❤ Hearts Entwined ❤

The First Glance

James nervously adjusted his tie as he walked into the school cafeteria, his heart racing with anticipation. He had been crushing on Charlie for months now, but had never found the courage to approach them. As he scanned the room, his eyes landed on Charlie sitting at their usual table, surrounded by friends.

Charlie's short, dark hair was styled in their signature messy look, and they were laughing at something their friend had said. James felt a flutter in his stomach as he watched them, admiring their infectious smile and the way their eyes sparkled with mischief.

Suddenly, Charlie looked up and met James' gaze. Their eyes locked for a moment, and James felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. He quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in the food line.

As he waited in line, James couldn't shake the feeling of Charlie's gaze on him. He glanced over his shoulder, only to find Charlie still watching him, a small smile playing on their lips. James felt his heart skip a beat, and he quickly looked away again, cursing himself for being so obvious.

With his tray of food in hand, James made his way to an empty table, trying to avoid Charlie's gaze. But as he sat down, he couldn't help but sneak glances in their direction, hoping to catch another glimpse of that smile.

As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of the period, James gathered his things and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to exit the cafeteria, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Hey," Charlie said softly, their soft voice sending shivers down James' spine. "I've seen you around, but I don't think we've ever officially met. I'm Charlie."

James turned around, his heart pounding in his chest. "Hi, I'm James," he managed to say, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I've noticed you staring at me during lunch," Charlie said with a playful smirk. "Any particular reason?"

James felt his face turn red, and he stumbled over his words. "Oh, um, no! I mean, I just... I think you're really cute, actually," he blurted out, before he could stop himself.

Charlie's eyes widened in surprise, and then a slow smile spread across their face. "Really? That's... that's really sweet of you to say, James."

James felt a rush of relief wash over him. "So, um, maybe we could hang out sometime? Outside of school, I mean," he suggested, his voice gaining confidence.

"I'd like that," Charlie replied, their smile growing wider. "How about we exchange numbers?"

James nodded eagerly, pulling out his phone. As they exchanged numbers, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness wash over him. He had finally taken the first step, and he couldn't wait to see where this would lead.

With a final smile and a wave, James headed out of the cafeteria, his heart full of hope for the future. Maybe, just maybe, he and Charlie could have something special together.

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485 words

Love, Alex ❤