Weasley High: The Baseball Club

The Crush!

Chapter 3

The Crush!

Amira’s POV

Leaving the music class, I felt something I hadn’t felt all morning—peace. Real peace.

Like, for the first time today, I wasn’t trying to hide. I wasn’t shrinking inside my own skin.

Lexi’s compliment about my voice still echoed in my ears, making my smile stretch even wider. I hummed a tune as we walked side by side.

“You’re in a good mood,” Lexi said, bumping my shoulder lightly.

I gave a small shrug, hiding my smile. “Where’s the next class?”

“Upstairs. Last floor,” she replied, turning her attention to a small commotion ahead.

A group of younger boys—probably fifth graders—were shoving each other, voices raised in an argument that made everyone in the corridor glance their way.

“Cut that out right now!” Lexi snapped, stepping between them with authority.

The boys froze. One of them had his fist halfway in the air. The other looked ready to bite his tongue off.

“Move along. Now,” Lexi ordered, giving one a little nudge.

They didn’t move. Just stood there, glowering at each other.

I watched with mild amusement. Her tone, her stance—the whole energy. Lexi was clearly the boss here. The gleaming silver crest pinned to her uniform spelled it out: Head Girl.

“If you don’t walk away this second, you’re both getting detention,” she warned, louder this time.

The threat worked. One of the boys gave the other a hard glare, hissed like a pissed-off snake, and stomped off—straight past me. The other walked off in the opposite direction without another word.

Lexi returned to my side, shaking her head.

“The juniors are always a handful. Silly little boys,” she muttered as we headed toward the staircase.

“Your school’s more... lively,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

More like chaotic.

Co-ed schools had way more drama than I’d imagined. And boys didn’t help.

Boys were trouble!

“You call that lively?” Lexi laughed, the sound deep and full of warmth.

Before I could answer, a voice called out, “Oh—Lexi, how are you doing?”

I turned toward the voice—

oh, my!

I stood there staring, frozen in place. hardly breathing.

A girl with sharp cheekbones and eyes like cold fire stepped toward us. Her hazel brown eyes locked with mine, and I felt something shift inside me.

Her face was everything—clean lines, intense stare, and a ponytail that made her look like she belonged in a movie.

“Hi Peyton,” Lexi said, smiling. “I’m good. How about you?”

“I’m fine,” she replied, but her eyes stayed fixed on me.

My heart jerked. My throat tightened.

I looked away. Or tried to. It was like my eyes had a mind of their own, dragging me back to hers. Hazel brown. Deep and unreadable.

Oh God, what is happening to me?

“Who's your friend?” Peyton asked, her voice lower now, curious.

My mouth went dry.

Lexi turned to me, unfazed. “This is Amira. She just transferred in today.”

I swallowed hard and gave a small, awkward smile as Lexi added, “She’s our new classmate.”

Peyton smiled at me.

I melted.

“Hi, Amira,” she said softly. Still holding my gaze.

“Hi, Peyton,” I managed. It came out as a whisper, hoarse and shaky.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Lexi tugged on my hand. “Let’s go, girl.”

“Catch you later,” she added to Peyton as we turned to leave.

“Alright,” Peyton said, her voice light as she stepped away.

Then she called out suddenly, “Mason!”

We all turned.

A boy—tall, shiny forehead, smug face—was walking toward her. She ran straight into his arms—everything just went so slow at this moment.

They hugged. Then kissed.

Correction: Snogged. Because the stupid boy was literally eating off her face.

My face twisted.

“That’s her boyfriend,” Lexi whispered, chuckling under her breath.

But I didn’t laugh.

I glared. And I didn’t even realize I was glaring until my knuckles turned white around my notepad.

Seriously? Did she have to squeal like that?

And who even was this Mason guy anyway? What was so special about that bald-headed, overconfident loser?

I huffed.

Lexi looked at me, clearly amused.

I tried to smile. I really did. But it came out as a weird half-frown.

“Let’s go…” she said, but her words blurred as I clenched my jaw and turned sharply toward the stairs.

Peyton was still locked in that embrace. It felt like a stab to the chest.

We clambered up. I stomped every step.

“You okay?” Lexi asked, panting behind me.

“I’m fine,” I snapped.

Too fast. Too harsh.

I immediately regretted it. I turned to her, forced another smile.

She, on the other hand, was grinning.

Grinning like she knew something I didn’t.

“What?” I asked, startled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I should be asking you that,” she said, laughing now. “Your face? Girl, I was watching you the whole time.”

I froze. “Watching what?”

“The way you were staring at her.”

My cheeks burned instantly.

I said nothing. Just turned and ran the rest of the stairs.

Lexi’s laughter followed me.

“We’re going to be late!” I yelled, desperate to change the subject.

She finally stopped giggling and caught up with me, still smiling.

I ignored her and kept walking.

We reached the last floor—the same classroom where we’d had Professor Looney. But this time, there was no teacher in sight. Students were chatting, playing around, calling out to Lexi as we walked in.

“Hey Lexi!”

“Hi, Head Girl!”

She waved at them, pausing to greet a few.

I wasn’t in the mood for anyone.

I made a beeline to the back corner of the class, found an empty desk, and sank into the chair like my heart had been dragged through mud.

I dropped my backpack and stared at nothing. Peyton’s face was reeling in my head like a stuck video clip. That smile. Those eyes.

And then him. Mason.

Ugh.

I groaned quietly, pulled out a textbook, and flipped through it without even reading the words.

I didn’t want to admit it—not even to myself—but I was jealous.

Stupidly jealous.

Why him? Why not me?

What was so great about him, anyway?

What would it feel like... if I were the one hugging her?

My fingers clenched around the textbook.

Snap out of it, Amira. You don’t even know her.

But her face. Her voice. Her laugh.

It haunted me like a melody I didn’t want to forget.

“Are you daydreaming again?” Lexi’s voice snapped me out of it.

I jolted. Pulled the book up to hide my flaming cheeks.

“I’m reading,” I muttered. “Can’t you see?”

She snorted, mumbled something I couldn’t catch, and dropped into the seat next to mine.

I peeked over at her.

She was still smiling.

God.

Amira, what’s wrong with you?