After school, the gym was nearly empty. Only the echo of bouncing balls and Coach Ramirez's whistle lingered.
I was already scribbling notes from practice in my notebook when Aiden appeared at the doorway. "Ready for your extra drills?" he asked, a teasing glint in his dark eyes.
I nodded, trying to act casual, though my heart was racing. "Definitely."
The drills were intense, and Aiden guided me through them with patience. He adjusted my posture, corrected my timing, and occasionally laughed when I made a clumsy mistake. Each laugh sent a thrill through me, making my cheeks warm.
"Okay, last one," he said, tossing a ball to me. "Show me what you've learned."
I focused, catching the ball perfectly this time. Aiden's eyes widened just slightly. "Not bad," he said, leaning closer. "Maybe you're a natural after all."
I blushed. "I've had a good teacher."
He smirked, stepping even closer under the pretense of showing me the correct stance. "Is that so? Good teacher, huh…" His voice lowered slightly, and our eyes met in a way that made my stomach flip.
I almost didn't notice Marco leaning against the bleachers, watching us with a smirk. My chest tightened—he was definitely aware of the tension building between us.
Aiden didn't seem to care. "You're improving fast, Lia. I'm impressed."
"Thanks," I whispered, barely meeting his gaze.
For a moment, the gym felt quiet, like we were the only two people in the world. His hand brushed mine accidentally—or maybe not—and the flutter in my chest was undeniable.
Suddenly, Coach Ramirez's whistle cut through the silence. "That's enough for today!"
I jumped, snapping out of the moment. "Oh! Right!"
Aiden chuckled softly. "Guess the moment's over."
I laughed nervously, tucking my notebook under my arm. "Yeah… I'll see you tomorrow?"
He gave me that infuriating smirk again. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
As I left the gym, my notebook clutched tightly, I couldn't stop thinking about the fleeting closeness, the brush of hands, and the way his eyes lingered on me.
High school might be full of challenges, rivalries, and chaos… but somehow, surviving it with him was becoming my favorite game yet.