Hearts in Bloom

Chapter 11

The day after prom dawned bright and clear, but Aria felt a cloud of confusion hovering over her. She had spent the entire night tossing and turning, replaying every moment from the dance. Most of it was a blur of laughter and music, but what stood out was the hurt in Tobias’s eyes when she had denied having a crush.

As she got ready for school, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The knot of worry in her chest tightened with each passing minute, like something important was slipping away, and she wasn’t sure how to hold on to it.

When she walked into the cafeteria, she scanned the room for Tobias but found only Mia and Jaxon.

“Hey, where’s Tobias?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light, though her stomach twisted with unease.

Mia shrugged, her usual brightness dimmed by the absence of their friend. “He hasn’t shown up yet. He might be in class.”

“I’ll check the library. He likes to study there,” Aria said, her voice betraying her urgency.

“Good idea!” Jaxon replied, already digging into his lunch. “Let us know if you find him!”

Aria nodded, feeling a growing sense of panic that she couldn’t fully explain. As she made her way to the library, her mind raced. Why was Tobias acting distant?

She pushed the heavy library doors open, her eyes scanning the quiet space. The familiar scent of old books filled the air, the soft hush of whispers and rustling pages usually a comfort to her. But today, the atmosphere felt thick with something else—something unsettled.

Finally, she spotted Tobias at a table in the corner, his head buried in a textbook. Relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by apprehension. Would he still be distant? Would he even want to talk?

“Tobias?” she called softly, approaching the table.

He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes before his expression settled into something neutral. “Oh, hey, Aria.”

She took a seat across from him, her gaze searching his face for some clue to his mood. “Are you okay? Cause you seem a bit off from last night."

“I’m fine,” he replied too quickly, his eyes darting back to the page as if the book suddenly demanded all his attention.

Aria’s heart sank. His tone was cool, distant—nothing like the warm, easy-going Tobias she was used to. “You don’t seem fine. Did I say something wrong?”

Before Tobias could answer, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Hey, Tobias,” Emily said, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

Aria glanced up and immediately recognized her—a girl from their class who had always been a little too friendly with Tobias. A flicker of something—was it annoyance?—sparked in Aria’s chest, but she quickly shoved it aside.

Tobias glanced between Aria and Emily, looking hesitant. “What’s up?” he asked, polite but clearly uninterested.

Emily took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed. “I just wanted to say that I really like you,” she blurted out, her voice trembling slightly. “I’ve liked you for a while, and I think we would be great together.”

Aria felt her stomach drop. She hadn’t expected this. Suddenly, she felt like an outsider looking in on something she didn’t quite understand. She wanted to look away, to give them privacy, but her feet seemed glued to the floor.

Tobias looked at Emily, and for a second, something flickered across his face—sadness, maybe?—before he spoke. “Emily, you’re great, but… I like someone else.”

Aria’s breath hitched. Her heart stuttered in her chest. Someone else?

Emily’s face fell, her disappointment clear, but she nodded. “Oh. I didn’t know… I guess I should’ve realized. Sorry if I made things awkward.”

“It’s okay,” Tobias replied gently. “I appreciate your honesty.”

As Emily walked away, Aria was left with a swirling mix of emotions—relief, confusion, and something sharper, something she wasn’t ready to name. Was she jealous? No, she couldn’t be. She didn’t even like Tobias like that. Did she?

Trying to shake off the strange tightness in her chest, she blurted out, “So, who do you like?”

Tobias looked startled, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I… I’d rather not say,” he mumbled, his gaze drifting away.

Aria’s heart raced. She leaned in slightly, trying to keep her tone casual, but inside, she was burning with curiosity—and something else. “Why not? Is it someone from school?”

He shrugged, but there was an edge to it. “You don't know her.”

A pang of irritation mixed with the confusion in her chest. She furrowed her brow, unable to understand why this bothered her so much. “How do you know I don’t know her? I know a lot of people.”

Tobias shook his head, his frustration now evident. “Trust me, Aria, you don’t know her. It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated how?” She didn’t mean to push, but the words tumbled out before she could stop them.

Tobias stared at her for a moment, his eyes full of something unreadable, then he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I just don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

Aria’s chest tightened, a sudden rush of hurt and confusion overwhelming her. Why was he being so secretive? Why wouldn’t he trust her? The coldness in his voice stung more than she wanted to admit.

“Tobias, you can tell me anything. We’re best friends, remember?” she asked, her voice softening, almost pleading.

He looked at her, and for a moment, she thought he might open up. But then he glanced away again. “I know, but things are different now. I just need some space, alright?”

The finality in his tone hit her like a cold wave. She blinked, swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. “Space? But—”

“Please, Aria,” he interrupted softly. “Can we just drop it for now?”

She nodded slowly, though every fiber of her being screamed against it. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”

As she stood to leave, she stole one last glance at him, hoping for some sign that things would go back to normal. But he was already buried in his book again, and the familiar warmth between them felt distant, unreachable.

Aria walked out of the library, her chest heavy with emotions she didn’t fully understand. Jealousy, frustration, and a strange sense of loss all swirled together.

She had no idea what to do with the feelings stirring inside her. As she stepped into the hallway, a lingering thought nagged at her: Why did she feel this strange tightness in her chest? Was it jealousy? But she quickly dismissed it.

After all, she had no reason to feel that way. Right?

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My Random Silly Thoughts:

The School Project:
Dad: "How’s your science project going?"
Kid: "Great! I’m almost done."
Dad (looking at a mess of glue, sticks, and glitter): "What’s it supposed to be?"
Kid: "A masterpiece… that’s still finding itself."
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