Whispers between worlds

Chapter 4:I gotta be by jagged edge

CHAPTER 4:I gotta be by Jagged Edge

Ms. Rachel Lawson was teaching physics, and she looked angrier than usual today. Her voice was sharp, and every time someone whispered, her eyes darted around the room like lasers. The girls in our class kept turning to look at us at the back—me, Megan, Hot Chocolate, and White Chocolate.

We were all sitting quietly, pretending to focus on the lesson. I thought staying quiet would please Ms. Lawson, but instead, it seemed to make her angrier. She didn’t like how calm we looked, as if we were ignoring her storm.

I tried to pay attention, but I was distracted. I could feel him staring at me, his gaze brushing over my skin like fire. My heartbeat quickened. Then, out of nowhere, his hand found mine. My breath caught. His fingers were soft but strong, warm yet steady, and when he held on, the butterflies in my stomach went wild.

Him holding my hand made me feel like I could see the future—a future where he was always there, every single day of my life.

“Hannah, you’re doing too much,” I scolded myself silently. I forced my eyes back to the board, back to Ms. Lawson’s endless explanations, but it was no use.

After one hour and thirty minutes, my brain felt heavy. Being taught by an angry teacher was worse than any headache. I was exhausted, struggling to concentrate. But then I’d look at his hand in mine, and suddenly I felt stronger. Excited. Like maybe I could keep going.

In my head, a song began to play on repeat, a soundtrack just for us.

I Gotta Be by Jagged Edge.

It goes like this:

"Don't wanna make a scene,

I really don't care if people stare at us

Sometimes I think I'm dreamin',

I pinch myself just to see if I'm awake or not

Is it real what I feel, could it be you and me?

Til the end of time never apart."

This song relates to our situation, right? I know it does.

Finally, the bell rang. Relief swept over me. I began to pack my books, but Liam beat me to it. He gently took my bag, slid my books inside, and carried it for me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Got it,” he said, flashing me that quiet smile that made my chest ache in the best way.

I turned to Megan. “We’ll see each other tomorrow, okay? Text me when you get home.”

She gave me a knowing grin, one of those I-see-what’s-happening looks, before walking away.

Then it was just me and Liam. We walked out of school hand in hand, his thumb brushing against mine every few seconds. The world around us blurred into background noise—the laughter of other students, the cars outside, even the buzzing in my head. All I could focus on was him.

When we reached my street, we stopped in front of my gate. We lingered, not wanting to end the moment. We talked about silly things—how boring physics had been, how Megan always made us laugh too hard—but beneath the conversation was something unspoken. Something waiting.

And then it happened. He leaned in closer, slow but sure, and before I could breathe, his lips touched mine.

Soft. Warm. Gentle.

My stomach flipped. My knees went weak, and my mind went blank. It felt like electricity, yet everything was calm at the same time. His kiss was shy but full of promise, like a secret he was finally sharing with me.

When we pulled away, my heart raced. He smiled, a little shy this time, and whispered, “I’ll call you tonight.”

We exchanged numbers right there, my hands trembling as I typed his name into my phone. Then he gave my hand one last squeeze before stepping back.

And just like that, he walked away, leaving me standing there under the evening sky, still dizzy from what had just happened.

When I finally went inside, I closed the door and leaned against it, my bag slipping off my shoulder. I

One thought echoed in my mind over and over again

This is just the beginning.