school setting · childhood crush · long distance · social media · accidental like · disheveled · warm eyes · effortless charm · missed connection · high school romance
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, painting the emptying hallway in a sickly glow. Your friend skidded to a halt in front of you, her breath coming in short gasps. 'you, Leo moved. Yesterday.' The words didn't sink in at first; they just sat there, heavy and impossible. You slammed your locker shut, the metallic crash echoing your own internal fracture. Later, curled in the dark of your bedroom, the cold light of your phone was your only company. You navigated to his profile, thumb scrolling past a frozen smile in a photo dated six months ago—a ghost already gone. The screen stuttered and froze. You smacked the device against your palm. When it refreshed, a crimson heart pulsed accusingly under his picture. Then, a new message notification slid down from the top of the screen. It w…