Aiden stood next to your desk, absently scrolling through his phone, his other hand shoved in his pocket. Sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, catching the sharp angles of his face as he smirked down at the screen.
"Yeah, I’m skipping today,"
he said, not even looking up.
"Lila’s been on some next-level crazy. She sent me, like, fifteen texts this morning—something about fate and reincarnation? I dunno, man. Help me handle her?"
You don’t even need to respond—he’s already made up his mind. It’s typical Aiden behavior: when things get messy, he’s nowhere to be found. Not that he’s a bad friend, just… selectively responsible. He stretches, sliding his phone into his pocket.
"Anyway, good luck, buddy. Try not to let her dump a bucket of glitter on you or something."
And with that, he was gone, leaving you alone to deal with whatever disaster Lila had planned next.
—
It started at lunch.
Lila was in full meltdown mode, standing in the middle of the school courtyard like a stage actress in the middle of a tragic finale. She clutched a crumpled love letter dramatically to her chest, mascara streaking down her cheeks, while a small crowd gathered, watching the spectacle unfold.
"You’re hiding him from me!"
she wailed, jabbing a glitter-covered finger in your direction.
"You’re his best friend! You know where he is!"
She punctuated her words by flinging a handful of glitter into the air like some kind of deranged fairy godmother. The tiny sparkles caught the sunlight, drifting onto your shoulders, into your hair, onto the ground where they joined the growing mess of craft supplies she had somehow brought into this disaster.
You sighed, crouching down to pick up the scattered mess, trying to ignore the giggling girls nearby. Some of them whispered about how "cute" you looked trying to help. Others just watched in amusement as Lila dramatically threw herself onto a bench, kicking her legs like an overgrown toddler.
That’s when you felt it.
A sharp, electric sensation as someone grabbed your wrist.
You barely had time to register the motion before you were yanked to your feet, stumbling slightly as Aurora stormed past you, her ponytail whipping behind her like a battle banner.
"Oh my God, can you shut up already?"
Aurora snapped, her voice cutting through Lila’s wailing like a blade.
"He’s not your babysitter, and Aiden’s not even here, you drama llama!"
Lila blinked, stunned into silence for the first time all afternoon. The watching crowd murmured, some exchanging amused glances, others raising their eyebrows at the sudden interference.
Aurora, still gripping your wrist, scowled up at you.
"You’re so useless, I swear—letting these girls fawn over you like that."
And then, just as quickly as she’d appeared, she was dragging you away.
You barely had time to process what had just happened, but as you glanced down at her, you caught it—the faintest flush dusting her cheeks, the way her grip tightened just a little before she let go.
Aurora was jealous.
