The Crush

The Science Project

I woke up early on the day of the science club contest, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Alex and I had worked tirelessly on our project and were eager to present it to everyone in the science club.

As we made our way to the contest, I couldn't help but feel grateful to have Alex as my partner. He was always focused and driven, and his attention to detail helped us perfect our project. When it was finally time to present, we stepped up to the podium together, and I felt a sense of comfort knowing he was by my side.

Our hard work paid off as we were announced as the winners of the contest. The excitement was palpable, and I was filled with pride as I hugged Alex tightly. Our project was to be sent to represent our school at the nationals, a true honor.

I suggested that we go out to celebrate, and although Alex hesitated at first, he eventually agreed.

I suggested the arcade. With all the lights, sounds, and people, it wouldn't be time to be awkward with us or have uncomfortable conversations.

We played every game, collecting hundreds of tickets.

"I'm going to add my tickets to my others so I can get one of those big prizes," Alex said, eyeing the drone that was taunting all of the low ticket holders.

"Well, I'm going to get this slap bracelet and a bunch of candy," I giggled.

"You can get candy anywhere?" Alex smirked.

"Not arcade game winning candy."

Alex shook his head, smiling at me.

After, we sat down to order food. We devoured slices of pizza and laughed until our stomachs hurt. We were enjoying our victory.

"I can't believe we won, Alex!" I exclaimed, taking a huge bite of pizza.

"I know, right? We worked so hard on that project," he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

It dawned on me that this may be the last time we hang out again. He can move on with his life without the project keeping us tied together. And I wouldn't blame him. I was the one who acquired a boyfriend. I couldn't expect Alex to be the third wheel. I had to say something to let him know what he meant to me.

"You know, Alex, I just wanted to say that you're one of my best friends," I said, looking at him earnestly.

Alex's expression softened, "You're one of my best friends too, Winter. What's going on?"

"I just mean that I appreciate you so much. You accept me for who I am and are always there to meet me where I am. I love our conversations. I don't want to lose that," I explained, feeling a little vulnerable.

Alex's eyes searched mine for a moment before he spoke, "You'll never lose me as a friend, Winter. I care too much about you for that."

I felt my heart swell with gratitude, and we hugged tightly. Something shifted at that moment, and our hug almost became a kiss. But then Alex pulled away.

I couldn't read his expression. "I have to go, Winter. Thanks for coming out with me today."

I smiled sadly, knowing that it was probably for the best. "It's okay, Alex," I said, smiling sadly. "Thanks for coming out with me today."

As he walked away, I couldn't help but watch him in sadness. I wondered what might have happened if we had taken that chance. But I knew our friendship was worth more than any fleeting moment, which made me grateful. Still, I was sad. I missed him already.

I walked to the car, feeling awful. My phone pinged, and it was Lathan texting, asking if I wanted to meet him at the mall to help him pick out his clothes for the dance. I agreed and told him I was on my way. I looked at the empty spot Alex's car was parked one last time before getting into my car and driving away.

It hit me that I didn't buy myself a dress for the dance.

I walked through the mall looking for the store Lathan said he would be in front of. Then I saw Lathan walking toward me. He flashed me a smile, and my heart skipped a beat. We chatted for a bit, and I found myself laughing at his jokes and feeling at ease around him.

As we were talking, I saw Jordan and Marcus approaching us. They were on a mission to find outfits for the upcoming dance, and we all decided to hit the stores together. The guys went off in search of clothes, and Jordan and I headed to the changing rooms to try on dresses.

As I tried on a dress, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed by the weight of my emotions and had to sit down. Jordan noticed my distress and rushed over to me.

"Winter, what's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked, looking concerned.

I shook my head, feeling tears start to well up. "I don't know, Jordan. I just feel so awful about Alex. I have serious feelings for him, but I don't know what to do. I like Lathan. I am dating Lathan."

Rolling her eyes, Jordan joked that she never saw that coming. But then she saw how truly upset I was, and her sarcasm melted away. "Winter, you have to do what's best for you. If you really have feelings for Alex, you need to be honest with him and yourself," Jordan said, giving me a hug.

"But what if I ruin our friendship?" I asked, still feeling unsure.

Jordan pulled back and looked at me squarely. "Look, Winter. I'm on team Alex all the way. But I also care about you, and I don't want you to do something you'll regret. You agreed to go to the dance with Lathan, so do that. But then take a break and think about what you really want. You don't want to ruin your friendship with Alex if you're not serious."

I nodded in agreement, grateful for Jordan's support. It was clear that I needed to sort out my feelings before making any big decisions. But for now, I would go to the dance with Lathan and try to enjoy myself, knowing that I had a good friend in Jordan to talk to when I needed it.