The sun peeked through Aella’s curtains, casting a warm glow across her room and gently nudging her awake. She blinked sleepily, her mind still replaying the heartfelt conversation she had shared with Grayson the night before. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a sense of hope and uncertainty mingling within her.
Aella swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. Today was different—everything felt charged with new possibilities. She glanced at her phone, noticing the time. She had to hurry to make it to school on time, especially with the lingering tension from yesterday’s events.
At breakfast, her parents chatted amiably about their plans for the day, blissfully unaware of the turmoil brewing in their daughter’s heart. Aella forced a smile, trying to appear as normal as possible. “Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad.”
“Morning, sweetie,” her mother replied, ruffling her hair affectionately. “Big day at school?”
Aella nodded, taking a bite of her toast. “Yeah, just another day.”
But as she walked to school, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. How would Grayson act today? How would Alex react to their newfound understanding? And what about Emily? She had a feeling things were only going to get more complicated from here.
As she entered the bustling halls of her high school, Aella felt a mix of emotions. Students were still buzzing about the pool incident, and the rivalry between Grayson and Alex was the talk of the school. She kept her head down, trying to navigate through the sea of gossip and whispers.
When she reached her locker, she was greeted by a few curious glances, but mostly ignored. She was about to close her locker when she heard a familiar voice.
“Hey, Aella.”
She looked up to see Grayson leaning casually against her locker, his usual smirk in place, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Aella felt a flutter in her chest, a mix of nerves and anticipation.
“Hey, Grayson,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “Ready for another day?”
He chuckled, pushing off her locker to stand upright. “Yeah, I guess. Listen, about last night—I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said.”
Aella nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. “Me too. I just wanted to clear the air.”
Grayson took a deep breath, his expression earnest. “I know we’ve had our differences, and I’ve been a terrible friend—or enemy, rather—for a long time. But I don’t want to keep fighting with you over Alex or anything else. You deserve better.”
Aella felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, though she quickly blinked them away. “Thank you, Grayson. That means a lot.”
Before he could respond, Alex approached, his stride confident as ever, but there was a tension in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. He glanced between Aella and Grayson, a flicker of frustration crossing his face.
“Morning, Aella,” Alex greeted, his tone cool. “Morning, Grayson.”
Grayson nodded curtly, not meeting Alex’s gaze. “Morning.”
Aella felt the familiar rivalry heating up again, but she was determined not to let it affect her newfound peace with Grayson. “Good morning, Alex.”
Alex smirked, though his eyes held a hint of something else—jealousy, perhaps. “You look happy these days. Did something change?”
Aella glanced at Grayson, who gave her a supportive nod before turning his attention back to Alex. “We just talked things out. It’s been a long time coming.”
YOU ARE READING
RIVALS IN THE HALLWAYS
Romance"Aella and Grayson were inseparable as kids, the perfect duo-until middle school hit. What once was friendship turned into fierce rivalry, with both determined to outshine the other at every turn. Now in high school, their competition has only heate...
