image [https://img.wattpad.com/story_parts/1496071441/images/18081209f323606b258958804583.jpg]
Now that I'm safely on the bus, I let out a sigh of relief. I found a free seat near the front, right by the window and close to the exit, and settle in. The adrenaline from earlier is still buzzing through me, similar to how I feel when our team faces off in a big competition.
I know Kyle won't be following me. I didn't get to see his reaction, but I bet he's annoyed that I managed to escape from his grasp. The thought makes me grin. He can never leave the house without one of Mom's meals, and I know he's probably disappointed I got away with it this time.
As I relax and gaze out the window, I'm overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice from behind me.
"Hey Raven, I played that mobile game you suggested last night. What was it called? ML? I got so hooked, I didn't even get a chance to finish the stuff I need for the student clearance today."
Raven's voice responds quickly, dripping with sarcasm.
"I told you to play it when you had free time, dimwit. Don't blame me for it, dogu."
"Hey, what's dogu?" the guy asks, sounding confused.
"It means 'dog you'," Raven replies flatly.
"Dog you? That sounds like I'm being called a dog poop or something weird about dog mating. It sounds pretty insulting, to be honest."
Raven sighs in annoyance. "It was meant to be an insult, and don't call me 'dear'. I don't know you."
"I didn't say 'deer'," he protests. "I called you my dear. Why are you so mean? Are you having a bad day, Raven?"
"Well, you tried to blame me for something that's your fault. Maybe you're the one having a bad day."
"Is it your red day? Come on, I was only—"
"'Dogu'," I mutter to myself, smiling at the thought. That's a pretty funny word. I wonder if I should start using it. It sounds like a term that could catch on. I glance over my shoulder at the students behind me, and I notice a pair chatting. The guy seems to really want her attention. I can't help but wonder if they're childhood friends or something more. They definitely seem to have some kind of connection.
I think I'll start using the word "dogu" too. It's hilarious. And honestly, the girl's a genius for coming up with it. I slipped my earphones in and pulled out my phone, ready to escape into the calm of classical music. It has a way of soothing me during these early morning bus rides, helping me settle into the rhythm of the day.
My thoughts drifted to the phrase "student clearance" from the conversation I overheard earlier. I leaned my head back against the bus window and closed my eyes for a moment.
I really am grateful for our subject teachers. Instead of having us submit bulky projects, they decided that a quiz would be the way to go. No more projects cluttering their office space. It's a relief—today I only need to worry about my test results, which seems like a much more manageable task.
Thanks to them, I didn't need to load up my bag with books or notebooks. My bag is light and simple—just my pencil case, a fully charged phone, my volleyball team sports attire, and a change of clothes for after practice. I packed everything last night, ahead of time, which made this morning so much easier.
Good job, Aria. You really planned ahead. You got away from Kyle and still made it in time for the bus. You deserve some credit for that.
Before I knew it, I had dozed off. The gentle hum of the bus, coupled with the soothing music, made it hard to stay awake. But now, I could feel the bus slowing down. We had arrived. The bus driver pulled up in front of the school entrance, bringing the ride to an end.
The students behind me, including Raven and her friend, were already on their feet and heading out. I pulled my earbuds out, carefully packed them in my bag, and checked that everything was in place.
Time to get off. I stood up, ready to face the school day ahead.
I glanced out the window and saw three buses lined up ahead, students flooding off them in groups. On the third bus, there he was—Jared. My longtime crush.
I couldn't help but stare at him. His long eyelashes, thick brows, gorgeous curly brown hair, and those mesmerizing brown eyes. Every time I look at him, my heart skips a beat.
Then, it happened. He turned and, almost as if he sensed my gaze, looked straight at my bus. I froze. Of course, I was still inside, so maybe it was just a coincidence, but why is it that when your crush looks at you, you instantly want to disappear? Why am I trying to hide?
In a panic, I ducked low in my seat, hoping he wouldn't notice me. It was an instinctive move, but it felt so juvenile. I could practically hear my thoughts screaming, What are you doing, Aria? My body just acted on its own, and before I knew it, I was practically crouching on the bus floor, doing my best to disappear.
Just then, I heard the lady driver's gentle voice from the front, "Is everything alright?"
I quickly glanced out the window to see if Jared was still looking, but I only saw his back as he walked away, heading toward the school building. Relief washed over me, but at the same time, I felt so silly.
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"No, nothing. Sorry, I'll get off now," I mumbled, not even sure why I felt the need to explain myself. Why was I acting like this? Why was I so self-conscious? I couldn't help it. Every part of me just felt... awkward.
As I stood up to leave, the bus driver spoke again,
"Hey," she said, her voice warm but amused. "You don't have to hide like that, girl. He probably doesn't even know you. Just chin up and act chill, okay?"
She must have seen my awkwardness through the rearview mirror. My face turned even redder. She was right, but did she have to point it out like that? I just smiled awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. She shook her head, still smiling, as she closed the bus door and drove off.
As I stepped onto the sidewalk, I couldn't shake the embarrassment. I just wanted to disappear, or maybe go somewhere far away. A quiet mountain, a peaceful beach, anywhere where I wouldn't have to feel this frustrating mix of emotions. I wanted to scream, cry—anything to release this tension.
I looked at my watch. I focused on the sound of the school bell ringing. It was time to go inside.
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After class
"Hey, Aria! How'd the exam go?" Beth asked, casually dropping her bag beside mine [https://img.wattpad.com/13a9b0b56106ec62aad356dae68309d8d1a9fe87/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f66726535334376797171514f5f413d3d2d313439363037313434312e313830383132326538313339643464653633393230383839383530382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Hey, Aria! How'd the exam go?" Beth asked, casually dropping her bag beside mine. She's my best friend, and we've been inseparable since middle school. With her smooth, dark skin and long, graceful limbs, she's practically built for volleyball—plus, she could easily be a model if she wanted.
At 5'9", she's taller than me, with thick, curly hair and that smile that could light up a room. The pink hairband she always wears just adds to her charm. What I love most about Beth, though, is how blunt she is—she says exactly what's on her mind without any sugarcoating.
"Good, I think," I replied, still mentally checking myself over the test. Then a thought struck me. "Wait, skin's the largest organ, right? I'm not mixing that up, am I?"
"Yeah, you're right, shorty," Beth teased, laughing at me.
"Hey!" I shot her a playful smile. She wasn't wrong though—I'm definitely the shortest on the team.
"What? You might be tiny, but you're the fastest, and you're our top spiker, so wear that with pride!" She grinned and gently elbowed me in the ribs.
"Yeah? Well, I'd rather be a beautiful blocker," I joked, pretending to pout. "How do you not have a boyfriend yet with that stunning face and killer body, Beth?"
"I see how it is going," she replied with a mock frown. "So now you're attacking me, huh? Well, the truth is, boys know it's safer to keep their distance from me. One slap from me, and they're flying across the room!" We both laughed, and I couldn't help but agree—no one should mess with a volleyball player. I've seen firsthand how our practice strength could leave a mark.
Beth gave me another playful elbow, and I followed her gaze across the court. There, standing together, were our coach and our math teacher. They'd make such a cute couple.
"You know, I don't get why they're not together already. It's pretty obvious," Beth said, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Beth, don't get jealous now. The right guy will come around at the right time, in the right place, for the right reasons. Just be patient," I said, turning to her with a warm smile and offering a hug, which she returned with a grin.
"You're sweet, Aria, but I'm not jealous or bitter. I'm actually out there actively looking for my man," she responded, giving me a wink.
Her gaze shifted back to the coach and math teacher, and I couldn't help but tease her, "No way... Don't tell me you're into the coach?"
"What?! Ew, Aria. I know my limits, and I would never even think about that! What are you even imagining?" Her reaction was so over-the-top, I had to laugh. She was hilarious when she was worked up.
We shared another laugh just as the coach blew his whistle, signaling for us to start the drill.
Beth and I moved to our positions. As I was adjusting, Daisy approached me with a nervous smile.
"Hey, Aria," Daisy said shyly. "So, um, I was thinking... After practice today, I wanted to invite the team to celebrate my birthday at karaoke. Would you and Beth want to come? I'll cover everything. It's the last day of school, so I was hoping you'd join..."
Daisy was always so kind and sweet. With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and cute pink lips, she had this warm, approachable vibe that made her easy to talk to. I couldn't resist smiling at her invitation.
Daisy truly has it all—beauty, wealth, charm—but what stands out the most is how down-to-earth she is [https://img.wattpad.com/c7f9f626e2b8d3a95b194af22e7fb92f98877296/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7341375a38616354754c453176413d3d2d313439363037313434312e313830383132316637386165373839353835333538373932353339332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Daisy truly has it all—beauty, wealth, charm—but what stands out the most is how down-to-earth she is. It feels almost surreal. How can someone be so perfect and still so kind and humble? It makes me wonder if every girl at this school is like that, and whether I'm the only one who feels completely ordinary in comparison.
I won't deny it—being around her makes me feel a little insecure, but I know it's not her fault. I don't want to be rude to her, but I can understand why some people might feel uncomfortable around someone so effortlessly perfect. She's like a character straight out of a fairy tale—graceful, kind-hearted, and with a smile that could light up a room. Honestly, if we weren't both from such different worlds, I'd probably want to be her friend. But the reality is, our lives are entangled in a way that makes any genuine friendship feel strained.
Her grandfather's business is directly linked to my father's firm, and that makes things complicated. Everything about our relationship feels like it's built on something artificial, something that I can't shake off. I don't want to get close to her because I fear it might be for all the wrong reasons—because of the business ties, or the benefits that could come from them. And I can't stand the thought of that.
It's not that I think she's not worth being friends with. Quite the opposite. She's genuinely a wonderful person, and I appreciate her efforts to include me in her world. But sometimes, not all great people are meant to be in your life, right? It's me—I'm the problem. Maybe in another life, we'd be best friends, but not in this one.
She's been nothing but sweet, always reaching out, always trying. I can see that, and I admire her courage, especially since she knows the circumstances. When she asked, she was shy and blushing, clearly nervous. I sighed and offered her a tired smile. "I'll see. If I don't have anything else to do, sure, I'll come."
"Really? Thank you!" Daisy's excitement was clear, and it was hard not to feel touched by her enthusiasm. I couldn't help but smile, feeling like a bit of a villain in this scenario. But how could anyone be upset with her? She radiates warmth. It's clear that she's the kind of person everyone roots for.
"Alright, enough daydreaming, girls. Focus!" Our coach's voice snapped me back to reality.