The Unlikely Crush

Ariah Byone sat in her science class, her eyes drifting towards the boy with the messy brown hair and shy demeanor. Finney Blake was his name, and she had noticed him getting bullied by his classmates, including Donna's friends. Ariah felt a pang of sympathy for him, wondering what it was like to be in his shoes. She had seen him getting pushed around, his books scattered on the floor, and his face twisted in a mixture of fear and embarrassment. As she gazed at Finney, Ariah couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest. She had been secretly crushing on him for weeks, but she hadn't mustered the courage to approach him. Finney seemed oblivious to her gaze, lost in his own world of worries and fears. Ariah knew that look all too well; she had seen it in the mirror every day. Finney's life was far from easy. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and his mother had passed away. Ariah had heard whispers about the Blake family's struggles, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of solidarity with Finney. She knew what it was like to have a difficult home life; her own mother practiced hoodoo, and some of the townspeople were wary of their family's traditions. Ariah's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the teacher's voice, droning on about cellular respiration. She scribbled notes on her pad, her eyes occasionally drifting towards Finney. He was a quiet boy, but there was something about him that drew her in. Maybe it was his vulnerability, or maybe it was the way he seemed to carry himself with a quiet strength. As the class ended, Ariah gathered her things and followed Finney out of the room. She hung back, not wanting to intrude on his space. Finney seemed to sense her presence, glancing over his shoulder before quickening his pace. Ariah watched him disappear into the crowded hallway, feeling a pang of disappointment. She couldn't help but wonder what Finney's life was like outside of school. Did he have friends? Did he have a supportive family? Ariah's curiosity was piqued, and she found herself wanting to know more about this shy, bullied boy. As she walked out of the school building, Ariah spotted Finney getting pushed around by three boys. Her instincts kicked in, and she rushed towards them, her fists clenched. "Hey, leave him alone!" she shouted, punching one of the boys in the nose and another in the testicles. The boys yelped in pain, scattering as Ariah stood over them, her chest heaving. Finney stared at her, his eyes wide with gratitude. "Thanks," he muttered, rubbing his sore arm. Ariah smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "No problem," she said, her voice softening. "You okay?" Finney nodded, his eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable. Ariah felt a spark of connection, and she knew that she wanted to get to know Finney better. "I'm Ariah," she said, holding out her hand. Finney took it, his handshake firm. "I'm Finney," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. As they parted ways, Ariah couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had intervened on Finney's behalf, and in doing so, had caught his attention. She wondered what the future held for them, but for now, she was content to have made a connection with this shy, bullied boy.