The worst part about falling for someone wasn't the beginning.
It wasn't the realization.
It wasn't even the fear.
The worst part was waking up one day and understanding there was no turning back.
Ava realized that on Saturday morning.
The moment she opened her eyes.
The moment her thoughts immediately drifted toward Noah.
Not school.
Not books.
Not breakfast.
Noah.
Always Noah.
The realization sat heavily in her chest as she stared at the ceiling.
She had crossed some invisible line.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
At some point during the past few weeks, Noah Hayes had stopped being a crush.
Stopped being a complicated attraction.
Stopped being a dangerous possibility.
He had become important.
And that was infinitely worse.
Because attraction faded.
Importance didn't.
