Worlds Apart

-8-

Monday morning dawned gray and heavy, the kind of day that felt like a blanket smothering the sun. Gigi stared at herself in the mirror, her heart racing as she struggled to put on a brave face. The remnants of tears from the night after the party clung to her, and the leather jacket still hung in her closet, a tangible reminder of the moments they had shared. She hadn't taken it off since; it felt like a lifeline, a connection to something real and vulnerable in a world that often felt anything but.

"What's with you today?" Jaida asked as she leaned against the doorframe of Gigi's room, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Just tired." Gigi replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She busied herself with her hair, attempting to distract from the tumult swirling inside her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was teetering on the edge of something monumental, yet she felt completely paralyzed by the weight of expectation.

Jaida wasn't convinced. "You've been saying that all weekend. Did something happen at the party? You can tell me, you know that."

Gigi hesitated, the memory of the almost-kiss with Crystal flickering in her mind like an old film reel. "It was just a party. Nothing happened." The words felt hollow, but she forced them out anyway. She couldn't admit to her friend the depths of her confusion or the emotions that had crashed over her like a wave, pulling her under.

Meanwhile, across town, Crystal was grappling with his own storm of emotions. He sat at the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall, the hair tie Gigi had given him resting snugly on his wrist. It was a small gesture, but it had become a talisman for him, a constant reminder of the connection they'd forged and the potential that had almost blossomed into something more. He twisted it between his fingers, his heart aching at the thought of facing her again.

"Dude, you okay?" Daya asked from the doorway, breaking Crystal from his reverie. He leaned against the frame, concern etched on his face. "You've been out of it since that party. You're not still thinking about Gigi, are you?"

Crystal shot him a look, irritation bubbling up at the suggestion. "No. I'm not. It was just a stupid moment. It doesn't matter." But even as he said it, he could feel the truth of it gnawing at him. The memory of Gigi's laugh, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked, it all clung to him like a ghost.

Daya shrugged, but his expression remained knowing. "Right. Sure. Just remember, she's not like us. You can't go and catch feelings for someone who hangs out with the jocks and the preppy crowd. It'll just end up biting you in the ass."

Crystal nodded, but deep down, he knew Daya was wrong. It wasn't just a fleeting attraction; there was something deeper there. And the thought of pretending that their connection never happened made his stomach churn. They'd both be trapped in their separate worlds again, both wearing masks that didn't reflect who they truly were.

When Gigi finally stepped into the school hallway, the familiar sounds of laughter and chatter felt deafening. It was as if the world had continued to move on while she stood frozen in time. Her heart raced at the thought of running into Crystal, the nearly kiss still lingering on her lips, the memory warm and painful all at once.

As she navigated through the throngs of students, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She spotted Nicky and Jaida at their usual spot, talking animatedly with some cheerleaders, their laughter bright against the backdrop of the school day. Gigi forced a smile, but inside, she felt like she was drowning.

"Gigi! There you are! We've been looking for you!" Nicky called, her voice cutting through the haze.

"Yeah, we were just talking about how we need to come up with a plan to take down the jocks." Jaida chimed in, her tone half-joking. "You in?"