Unseen Crushes

Ariah Byone, or Sol as her friends called her, navigated her daily life with a laid-back demeanor that belied the turmoil brewing inside. Her Bohemian style, marked by vibrant clothing and eclectic accessories, set her apart in a sea of conformity. With her sharp wit and sarcastic tongue, Sol effortlessly cut through the noise, but beneath her confident exterior lay a tangled web of emotions. She harbored a secret crush on Finney Blake, a quiet and reserved student in her science class. Sol often found herself stealing glances at Finney, admiring his kind heart and shy demeanor. However, she was aware that Finney's affections lay elsewhere, with a girl named Donna. Sol's sarcastic nature often kicked in when she thought about Finney, joking to herself about being "just another girl in the sea of faces he doesn't notice." Despite this, she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing whenever Finney was near. As she walked through the school hallways, Sol's eyes would inevitably drift toward Finney's desk, where he'd be scribbling notes or staring intently at the teacher. She'd quickly look away, feigning nonchalance, but her heart would skip a beat. Sol's friends had long given up trying to get her to talk about Finney, sensing the depth of her emotions. One day, while sitting in science class, Sol found herself doodling Finney's name on the edge of her notebook. She quickly scratched it out, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. As the class ended and students began to file out, Sol gathered her belongings and followed Finney at a distance. She didn't intend to approach him, but simply wanted to catch a glimpse of him in a different setting. As she trailed behind Finney, Sol noticed the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, and the gentle way he smiled to himself. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a wave of affection wash over her. For a moment, Sol forgot about Donna and the seemingly insurmountable distance between her and Finney. But as she turned a corner, Sol spotted Donna herself, chatting with Finney in the hallway. Sol's heart sank, and she quickly retreated, not wanting to intrude on their conversation. As she walked away, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was just a ghost hovering on the periphery of Finney's life. Sol continued to observe Finney from afar, always careful to keep her distance. She wondered if he'd ever notice her, if he'd ever see her as more than just a classmate. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and Sol couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. Little did she know, their lives were about to intersect in ways she never could have imagined. The universe had a way of bringing people together, often in the most unexpected and dramatic ways. For Sol and Finney, their chance encounter would set off a chain of events that would change their lives forever. As Sol walked home from school, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was about to shift. She felt a sense of restlessness, a sense that she was on the cusp of something new. And as she looked up at the sky, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her and Finney.