The first warm days of spring were supposed to feel light.
But everything felt heavy.
Skie spotted Conner at his locker before third period — hoodie up, jaw tight, earbuds shoved in like the world was too loud for him. She waved once. Nothing. Not even a glance.
It wasn't the first time that week.
Actually, it had been five days.
Five days of Conner brushing past her in hallways. Of clipped replies and half-hearted nods. Of eyes that used to soften around her now sharpening into something else. Something distant.
Something cold.
Skie leaned against her locker, arms crossed. The hallway buzzed with life, but her insides buzzed with something else entirely — irritation, confusion, maybe even… guilt?
She found Dylan at lunch, slumped across the grass in front of the auditorium, nibbling on a protein bar like it was the last thing keeping him alive.
She dropped her bag beside him.
"Okay. What the hell is up with your best friend?"
Dylan raised an eyebrow, chewing slowly. "Could you be more specific?"
"Conner."
"Ah. The brooding prince of touchdowns and mood swings. What'd he do now?"
Skie sat beside him, pulling her knees up. "He's been ignoring me all week. Like, flat-out ghosting me and just the other week he was comforting me after you-know-who."
Dylan leaned back on his elbows, tilting his face toward the sun. "Have you considered maybe he's trying not to feel something?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Dylan smiled slightly. "Skie, he gave you his shoulder to cry on after what Jason did to you and later he finds out that you hooked up with the so-called guy again after all his efforts. I know you're not dumb. You know he's always looked at you like you hung the damn moon. "
She blinked. "What—? No. Conner doesn't… he's never said anything like that."
"Exactly," Dylan said. "But he didn't have to."
Skie bit the inside of her cheek. "Well, if he likes me, why is he acting like I kicked his puppy?"
"Because you were crying over Jason a week ago woman. He didn't expect to hear such thing about you too, especially not from the football guys. Conner's not the type to want to be your rebound. And he felt that way after Jason bragging about sleeping with you at Jonas party last friday"
Skie was quiet.
Dylan shrugged. "He's trying to protect you. And himself."
The silence stretched. Wind whispered through the trees.
Then Skie frowned. "That doesn't explain the attitude."
Dylan grinned. "Oh, that's just classic Conner. He's dramatic. It's why we love him."
She snorted. "He makes me want to punch a wall. By a wall, I meant his face"
They both giggled lightly.
"Which means you might like him too," Dylan sang, sing-song and unbothered.
Skie shoved his arm playfully. "Ugh. You're annoying."
Before Dylan could retort, a shadow fell over them.
A tall one.
"Skie?"
She turned.
And froze.
Her breath hitched as she stared up at the boy — no, the young man — standing before them. A little taller than Conner, sharp cheekbones, warm brown skin, shoulder-length braids pulled into a low bun. Same eyes as hers. But there was a softness around his smile she hadn't seen in years.
"Aaron?" she whispered.
He smiled. "Hey, sis."
Skie scrambled up, throwing her arms around him. "Oh my God. You're actually here."
He hugged her back tightly. "Mom told me she thought I should… give this a shot. Living with you. Trying something new."
Skie pulled away, eyes misting. "I didn't think she'd ever agree."
Aaron shrugged. "Took some convincing. But after Dad's last outburst… she said it was time."
Dylan stood awkwardly, watching the exchange, and something unfamiliar settled in his chest — a flutter, like wings against his ribcage.
Aaron turned to him and held out a hand. "Hi. I'm Aaron."
Dylan took it, and the touch was electric. He nearly forgot his name.
"D-Dylan," he stammered. "Nice to… uh… welcome to the mess."
Aaron laughed, deep and rich, before saying with his deep but charming voice. "Looking forward to it."
And just like that, Dylan's carefully ordered world tilted. Because Aaron wasn't just beautiful — he had that quiet magnetism, the kind that pulls tides and breaks hearts.
He was the male version of everything he loved about Skie.
Skie looped her arm around Aaron's. "Come on. You've got to meet everyone. But maybe not Conner just yet. He's... in one of his moods."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Still nursing a crush?"
Skie blinked. "Wait— you knew?"
Aaron grinned. "Skie, I may have been living with Dad, but I'm not blind."
After School — The Bleachers Again
Conner sat alone, tossing a football from hand to hand like it could balance his thoughts.
The sky above was streaked with gold, early evening settling in.
"Hey."
He didn't turn. "If you're here to ask why I've been weird, don't."
"I wasn't going to ask," Skie said, climbing the bleachers. "I already know."
That got his attention. He looked up at her, expression unreadable.
"You do?"
She sat beside him, not touching but close. "I know I hurt you. I didn't mean to. And I didn't know..."
"You don't owe me anything," he said quickly. "You were with someone else. That's life."
Skie reached for his hand, and he tensed.
"I just wish you hadn't shut me out. You're... you're my best friend, Conner."
Conner let out a breath that felt like it had been sitting in his chest for weeks.
"That's the problem, Skie. I don't think I want to be just your best friend anymore."
The words hung in the air like thunder.
Skie stared, lips slightly parted, as if trying to breathe through it.
"I didn't say anything before because you were hurting. Because you loved someone else," Conner continued, voice shaking. "But watching you break over him... it nearly killed me. And then you go ahead-"
Sigh.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because I thought if I did, you'd walk away."
Skie was silent. Then, so soft he almost missed it: "I'm not walking now."
Elsewhere — A New Story Beginning
Dylan found Aaron near the art room after school, sketching lazily in a notebook with earbuds in.
Dylan hesitated, then walked up, cheeks hot.
"Hey."
Aaron looked up, eyes warm. "Hey, Dylan."
He hesitated a bit before pointing and asking Aaron if he was interested in art.
Aaron nodded in response, as his answer made Dylan a little comfortable to ask an important question he couldn't help but ask.
"I was wondering if maybe... you wanted to hang out sometime. Like, after school. I could show you the theatre. Or the city. Or just... not be around our siblings."
Dylan said with a nervous smile.
Aaron smiled. "I'd like that."
Their eyes met. And for a second, the world quieted.
Dylan didn't believe in love at first sight.
But he was starting to believe in something close.