By the next morning, the school buzzed with excitement—not just about the game, but about my very first article for the school paper. My hands shook as I carried a fresh copy to class, heart hammering.
This is it. My first big moment.
I slid the paper onto my desk, careful not to smudge the ink. The headline stared up at me:
"Victory on the Court: Aiden Cruz Leads St. Marcellus to Narrow Win"
I bit my lip, trying to hide my nerves. Was it too much? Too gushy? Too… obvious that I had watched the game more than I should have?
During lunch, whispers floated across the cafeteria. Students were pointing at the article, some praising my writing, others teasing me about how distracted I must have been by "the star player."
And then I felt it—the unmistakable presence of Aiden Cruz at my table.
"Got some free time?" he asked, sliding into the seat across from me. His dark eyes scanned the article quickly, then lingered on me.
"I… um… yeah," I said, trying to act casual. My brain refused to cooperate.
"You wrote about the game well," he said finally. "You noticed things most people miss. Plays, timing… even the way the defense reacts under pressure."
I swallowed, heart racing. "Thanks… I just wanted to get it right."
He leaned back slightly, smirk teasing at his lips. "You didn't just get it right. You made it interesting. And… flattering."
My cheeks heated. "Flattering?"
"You know," he said, eyes meeting mine. "A little attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed."
I laughed nervously. "I just… I'm observing."
"Observing," he repeated, tone playful. "Right. Sure."
There was a pause, and then he added, "By the way… you should come to the next practice. I want to see what you notice next."
"Of course," I said quickly, nodding. "I wouldn't miss it."
As he walked away, I felt a flutter in my chest. This was more than excitement about basketball or reporting—it was him. And judging by the way he glanced back at me once, smirk still in place, I had a feeling he felt it too.
But there was also that flicker of something else… Marco. That rival teammate had been watching me, whispering, and smirking. I didn't know how he would react to Aiden noticing me.
One thing was certain: high school wasn't just about surviving classes or basketball anymore. It was about navigating attention, attraction, and maybe even a little rivalry.
And somehow, I had the feeling that this game was just beginning.