Jealousy
674 Words
HIDDEN HEARTS
EPISODE 12: JEALOUSY
The school festival arrived on a bright Saturday morning.
Colorful banners decorated the campus.
Music played from speakers near the entrance.
Students hurried between booths, laughing and taking pictures.
For once, St. Aurelian High felt less like a school and more like a celebration.
Elena stood behind the literature booth, arranging books for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Relax," Mia said. "They're already straight."
Elena adjusted one anyway.
Mia rolled her eyes.
"You only do this when you're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
"You're working with Jayden all day."
Elena immediately looked away.
Mia grinned.
"Exactly."
---
A few minutes later, Jayden arrived.
His sleeves were rolled up, and he carried two boxes of supplies.
"Where do these go?" he asked.
Elena pointed toward a table.
"There."
"That's very specific."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Jayden noticed.
And for some reason, that tiny almost-smile felt like a victory.
---
The festival quickly became crowded.
Students moved everywhere.
Teachers supervised events.
Parents visited booths.
For a while, everything went smoothly.
Until someone unexpected appeared.
A girl.
Tall.
Confident.
Beautiful.
She walked directly toward Jayden.
"Jayden!"
Before he could react, she hugged him.
Elena froze.
The girl laughed.
"I haven't seen you in forever."
Jayden smiled.
"Ashley?"
"You remember me."
"Of course."
They continued talking.
Meanwhile, Elena suddenly found the books on the table very interesting.
Very, very interesting.
Mia appeared beside her.
"Who's that?"
"I don't know."
"You looked over there immediately."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Elena remained silent.
Mia's eyes widened.
"Oh."
"What?"
"Oh no."
---
Across the booth, Jayden was trying to end the conversation politely.
Ashley had attended St. Aurelian years ago before transferring schools.
She was friendly.
Energetic.
And apparently incapable of personal space.
When she laughed at one of his jokes and touched his arm, Jayden noticed something.
Elena wasn't looking at him.
Not once.
Which was strange.
Because lately she always did.
Even if only briefly.
---
Hours later, the festival finally began slowing down.
Students packed up decorations.
Booths started closing.
The sun hung low in the sky.
Jayden found Elena carrying a stack of books.
"I'll help."
"I'm fine."
The answer came too quickly.
Jayden frowned.
"Okay..."
Elena continued walking.
Jayden followed.
"Did I do something wrong?"
She nearly stopped.
"No."
"Then why are you acting strange?"
"I'm not."
"You are."
Elena sighed.
Why was he so observant lately?
---
They reached an empty section of the courtyard.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Jayden broke the silence.
"Is this about Ashley?"
Elena's heart nearly stopped.
"No."
It was a terrible lie.
Both of them knew it.
Jayden stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
Not in a cruel way.
In a surprised way.
"You were jealous."
Elena looked horrified.
"I was not."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
Elena wanted the ground to open and swallow her whole.
---
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Jayden's smile slowly faded.
His expression became softer.
More serious.
"Ashley is just an old friend."
Elena looked away.
"I didn't ask."
"I know."
A pause.
"But I wanted you to know."
Something about those words made her chest tighten.
Because he didn't have to explain.
Yet he did.
---
The evening sky glowed orange above them.
The festival was ending.
Students were leaving.
But neither of them moved.
Finally, Jayden spoke again.
"Can I tell you something?"
Elena nodded cautiously.
"You're the person I look for first when I walk into school."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the sounds of the festival seemed distant.
Elena stared at him.
Certain she had heard wrong.
"What?"
Jayden rubbed the back of his neck.
Suddenly nervous.
A feeling he hated.
"I just mean..."
He stopped.
Then laughed softly.
"Forget it."
But Elena couldn't forget it.
Not now.
Not after hearing those words.
Because for the first time, she realized something.
Maybe she wasn't the only one struggling with feelings she couldn't explain.
Maybe Jayden was too.
And that thought stayed with her long after the festival ended.
- Writer
