found himself relaxing more. The conversation flowed easily, and for a little while, he was just a part of the group—no worries, no nerves. But underneath it all, his feelings for Aria were there, quietly growing like the flowers she planned to draw.

And maybe, just maybe, one day he’d find the courage to tell her.

____________________

My Random Silly Thoughts:

The Cookie Mystery:
A mom finds crumbs all over the kitchen and asks her son, "Did you eat the cookies I just baked?"
Son (with crumbs on his face): "Nope, it must’ve been a ghost."
Mom: "A ghost, huh?"
Son: "Yeah"
Mom:"Is it the same one that takes extra cookies for lunch."
Son:"Um..Hehhehe...Maybe yes."
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