chapter 2 : Whispers in the hallway
661 Words
The next morning, I woke up with a pounding heart and a thousand questions running through my head. How could Liam—the boy from my dreams—actually exist? And why did he look at me the way he did yesterday, like he recognized me?
I shook my head, trying to focus on school, but the thought kept replaying in my mind. Every time I blinked, I saw his hazel eyes and that teasing smirk.
When I walked into the hallway, the whispers started immediately.
“Did you see Alice yesterday?”
“She’s finally talking to Liam Cole.”
“Are they… together?”
My stomach flipped. I had never been the center of attention like this, and suddenly, everyone was watching me.
I tried to keep my head down, pretending nothing had happened. But then… there he was.
Liam leaned casually against the lockers, flipping his phone in one hand. The sun hitting his hair made it look like it was glowing. My heart almost skipped a beat.
He caught my eye and smirked.
“Good morning, Alice,” he said, his voice calm and warm, like nothing else in the hallway mattered.
“Good morning,” I replied, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be.
He straightened, walking a few steps toward me. “You okay today? No trips?” he teased lightly.
I groaned. “I’m trying to survive high school without fainting from embarrassment. That’s all I’m aiming for.”
He chuckled. The sound was like music, and I caught myself smiling back. Just a little.
Suddenly, the hallway bell rang, and students rushed to their classes. I walked beside Liam, trying to act casual. But it was impossible. Every step I took beside him felt unreal.
“You’re quiet,” he noted. “Do you always walk around like this?”
I shook my head. “No. Just… today is unusual.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Unusual good or unusual bad?”
I paused, unsure what to say. “A little of both,” I admitted.
His smile softened. “Well, if it’s unusual good, maybe it’s the start of something interesting.”
I didn’t know how to respond. My cheeks burned, and I looked away. My life had just been turned upside down, and now Liam was standing next to me, making it feel like everything could change in a single moment.
Classes passed in a blur. I couldn’t concentrate, my thoughts constantly drifting to him. Every glance, every word from Liam lingered in my mind, like a dream I couldn’t wake from.
During lunch, I sat with my best friend, Hannah, who noticed my distracted state immediately.
“Spill it, Alice. What’s going on?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I shook my head quickly. “Nothing. Just… tired.”
But Hannah wasn’t convinced. She narrowed her eyes. “You’re lying. And I know you. If it involves Liam, don’t try to hide it from me.”
My stomach flipped. How did she even know? Before I could answer, a loud shout echoed across the cafeteria.
“Hey, dream girl! Didn’t see you crash yesterday!”
I turned my head, my heart sinking. One of Liam’s friends, clearly trying to tease me, was pointing directly at our table.
Liam’s voice followed immediately, calm and confident: “Ignore him.”
But my face was already burning. I could feel every eye in the cafeteria on me.
Hannah leaned closer, whispering, “You’re going to survive. But watch out… school just got a lot more interesting.”
And she was right. Somehow, meeting my dream boy in real life had brought a storm of attention, whispers, and drama I had never imagined.
As I watched Liam laugh with his friends across the room, I realized something. This wasn’t just a dream anymore.
It was real. And my heart, whether I wanted to admit it or not, was already tangled.
- Writer
