After that day, everything between Sarah and Samuel began to change.
They started sitting closer in class, sometimes sharing quiet laughs over small things. What once felt awkward now felt natural. Sarah no longer had to make up excuses to talk to himâconversations just happened.
But even though they had grown closer, Sarahâs heart still raced every time Samuel smiled at her.
One afternoon, while they were studying together, Samuel looked at her and said, âYouâre different from everyone else.â
Sarah felt her heart skip a beat. âWhat do you mean?â she asked softly.
Samuel shrugged, smiling. âI donât knowâĶ I just feel comfortable talking to you.â
Sarah looked down, trying to hide her smile. Inside, her heart was beating faster than ever.
Days turned into weeks, and their bond grew stronger. They would walk together after school, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes, there would be quiet momentsâbut those moments felt just as special.
But one day, something changed.
Sarah saw Samuel laughing with another girl in the hallway. They looked closeâĶ too close. Her heart tightened, and for the first time, she felt something differentâjealousy.
âWhy do I even care?â she thought, trying to ignore the feeling.
Later that day, Samuel noticed she was quieter than usual.
âHeyâĶ are you okay?â he asked.
Sarah forced a small smile. âYeah, Iâm fine.â
But she wasnât.
For the first time since they met, there was a distance between them. The easy conversations felt harder, and the silence felt heavier.
Samuel didnât understand what went wrong, but he knew one thingâhe didnât like it.
And Sarah?
She was beginning to realize that what she felt for Samuel was more than just a simple crush.
It was something deeperâĶ something real.
But now, she wasnât sure what would happen next.