The teacher's announcement hit me like a cold breeze."Pair project. Aiden Gray and Elara Reyes you're partners."
I swallowed hard. Aiden didn't look at me; his pen simply tapped against the desk. For the next week we worked in silence passing notes, dividing tasks, never speaking more than necessary. I did most of the research, most of the writing. When the presentation ended, the class clapped for him.
My hands trembled. "You could've said something," I muttered afterward.
Aiden's reply was flat. "It doesn't matter who talks, the grade's the same.""It matters to me," I shot back. The argument ended there, brittle as glass.
At lunch Ethan waved from across the courtyard. "Come eat, Elara!"I was halfway to the table when Isla dropped beside Aiden, laughing at something only he could hear. His small, distant stomach twist. I rolled my eyes, turned, and left.
The Match
By the time PT began, the air smelled of dust and cut grass."Girls versus boys," the coach said. "Captains Elara and Aiden."
Our teams spread across the field. For a moment, the old rhythm returned: the rush, the breathless chase. Then Aiden's kick came fast, a blur of motion. The ball slammed into my stomach the air left my lungs in one sharp gasp.
Pain bloomed, hot and deep. I crumpled. Voices blurred."Elara!"
Ethan's face appeared above me, frightened. He helped me to the bench, pressed a bottle of water into my hand. I forced a shaky smile. Across the field Aiden stood frozen, guilt flickering in his eyes before he turned away.
Evening
At home I ate in silence. Aunt Mira asked gentle questions I answered with one word replies.
Later I called my parents. Their smiles filled the screen, bright as ever."You look tired, sweetheart," my mother said."Just a long day," I lied.
When the call ended I swallowed two painkillers and opened my diary.Page after page filled with ink about the project, about Isla's laugh, about the ball, the fall, the way Aiden looked at me and then looked away.
I keep telling myself I'm fine, I wrote. But my heart still turns toward him, even when it hurts.
The words blurred. I closed the diary, pressed my hand to my stomach, and whispered to the dark, "Just let it stop."
The morning light crept through the curtains, soft but sharp enough to remind me of last night's pain. My stomach still ached where the ball had struck, but I told myself it was nothing. Pain meant I was still standing.
I showered quickly, tied my hair up, and joined Aunt Mira for breakfast. She poured tea and smiled."You're quiet today.""Just tired," I murmured, forcing a bite of toast.
On the walk to school I passed a pharmacy. The dull throb in my stomach made me pause. I stepped inside, bought a small pack of painkillers, and slipped them into my bag. Just in case, I told myself.
The first period dragged on, the teacher's voice echoing against the walls. Halfway through, the door creaked open—Aiden walked in, late, eyes cold as ever. He sat down without a word, the scent of rain following him. My heart stuttered before I forced it still.
When the bell rang, everyone packed up, chatter filling the room. I slipped away toward the bathroom, hoping the cool water would wash away the tension.
Inside, a group of girls leaned against the mirrors, reapplying lipstick and laughing. Their eyes flicked toward me, then away—but not before one whispered something that made the others snicker.
"What's funny?" I asked, my voice steady but low.
They exchanged glances. "Just wondering how it feels," one said sweetly, "to be pitied by the guy who ignored you."
My pulse jumped. "Say that again."
"Oh, she's brave now," another mocked. "Trying to act all innocent when everyone knows you're desperate for attention."
"I'm not—" I began, but the words tangled in my throat. Before I could finish, one of them pushed me lightly back into a stall and slammed the door. The lock clicked from the outside.
"Hey!" I shouted, pounding the metal. "Let me out!"
Their laughter faded down the hallway until only silence remained.
At first I kept knocking, calling, waiting for footsteps. But time passed—the noises outside thinned, replaced by the hollow hum of the pipes.
When the final bell rang, I realized the truth: the school was empty.
I sat on the cold tile floor, arms wrapped around my knees, and stared at the thin strip of light under the door. The sun dipped lower, turning that light orange, then red, then gone.
You're not breaking, I whispered to myself. You've survived worse.
Somewhere between exhaustion and panic, an idea came. The space beneath the stall divider—narrow, but maybe enough. I pressed flat to the floor, scraped my elbows, twisted my shoulder, and wriggled through until I could reach the outer latch. It clicked open with a sharp snap.
For a moment I just stood there, dizzy with relief. Then I ran.
The halls were ghost-silent, lockers reflecting the last streaks of twilight. My classroom door creaked as I pushed it open; my bag still hung on the chair where I'd left it. I grabbed my phone and called Ethan.
"Ethan, can you—can you pick me up? I got locked in school.""What? Stay where you are. I'm on my way."
But when I reached the main gate it was chained shut. The streetlights beyond flickered like stars I couldn't touch.
"I'll wait," I whispered, but fifteen minutes passed, then thirty. No car.
So I climbed. My palms stung against the metal, but I pulled myself over and dropped to the other side. My legs trembled when they hit the ground. I started walking.
By the time I reached Aunt Mira's house, the night air had turned cold and heavy. The front door opened before I could knock. Aunt Mira sat stiffly in a chair; Aiden stood beside her, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"Elara?" she said, voice sharp with worry. "Where were you?"
I opened my mouth to explain, but Aiden stepped forward, his tone hard."She wasn't at school when everyone left. I told you something was off—probably sneaking out with that boy."
My breath caught. "That's not true!"
He ignored me, turning to Aunt Mira. "She's lying."
Anger flooded through me, burning hotter than pain. "You don't know anything, Aiden! You never do!"
Aunt Mira started to speak, but I was already moving—past Aiden, up the stairs, into my room. I slammed the door and pressed my back against it, shaking.
The tears came fast, unstoppable. All the fear, the humiliation, the ache from my stomach and my heart mixed into one heavy storm. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed until the sound broke apart.
When there were no more tears left, I changed into pajamas, crawled into bed, and let exhaustion pull me under.