The boy I loved before

Mia walked down the hallway, her eyes scanning the familiar faces of her classmates. She had grown up in this small town, and everyone knew everyone. As she made her way to her locker, Mia spotted Bryan leaning against the row of lockers, his messy brown hair sticking out from under his baseball cap. They'd been best friends since childhood. "Hey, Mia!" Bryan called out, pushing off from the locker. "What's up?" Mia smiled, spinning the combination lock on her locker. "Not much, Bryan. Just trying to survive another day of school." Bryan chuckled, falling into step beside her. "I feel you. I'm so ready for summer break." As they walked, a tall, dark-haired boy approached them. "Hi, I'm Ryder," he said, his piercing blue eyes meeting Mia's. "I'm a senior here. I was wondering if you'd like to show me around the school?" Mia exchanged a glance with Bryan. "No, thanks," she said. "I'm good with my best friend here." Ryder's eyes narrowed slightly. "You two aren't...dating, are you?" Bryan's face twisted in disgust. "No, she's my best friend, and that's it. She's not even...dateable. I mean, she's like a sister to me." Mia's eyes widened in shock, feeling a sting from Bryan's words. Ryder's eyes flashed with surprise, and he took a step back. "Whoa, okay, sorry for asking," Ryder said, holding up his hands. Bryan's expression softened slightly, but his words still lingered in the air, hurting Mia. "It's fine, just drop it," Bryan said. Mia felt a lump form in her throat as she turned away, trying to process Bryan's hurtful words. Why had he said that? Didn't he know how much his words could hurt her? Mia forced a smile, trying to brush off the sting of Bryan's words. "It's fine, Bryan. Don't worry about it." But inside, she was reeling. His words had cut deep, exposing the fragile hopes she'd harbored for so long. She'd known it was a risk, loving her best friend in secret. But she'd never expected him to say something so hurtful. As they walked to the cafeteria, Mia couldn't help but steal glances at Ryder, who was sitting across the room with a group of seniors. She wondered what his story was, and why he seemed so interested in her. Bryan noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Mia, what's up? You're staring at Ryder again." Mia quickly looked away, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "I was just wondering who he is, that's all." Bryan shrugged. "I don't know much about him. He's a senior, and he just transferred here from another school. But I've heard he's trouble." Mia's curiosity was piqued. What kind of trouble could Ryder possibly be? She found herself glancing over at him again, and this time, their eyes met. Ryder smiled, and Mia felt a flutter in her chest. As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Mia gathered her things and stood up. Bryan fell into step beside her, but Mia's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that Ryder was going to be a game-changer in her life. As they walked out of the cafeteria, Ryder caught up to them. "Hey, Mia, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his eyes locked on hers. Bryan's eyes narrowed. "What's up, Ryder?" Ryder smiled. "Just wanted to apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to make things awkward." Mia smiled back at him. "It's okay, I'm fine." Bryan looked at her, then back at Ryder. "I'll catch you later, Mia. I've got to go to class." As Bryan walked away, Ryder turned to Mia. "So, can I walk you to your next class?" Mia hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But there was something about Ryder that drew her in. "Sure," she said finally, smiling up at him. As they walked down the hallway together, Mia couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had no idea what was going to happen next, but she was ready to take a chance. As they approached Mia's next class, Ryder stopped and turned to her. "Hey, Mia? I'm having a party on Saturday. Would you like to come?" Mia's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected an invitation, but a part of her was excited at the prospect of spending more time with Ryder. But as she turned to Bryan, who was watching them from across the hallway, she saw him shake his head. "Mia, don't go," he said, his voice low and serious. Mia raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" Bryan hesitated, looking uncomfortable. "I just don't think it's a good idea, okay?" Mia felt a surge of frustration. Why was Bryan being so possessive? And why didn't he want her to go to Ryder's party? "Give me a real reason, Bryan," Mia said, her voice firm. Bryan looked at her, his eyes searching. But instead of giving her a reason, he just shook his head. "Just trust me, Mia. Don't go to that party." Mia felt a pang of disappointment. Why was Bryan being so secretive? And why didn't he want her to spend time with Ryder? As she looked at Ryder, who was watching the exchange with interest, Mia made a decision. She was going to that party, no matter what Bryan said. "Thanks for inviting me, Ryder," Mia said, smiling up at him. "I'll definitely think about it." Ryder grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'll pick you up at 7 on Saturday, then?"