Ava sat in class, her gaze fixed on the window, daydreaming about what life might be like if she finally met "the one." Growing up in Y City with her family, Ava had always known she wasn't the prettiest girl in school but there was something about her that made people notice. Her presence was impossible to ignore. She was average in height, a little curvy, with naturally tanned skin that seemed to glow in the sunlight. Confidence was her secret weapon, and it had earned her a quiet popularity among her peers.
As she sat there lost in her thoughts, her heart skipped a beat. Across the hall, a boy she'd secretly admired for the past three years walked by. Their eyes met, and he waved. Ava froze for a moment, completely caught off guard. "Was that really him?" she whispered to herself, a smile slowly spreading across her face. The kind of smile that had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Alex. He was the tall guy Ava had secretly loved for as long as she could remember. Not overly muscular, but his presence alone gave him the kind of stature that made people stop and stare. His skin was naturally fair, almost like milk, and his features were so perfectly balanced it was almost unfair for a guy. Smart, charming, and undeniably cute he was the kind of person who seemed to have it all together, yet somehow Ava couldn't help but feel he might notice her.
"I think I've seen Alex… stealing glances at me," Ava whispered to her best friend, Gabriella, who was sitting beside her. "Do you think he… likes me too? Because, honestly, I really like him."
Gabriella rolled her eyes so hard it was almost theatrical. "Oh please," she said with a teasing smirk. "Are you that blind? He definitely likes you. I see him staring at you all the time those sexy eyes of his are glued to you."
Unlike Ava, Gabriella was tall, skinny, and had the kind of face card that belonged on magazine covers. But despite her model-like looks, she had zero interest in the modeling world. Instead, she was Ava's confidante, partner-in-crime, and sometimes brutally honest reality check.
Ava gave Gabriella a sly wink, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nerves. "I hope there's a happy ending," she whispered, half to herself, half to her best friend. With that, she stood up, smoothing her skirt and brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Every step she took out of the classroom felt like a little victory, like she was stepping closer to the story she had always imagined for herself.