Sane

Chapter 24

Brookhaven , New York

Niya POV

"You sure you don't want to tell me what you've got planned for us today? Give me a hint at least, just to keep my mind occupied until school is over," I asked, trying to sound casual, but I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me. The anticipation of spending the day with Dezmon was almost too much to handle.

"Alright, fine," he said, a teasing glint in his eyes. "It's water."

"What? I'm so confused!" I exclaimed, furrowing my brow. Water? What kind of hint was that?

Dezmon chuckled softly, clearly enjoying my bewilderment. "I know, right? It sounds cryptic. But trust me, it'll make sense later."

I crossed my arms and pouted playfully. "You're not making this easy for me, you know. I'm trying to picture what we could possibly be doing that involves water."

He laughed again, the sound warm and infectious. "Now that I think about it, we only have like three classes together today. That's not much time for you to wait and wonder."

"Three classes feels like an eternity when you're waiting for a surprise," I replied dramatically, throwing my head back as if the very thought was unbearable. "What if I can't focus? What if I just keep daydreaming about our adventure?"

"Then you'll just have to try your best to stay focused," he said with a grin, leaning against the wall beside my locker. "Maybe take some notes or something. You know, like a responsible student."

"Responsible? Me?" I laughed, shaking my head. "That's a stretch! But okay, I'll do my best."

As we walked toward our first class together, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. The way he carried himself—confident yet relaxed—made my heart flutter. He had this effortless charm that drew people in, and I felt lucky to be one of those people.

"So," I began, trying to distract myself from the mystery of his plans. "What do you think we'll learn in biology today? More about cells or maybe something about ecosystems?"

Dezmon shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "Probably cells again. It seems like we've been stuck on that forever. But hey, at least it's better than math."

"True," I agreed with a smile. "Math makes my brain hurt."

We entered the classroom and took our seats near the back. As the teacher began her lecture on cell division, I found it hard to concentrate. My thoughts kept drifting back to Dezmon and our plans for later. What did he mean by water? A pool? A lake? My mind raced with possibilities.

The minutes dragged on as I tried to jot down notes while simultaneously brainstorming what our afternoon might hold. Each time Dezmon caught my eye across the room, he would flash me a knowing smile that sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

After what felt like an eternity, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class. As students began to shuffle out of their seats, I turned to Dezmon with wide eyes. "Okay! Two more classes left! Can you give me another hint?"

He shook his head playfully. "Nope! You'll just have to wait and see."

"Ugh! You're impossible!" I groaned dramatically as we made our way out into the hallway.

As we walked together through the bustling crowd of students, I felt a sense of comfort being by his side. The noise around us faded into background chatter as we shared small jokes and laughter between classes.

Finally, after what felt like an endless cycle of lectures and waiting, the last bell rang for the day. My heart raced as we gathered our things and headed toward the exit.

"Alright," Dezmon said with a grin as we stepped outside into the fresh air. "Are you ready for your surprise?"

"Yes! Finally!" I exclaimed, bouncing on my toes in excitement.

He led me toward his car parked nearby, and as we climbed in, he glanced over at me with a mischievous smile. "Just remember: it involves water."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm. "You're such a tease!"

As he drove through familiar streets toward an unknown destination, I felt a mix of anticipation and curiosity swirling within me. Whatever Dezmon had planned was bound to be an adventure—one that would bring us closer together and create memories worth cherishing.

With each passing moment, I realized how much this day meant to me—not just because of the surprise but because it was another step in building something special with him. And as we turned onto a road lined with trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves, I knew this was just the beginning of an unforgettable day together.