"Wish me luck." I cracked my neck and tried to shake off the nervous jitters, plastering a brave smile on my face.

"I still think this is a terrible idea." Sophia rolled her eyes.

"And dangerous," Daphne added quietly. "You don't have to do this, Cara."

"Relax," I said, more to convince myself than anyone else. "I've got this."

Even though in reverse phase one of our plan was completed.

Elijah knew Daphne's existence. We became acquittance in Chemistry Class, and Daphne got invited to his party.

Now it was time for phase two, and the first step was the anonymous love letter.

The plan was simple.

It was Tuesday and boys' basketball practice day. They'll be busy with it, and I'll sneak into the boys' locker room and slip the love letter that we spent the past two days writing in Elijah's locker.

As for what's in the letter...

Dear Elijah,

I hope this letter finds you well and brings a smile to your face. You don't know me yet, but I've been watching you from afar, admiring you like a rare and beautiful flower in a secret garden. I know you are confused and curious about what this is, so let me explain. [written by Daphne]

I've had a crush on you since like forever, but I never had the guts to tell you or my friends who could have helped me date you, but then it was too late, and you started dating Lydia. [Me]

Since you guys have broken up, I'll take this opportunity to express my feelings to you and I don't want to be a rebound or anything. [Sophia]

I've been admiring you from a distance because, frankly, up close, I might trip over my own feet and accidentally confess my undying love while face-planting into a potted plant. I figured a letter was less risky and less likely to involve public embarrassment. [Me]

I imagine you're reading this and thinking, "Who is this mysterious person?" Well, let's just say I'm the person who thinks your smile is worth a thousand compliments and who believes that if they had a superpower, it would make you laugh on demand. [Sophia]

I'm the only one of me
Baby, that's the fun of me
You're the only one of you
Baby, that's the fun of you
And I promise that nobody's gonna love you like me [I tried to write Taylor Swift's awesome lyrics, but they erased this.]

Maybe one day, when the time is right, I'll have the courage to reveal myself. Until then, consider this letter a small token of my admiration. [Daphne]

With Love,
Your Secret Admirer
And no, it's not a prank.

Yeah... That's what we came up with the help of ChatGPT.

"How are you going to find his locker?" I glanced up from the letter and saw Sophia squinting her eyes at me.

A confident smirk appeared on my face as I placed the letter in my bag. "I've done my homework."

"You mean stalking." She shook her head in amusement. "Sometimes I'm scared of how your brain works."

"I'll take that as a compliment." I puffed out my chest and Daphne giggled.

Sophia gestured to the row of lockers. "Why not just leave the letter here?"

"Because this is easy, and anyone can place a letter in these lockers." I shrugged. "For this to be meaningful, it needs to be a bit more... daring. Besides, going to the locker room adds an element of commitment."

"Or just more likely to get caught." Sophia gave Daphne a side-eye. "Why don't you let Daphne do it? She's the one who needs to prove her love."

Daphne's face turned pale. "I can't do it!"

"That's why I'm here." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "I'm your Cupid with a mission, and I won't rest until the arrow hits its mark."

Daphne looked relieved and gave me a grateful smile. "Thanks, Cara."

"Fine." Sophia sighed, rolling her eyes. "Do what you have to do. We'll be waiting for you in the parking lot."

"I'll be back in a flash," I said with a toothy grin and headed toward the locker room.

It was after school hours, the hallways were deserted except for a few stragglers. I crept into the locker room corridor, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. This felt like something straight out of "Mission Impossible," only with less high-tech gadgetry and more teenage hormones.

I looked around to make sure no one was watching and tiptoed inside the locker room, which was a cluttered mess. Jerseys hung from the hooks, basketballs, and assorted sports gear were strewn about, and towels and shirts were carelessly tossed on benches. The air smelled faintly of sweat and old gym socks, but surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.

I moved carefully to the second row and paused in front of the fourth locker.

How did I know it was Elijah's?

Let's just say I had an enlightening chat with a basketball player in class yesterday. I started the conversation with the upcoming match and cleverly steered the conversation to locker assignments. I told him the girls were assigned lockers according to their shirt numbers and asked him how boys got the lockers. He told me they randomly selected whichever was available.

I asked him what his locker number was and if the captain got a special and drifted the conversation towards Elijah's locker. Without realizing it, he babbled everything to me.

I'm awesome. I know!

With a grin, I pulled out the envelope from my bag, ensuring the heart-shaped seal was intact. I was just about to slip it into the locker when the door burst open, followed by a roar of laughter.

"Early off?!" someone chuckled as they entered the locker room. "I wish Coach had an emergency every week!"

My body ran cold as I stood frozen in my steps, horrified. They couldn't see me as there was another row behind me, but if they came closer, I'd be caught red-handed. Swallowing hard, I heard them making jokes about their coach as more voices joined them.

I'm dead!

Panic surged as I searched for a hiding spot. I tried to open Elijah's locker, but it was locked. Pulling at locker after locker, I finally found one that was unlocked and slipped inside. It was cramped but manageable.

There was a crumpled pair of socks, shoes, and clothes, a forgotten water bottle, and a scent that somehow felt familiar. I closed the locker door behind me, heaving, and it was the first time I appreciated my short height as I fit easily inside the locker.

This was supposed to be a foolproof plan-except for the unexpected coach emergency!

"Let's go eat out." I heard Elijah's voice, accompanied by murmurs of agreement. "Blake?" My body stiffened at his name.

"I'll be heading home for now." His voice was dangerously close to my hiding place, making my body tense up. My eyes bugged out of my sockets when the locker lock twisted.

Wait what?

My eyes darted to the shirt hanging beside me and blood drained out of my body when I read the number six on it.

Oh hell no!

It's his-

"Come on, man. Just a few hours." Elijah urged.

"No." The door swung open, revealing Blake's tall, lean frame, but his face was turned away. I shrunk inside, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me before he could see me.

"Why?"

"I'll take this time to visit-" The words get caught in his mouth as his eyes landed on me, and he went pale.

"We'll go there later." Elijah's footsteps came closer, but Blake's stunned eyes remained fixed on me. "Are you listening?"

I saw Elijah's shadow getting closer from the corner, but before he could step into view, Blake, now fully aware of my presence, swiftly slammed the locker door shut, making me flinch.

"Woah, bro!" Elijah exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

"You know what?" Blake's voice was low and strained. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up."

"Are you sure?" Elijah asked in concern. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Maybe," Blake replied tersely, a hint of frustration in his tone, and I scowled.

I remained as still as possible, feeling like a sardine in a can. I could hear Elijah and the others discussing lunch plans before their footsteps finally faded away.

"You coming?" Elijah questioned, and I saw Blake's figure shifting from the locker slides.

"I'll be there in a minute."

As the locker room quieted down, the door creaked open, and my heart sank when I saw Blake's face twisted in a mix of confusion and fury. He loomed in the doorway, his intense gaze fixed on me.

"What the hell are you doing inside my locker?" His voice was sharp, and he didn't look pleased.

I scrambled to come up with something, anything, to explain my presence. "Uh... I was just-um-doing a little... personal investigation!"

"Personal investigation?" Blake's eyebrow arched skeptically. "What's that even supposed to mean?"

I tried to act nonchalant as I discreetly hid the letter behind me, feeling like a clumsy spy. "Well, you see, I was... checking out how organized lockers are compared to my own. You know, just for, uh, comparison purposes!" I stammered.

"Are you seriously trying to pull that on me?" Blake's glare didn't waver.

I clambered out of the locker, my hair sticking out at odd angles and my clothes rumpled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I was just... um, curious?"

Blake's eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms. "Curious, huh? I don't think the principal will be impressed with your 'curiosity.'" My eyes brew big at his threat and the corner of his lips twitched upwards. "You became the captain, right?"

"Wait, no, don't tell the principal! Please, just-let's forget this happened."

"You better start talking." He took a menacing step forward, and I instinctively backed until my back hit the locker behind me. "Or I'll make sure everyone knows what you were doing."

"Okay, okay! I-I..." Gulping, I darted my eyes to look for a way to escape, but when I tried to step to the side to flee, Blake's arms shot up, blocking my way.

"Not so fast," He grumbled, leaning in so close that his breath brushed against my face.

My heart pounded violently out of my chest like Jerry in an episode when he got caught by Tom in a cup. I clenched my shaking fists by my sides, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The heat from his proximity was overwhelming, creeping up my neck and flooding my cheeks.

Blake's dark brown eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. Our faces were mere inches apart, and I could see every detail of his sharp features. His brows were slightly furrowed, emphasizing the strong line of his jaw. My eyes were drawn to the curve of his mouth. His lips, pink and full, were just a breath away, and I found myself mesmerized by their softness.

The moment seemed to stretch infinitely, my mind racing despite the surrounding stillness. I almost melted when he opened them and said.

"Cara?" My eyes averted to his again and the confusion in his eyes made me feel exposed. "What were you doing in my locker?" His voice was slow, deep, and rich, sending a shiver down my spine.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My mind was a jumbled mess, caught between the panic of being discovered and the unsettling allure of his closeness.

Blake's proximity was almost unbearable, and the heat from his body seemed to engulf me. I could feel every subtle movement, every shift in his breath. My hands trembled at my sides, and I fought to keep my composure as I avoided looking directly at his lips again.

Why does he have to be so damn hot?!

I swallowed hard, the sweat on my forehead now mingling with my rising anxiety. "I-I was just-trying to surprise someone. It was a... bad idea."

Blake's expression didn't fully change, but there was a flicker of something. Maybe understanding or just a lessening of his anger. "A surprise, huh? For whom?"

"I can't tell you his name."

"Why?" He narrowed his eyes.

"There's this guy I like..." I uttered when my brain wheels began to work again. "I-I wanted to place a letter in his locker, but you guys came in before I could and-and I panicked and tried to find a place to hide, and your locker was unlocked."

"A letter?" He arched his brow and seemed a little convinced by my lie.

"Yes." I bobbed my head. "I swear on my late lovely grandmother's grave I didn't know it was your locker."

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he stepped back, allowing me to breathe again. "Where's the letter?"

My body went still, and I clutched the crumbled letter in my fist. "What?"

"The letter." He gestured towards the lockers. "Go ahead and put the letter."

There's no freaking way I'm putting the love letter in his best friend's locker in front of him!

"Uh- thanks ..." I took a few steps away from him. "But maybe some other time."

As I turned around to sprint, he called out my name in a demanding tone, making my feet glued to the spot. "If I find out you're up to anything else, I won't be so lenient."

"Got it." I gave him a shaky thump up and made a hasty exit.

My heart still racing, I glanced back to see Blake watching me with suspicion. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and residual embarrassment from our intense encounter.

Why does Daphne think he's a nice guy is beyond my imagination? Maybe he's charming to everyone else but just has a special talent for making me feel like a walking disaster.

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