No to her, Yes to him

"Amy! Come here!" My mother excitedly called me from the kitchen while I was busy reading in my room. "What is it?" I replied, my voice a dull hum from my book. She annoyingly repeated herself, practically yelling the words to make me come. Giving in, I walked toward her. "Here! Your brother successfully graduated college, so we are moving after you finish this year," she said quickly, her face beaming. She didn't ask for my opinion, acting as if I was a robot standing in front of her. My face immediately turned pale. I couldn't imagine how I would cope with the news, knowing that I'm not the type of person who can adapt quickly. I'm not friendly enough to gather friends in a minute, nor human enough to even talk to someone without stuttering. My mom noticed my pale face and concerned look. "Okay, sweetie, what's wrong? There's no need to be worried. I know you're friends with Ayla, my sister, and you're going to be in her class," my mom said, concern lacing her voice. Hearing my aunt's name, my thoughts brightened a little, and I nodded in agreement. Fast Forward: My mom acted on what she said, and now I'm here, in this new school, where my aunt is working. Although the front gate was a bit intimidating, the school was lively and bustling with students. The hallways were already crowded with chattering students laughing and talking with their friends. Just as I was about to walk inside, my aunt Ayla spotted me and walked over. "Amy!" She said as she hugged me tightly. "You're finally here!" she exclaimed, pulling away with a wide smile. I gave her a small smile back, but my heart was still pounding with nerves. "I'm glad to see you too, Auntie," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Come on, I'll show you around," she said, leading me through the busy halls. My anxiety grew with every step I took, the crowd of students making me want to curl into a ball and hide. Aunt Ayla seemed to notice my discomfort and led me to a quieter area. "Okay, so I have a tour guide for you," she said, pulling out her phone. "She's a student here, and I thought it would be a good way for you to get to know someone." Before I could protest, she had already called the person. "Keyleigh? It's Ayla. I have a favor to ask. I have a new student here, my niece, and I was wondering if you could give her a quick tour of the school." I heard a faint, cold voice coming from the phone. "Okay," the voice said simply. My aunt beamed, and my stomach flipped. "Great! She's on her way." After she hung up, she turned to me with an encouraging smile. "She's a little quiet, but she's a great person, I promise," she said. I simply nodded, still unsure of what to expect. I met Keyleigh at the cafe across the street, just like Aunt Ayla had instructed. She was sitting at a table near the window, her back to me. She had long, black hair that fell to her waist, and she was wearing a black hoodie and ripped jeans. When I sat down, she turned to face me. My breath hitched as I looked at her. Her eyes were a deep, captivating brown, and her face was like a masterpiece, perfectly sculpted. She had a cold, mysterious aura around her, and my heart fluttered. "You must be Amy," she said, her voice a fascinating cold tone. "Your aunt told me about you." I could only nod, completely captivated by her. We spent the day together, exploring the school and all of its hidden gems. She showed me things I would have never found on my own, and with every new place we went to, my admiration for her grew. Over the years, Keyleigh and I rarely got in touch. But I was so thankful for the friends I had made, as they were also her friends. I always had to contain my excitement whenever they talked about her, and my secret admiration for her grew in silence. I didn't think anyone knew, but looking back, Keyleigh probably had an inkling. A few too many stolen glances caught with her own, a nervous laugh when she'd speak, and my habit of suddenly going quiet whenever she entered a room. She never said anything, and neither did I, leaving my feelings to simmer in a quiet, unspoken understanding. Finally, in Grade 12, a decade later, the universe seemed to be on my side. I finally saw her again, but this time, it was different. We were in the same class, and my heart pounded against my chest the moment I saw her. She was still the same, with her cold aura and captivating beauty. But as a new student, she was surprisingly friendly and outgoing, which brought us closer. My friends, who were also friends with her, were oblivious to my long-held feelings, but Keyleigh, I suspected, was not. And yet, she let me get closer, allowing me to finally get to know the girl I had secretly loved for ten years. And so, my decade-long secret love was no longer a secret. With our growing friendship, I felt brave enough to confess, and my fears came true when she rejected me. But the story doesn't end there. Because just as my heart was shattered, a boy stepped forward with a heartfelt confession of his own. Now, I'm caught in an impossible dilemma: Do I move forward with the one who wants me, or remain stuck on the one who shattered me?