The Bullying and the Crush

Finney Blake trudged through the crowded hallway of his school, his eyes cast down at the floor to avoid the gaze of his classmates. He was a shy and timid 16-year-old boy, constantly bullied by his peers for being different. Finney's life was a never-ending cycle of fear and anxiety, always walking on eggshells to avoid confrontation. As he turned a corner, a group of boys stepped out of their lockers, blocking his path. "Hey, Finney, what's up?" one of them sneered, a tall, lanky boy with a cruel grin spreading across his face. "We were just talking about you, and how much we love your stupid haircut." Finney's heart sank, and he quickened his pace, trying to avoid them. But it was too late. The boys surrounded him, their laughter echoing off the lockers. Just as it seemed like things were about to escalate, a figure emerged from nowhere, punching one of the bullies in the nose and sending him stumbling backward. Ariah Byone stood tall, her hazel eyes flashing with anger, her curly honey-brown hair bouncing with each movement. "Back off, guys," she warned, her voice low and husky. "Leave him alone." The bullies quickly scattered, and Finney stared at Ariah in shock. "Thanks," he muttered, feeling a surge of gratitude. Ariah smiled, her full lips curling upward. "No problem," she said. "I couldn't just stand there and watch." Finney looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time. She was beautiful, with a sweet round face and feline-esque features. Her caramel-colored skin glowed in the fluorescent lighting, and her magenta highlights sparkled like tiny jewels. "I'm Ariah," she said, holding out her hand. Finney took it, feeling a jolt of electricity as their palms touched. "I'm Finney," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Ariah's eyes lingered on his, and for a moment, Finney felt like she could see right through him. But then she released his hand, and the moment was lost. As they parted ways, Finney couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change. He glanced back at Ariah, who was watching him with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. Little did he know, Ariah had been watching him for a while now, her clairvoyant abilities picking up on his struggles. She had a feeling that their paths would cross again, and soon. Ariah walked away from the scene, her heart still racing from the adrenaline rush. She couldn't believe she had intervened, but something about Finney's vulnerability had touched a chord within her. As she made her way to her next class, Ariah couldn't help but think about Finney. She had a crush on him, had been watching him from afar for weeks, but she had never mustered the courage to approach him. Now, she felt like she had to see him again, to make sure he was okay. Ariah's intuition was telling her that their connection was more than just a coincidence, that their lives were about to become intertwined in ways she couldn't even imagine. With a sense of excitement and trepidation, Ariah made her way to the cafeteria, hoping to catch a glimpse of Finney. She spotted him sitting alone at a table, his eyes fixed on his food. Ariah's heart skipped a beat as she made her way over to him. She had a feeling that this was just the beginning of their story, one that would change them both forever.