Chapter 3 : Attention Is A Dangerous Thing.
856 Words
Episode 3 — Attention Is a Dangerous Thing
“They say some people enter your life quietly.
Not him.
He arrived like heat — suddenly, I couldn’t breathe normally again.”
The rumor started faster than morning announcements ended.
By break time, three things were already spreading around school faster than free Wi-Fi:
Wendy has a new guy.
He’s rich, fine, and protective.
Calvin is angry because he lost her.
Amazing how teenagers can turn whispers into headlines before lunchtime.
Taylor enjoyed every second of it.
“Bestie,” she announced dramatically, biting into her pizza like she was celebrating a national holiday, “you have officially entered main-character status. I knew this day would come.”
“I don’t want attention,” I muttered, pushing my food around my tray.
“Unfortunately,” she said, lifting her juice like she was making a toast, “attention has already chosen you.”
I wanted to laugh. But my stomach was too tight.
Eyes kept landing on me — curious, sharp, judgmental. Girls whispered behind their hands. Some smiled politely. Others stared like they were memorizing my face for later analysis.
I hated it.
Yesterday, I was invisible.
Invisible meant safe.
Invisible meant peace.
Today, I was a topic.
And topics always get twisted.
The cafeteria doors opened, and a ripple of excitement rolled through the room. Wayne walked in with two friends, laughter following him like background music. He didn’t announce himself — he never had to.
But his eyes did something dangerous.
They searched.
They found.
They paused on me.
“Ah!” Taylor slapped the table. “Look at destiny’s future husband.”
“Stop,” I whispered quickly, heat crawling up my neck.
Wayne gave a small nod in my direction. Just a greeting. Polite. Respectful. Easy to miss.
But my heart felt it anyway.
Girls stared openly at him. He didn’t stare back. He lingered for a second longer than necessary… then turned to his friends.
Taylor leaned closer. “Wendy, don’t be shocked if someone accidentally spills hot coffee on you today out of jealousy.”
“Please don’t manifest that,” I muttered.
“Envy does not fear God,” she replied confidently.
I sighed and tried to eat, but even lifting my fork felt dramatic today.
Then a chair scraped beside me.
My body tensed before I even looked up.
Calvin.
Of course.
“Can we talk?” he asked, voice stiff, controlled.
“No,” I said immediately.
Taylor coughed loudly. “She said no, sir. Emergency exit is that way.”
Calvin ignored her, eyes locked on mine. “I’m not here to fight. I just want to clear things.”
“We are clear,” I said calmly. “Past tense. Finished.”
His jaw tightened. “I messed up. I know that. But don’t act like you’re suddenly too good to talk to me.”
I blinked slowly. “I’m not too good. I’m just tired.”
Something flickered across his face — pride bruised, ego wounded.
Before he could respond, a presence settled beside me. Solid. Calm.
Wayne.
“She said she’s tired,” he said quietly.
Calvin turned sharply. “What’s your problem, man?”
“No problem,” Wayne replied evenly. “Just don’t force conversations that aren’t wanted.”
The cafeteria fell silent.
Phones shifted. Heads turned. You could practically hear screenshots loading.
Calvin scoffed. “So because everybody worships you, you think you can interfere in everything?”
Wayne didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t move closer. He didn’t flinch.
“I’m not interfering,” he said. “I’m respecting her choice. You should try it.”
Calvin’s fists clenched. My heart jumped.
For one terrifying second, it felt like everything might explode.
Then the bell rang.
Loud. Sharp. Perfectly timed.
“Saved by the bell,” Taylor whispered. “Before this place turns into a low-budget fight club.”
Calvin looked at me one last time — anger mixed with something like regret — then turned and walked away.
The noise returned. Conversations resumed. Drama dispersed.
Wayne turned to me. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “Just don’t shrink yourself because someone from your past wants to drag you backward.”
His words landed deeper than I expected.
I stared at him, unsure how someone could sound so gentle and still feel so dangerous — like comfort wrapped around truth I wasn’t ready to face.
He gave me a small smile. Not flirtatious. Not showy. Just warm.
Then he walked away.
Taylor exhaled like she’d been holding her breath for an hour. “If this is stress, I volunteer as tribute.”
I covered my face.
My world wasn’t safe anymore.
Old emotions were waking up like alarms.
The past was demanding relevance.
And a boy with calm eyes was rewriting all my rules without permission.
High school wasn’t supposed to feel like war.
But this battle wasn’t happening in hallways or cafeterias.
It was happening in my chest.
And I was losing.
- Writer
