The Turning Point
1264 Words
Monday morning, at the school entrance were usually loud—students shouting across hallways, sneakers slapping against tiles, gossips flying everywhere like confetti—but today felt strangely slow for Evan. Maybe it was because he had barely slept. He had replayed every moment from Ava’s birthday party in his mind: the rooftop… the almost-kiss… Bethany’s smile under the night lights… the way she looked at him before Ava barged in.
He knew something had changed between them. Something he didn’t understand yet, but something real.
He got to school earlier than usual and stood near the entrance they normally met at. Each second felt like forever. His chest tightened with anticipation, his mind wondering whether Bethany would show up with her usual bright smile and her “Good morning, Evan.”
So when his phone buzzed, he grabbed it quickly.
Martins: Hey, running a little late. Don’t wait for me. I’ll meet you in class.
He blinked, reading it twice.
Late?
Don’t wait?
Evan lowered his phone slowly. His excited smile faded, replaced by confusion, then something that felt too close to worry. Did he do something wrong? Did he misread the rooftop moment? Did Bethany regret the almost-kiss?
A million questions spun through his head.
Still, he walked inside, pushing both hands in his pockets as he tried to shake off the disappointment. Students rushed around him, laughing, gossiping, shoving each other playfully. It should’ve distracted him—but nothing did.
Not when the only person he wanted to see seemed to be avoiding him.
When he reached the classroom, he sat down and glanced at the door every few minutes. When Bethany finally walked in, his heart instantly reacted—only for her to walk straight past him without even looking in his direction.
His chest tightened.
“Morning,” he tried with a small hopeful smile.
Bethany froze for half a second, turned slightly, and murmured, “Morning,” before quickly sliding into her seat.
Short. Cold. Avoidant.
Not Bethany.
Throughout the lesson, he tried talking to her two different times, but she barely responded.
“Did you get home safe last night?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you finish the assignment?”
“Uh-huh.”
By the third attempt, he stopped trying.
His stomach twisted. Something was definitely wrong.
While Evan silently questioned everything, Bethany’s brain was doing somersaults of its own. From the moment she saw Evan that morning, her heart had practically jumped out of her chest. She had panicked and hidden behind a car like someone running from a debt collector.
How was she supposed to face him after almost kissing him? What if he didn’t feel the same? What if she embarrassed herself? What if she said something stupid? What if he regretted the moment?
She literally couldn’t breathe properly.
During break, Bethany grabbed Ava’s arm the second the bell rang.
“Ava, diner. Now. I need food. Or water. Or oxygen. Let’s go!”
Ava stumbled as Bethany half-dragged her across the hall. “Jesus, Beth! What’s chasing you?”
“You,” Beth muttered. “Food. Life. Silence. Let’s go, jare!”
At the diner, Ava stared at her for two straight minutes while Bethany pretended to be deeply interested in her plate of fries.
“Bethany Martins,” Ava finally said. “Talk. What’s wrong? You’re acting like someone that swallowed panic.”
Beth looked up with a too-wide smile. “Nothing is wrong! I’m totally fine!”
Ava scoffed. “Girl, please. You avoided Evan like he owes you assignment money. Explain.”
Bethany froze mid-chew.
Ava leaned in. “And what exactly were you and Evan doing on the rooftop on Saturday night?”
Beth choked on air.
She coughed. “Evan… fresh air… He—he wasn’t feeling okay so I took him up there.”
Ava gave her a suspicious stare. “Fresh air my foot.”
Before Bethany could respond, a familiar voice approached.
“Hey, Ava.”
Then, with a softer tone, “Hey, Martins.”
Beth’s heart literally skipped a beat. She kept her eyes glued to her fries.
Evan shifted his weight awkwardly. “Uh… are you free after school? Can we meet up? I want to talk to you.”
Beth’s brain completely shut down.
Say yes.
Say no.
Run away.
Play dead.
All were options.
What came out was:
“Uh… actually, I’m going somewhere with Ava.”
A lie.
Ava’s mouth dropped open. She looked at Beth like you’re lying on my head? In broad daylight??
Evan only nodded slowly. “Oh. Okay… maybe another time then?”
“Yeah… another time.”
When he walked off, Ava immediately smacked Bethany’s arm.
“What is WRONG with you?! Why are you acting like Evan is a ghost haunting you?”
“I’m not!” Beth hissed. “I just need to process!”
“Process WHAT?!”
Bethany buried her face in her hands. “I think… I like Evan.”
Ava gasped dramatically. “You like Mr. Snob?! Girl, even powdered milk has more humility!”
Beth glared. “Ava.”
Ava burst out laughing. “I’m joking! Relax! You know I’ll always support you—even if it’s Evan you choose.”
Beth sighed. “I just… I don’t know how he feels.”
Ava smirked. “I know how he feels. That boy has been staring at you since resumption. Give him a chance. And stop running.”
Beth glared again, but she was blushing.
When the break ended and school finally closed, Evan grabbed his backpack and headed outside. He tried not to overthink the day, but every part of him felt heavy.
Until he heard it.
“EVAN!!”
He turned—and froze.
Bethany was running toward him, breathless, hair slightly messy, eyes shining like she’d made a decision in a hurry.
For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
“Martins,” he said, trying to hide his smile and failing.
“Ava bailed on me,” she said, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. “So I was thinking… if you still want to hang out…”
Evan felt something warm explode in his chest.
“Yeah,” he said quietly but with a smile he couldn’t hide. “I’d like that.”
Her heart jumped. “Okay, so… what’s the plan?”
He ran a hand through his hair, thinking. “Uh… movie?”
“That’s perfect.”
“Okay. I’ll text you the address. Be there before 6.”
“Okay.”
They exchanged a shy smile before walking off separately, but both had the same goofy grin on their faces.
They said their goodbyes, both trying not to look too excited—but failing miserably.
Bethany walked home practically glowing. Every step felt lighter. She couldn’t stop replaying Evan’s smile in her head.
Evan walked in the opposite direction, grinning at his phone before he even typed the address. His stomach felt like it was filled with fireworks instead of butterflies.
Tonight felt promising—mysterious, new, and warm.
⸻
As Bethany reached her front porch, she glanced back down the street—Evan was still walking, hands in his pockets, but she could tell from the bounce in his step that he was just as excited as she was.
A soft smile spread across her face.
She didn’t know what exactly would happen that evening, but she felt it deep in her chest—
Tonight’s movie plan already felt like the beginning of something special.
- Writer
