"We were so naive to like Kyler."

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) PLEASE JUST STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! ITS ANNOYING!! PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE. ITS NOT THAT HARD!!! PLEASE! please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters

im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up bt votes not its hard for my motivation!

Odessa was at her locker, rifling through her textbooks and organizing them into neat piles. She loved the simplicity of these moments-just her, her locker, and the familiar sense of normalcy it brought after everything that had happened. She closed her locker with a soft click and was about to head down the hallway when she caught sight of two familiar figures. Miguel and Demetri were walking down the corridor, chatting about something, their footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet hallway. Odessa's heart skipped a beat when she saw Miguel. It was hard to forget the Halloween dance, when Kyler had beaten him badly, and Miguel had been in a wheelchair for a while after. Now, Miguel was walking confidently, looking like his old self again, and a smile naturally spread across Odessa's face.

She didn't even think about it. Her hand waved instinctively, and her smile widened as she called out, "Miguel! Demetri!"

Miguel's face lit up at the sound of her voice. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade out of focus. He waved back, his smile matching hers. "Hey, Odessa!" he called, his voice warm.

Demetri, a few steps behind Miguel, caught the smile and gave her a friendly nod. "Hey, Odessa. How's it going?"

Odessa's smile deepened. It had been a while since they'd talked, and seeing them here, alive and well, felt good. "I'm good. Glad to see you back in school, Miguel. After... well, after what happened at the dance."

Miguel gave a small wince at the reminder but quickly shook it off. "Yeah, it was a rough time, but I'm better now. Back on my feet, literally." He gave a small chuckle as he straightened up, walking with a newfound confidence that Odessa couldn't help but admire.

Before she could respond, Odessa was caught off guard when she heard a voice from behind her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Odessa," Sam said with a mischievous grin, stepping up behind her.

Odessa froze for a second, feeling a flicker of annoyance rise up. She turned to see Sam standing there, wearing an overly cheerful grin. Odessa raised an eyebrow, then exhaled in exasperation. "Sam," she muttered, her eyes rolling as she shifted her weight to one side, clearly ready to walk past her.

But Sam wasn't about to let her go that easily. She stepped in front of Odessa, blocking her way. "Hey, look, I know we haven't really talked much lately, and I just... I wanted to apologize."

Odessa sighed deeply. She had heard this type of apology before, but she tried to keep an open mind. "You wanted to apologize?" Odessa repeated, crossing her arms in front of her. "After everything that happened, after how you treated me when I left the friend group?"

Sam's smile faltered, her expression softening. "Yeah, I know," she said, her voice quieter now, more sincere. "I should've stood by you. I should've understood what you were going through with Yasmine, but I didn't. I didn't have your back, and I should've."

Odessa felt a sharp pang in her chest as memories of Yasmine's bullying flashed before her eyes. She didn't want to keep dwelling on it, though. She wanted to move forward. Still, her hurt was evident in her voice. "Yeah, well, it hurt. You were supposed to be my friend, Sam, and when I needed support, you shut me out." She swallowed hard, her voice lowering. "That wasn't okay."

Sam winced, clearly feeling the weight of Odessa's words. "I know, and I'm so sorry. I was wrong. And I've been thinking about it a lot, and I just... I want us to be friends again. I miss you, Odessa."

Odessa paused. The hurt was still there, but she couldn't deny the sincerity in Sam's voice. "I know you're sorry. I can hear it. But you've got to understand-it's not that easy. I wanted to be your friend, but you didn't make it easy, Sam."

Sam bit her lip, glancing down for a moment. When she spoke again, it was almost like she was pleading. "I get it. And I'll do whatever it takes to make things right. Can we at least try? Maybe start fresh?"

Odessa's gaze softened, but she still wasn't sure. It was hard to just erase everything, but the truth was, she still had a good heart. And Sam was asking for a chance. "Alright, Sam," Odessa finally said, her voice still cautious. "I'll give you that. We can try to be friends again, but it's going to take time. I can't just forget everything that happened."

Sam smiled, relief flooding her face. "I totally understand. And I'll prove it to you. Thanks for giving me a chance, Odessa."

Odessa sighed but smiled a little. "Don't make me regret this, Sam."

They both shared a brief, almost awkward laugh. Just then, Odessa glanced over at Miguel and Demetri, who had been silently watching the interaction. They exchanged a few words, but it was clear they were giving her space.

"Well, I've got to get to class," Odessa said, brushing off the conversation with a small shake of her head. "But I'll see you around."

Sam caught her arm as she tried to walk away. "Hey, I was going to head to the library. Want to join me?"

Odessa paused, considering it. For a moment, she almost said no, but she figured it might be nice to have some closure, to see where this new version of their friendship could go. She nodded slowly. "Yeah, sure. I've got some time before class starts."

The two girls started walking toward the library together, the awkwardness of the moment slowly fading as they talked. Odessa was cautious, but she was willing to give Sam the chance she wanted. Maybe this time would be different. As they walked, Odessa couldn't help but wonder if they could actually rebuild what they'd lost, one step at a time.

Odessa and Sam walked into the library, the familiar smell of old books and the quiet hum of students studying greeting them. They had intended to sit in a corner and catch up, both of them needing a break from the chaotic atmosphere of the school day. But as they entered, they came to an abrupt halt, their eyes falling on an unexpected scene.

Behind a tall bookshelf, Kyler and his goons stood in front of Eli, Miguel, and Demetri. The tension in the air was palpable, the three boys visibly uncomfortable. Odessa's gaze zeroed in on Kyler, who had his hand firmly gripping Eli's face, pushing him back against a table. Kyler's expression was one of cruel amusement, his mouth twisted into a smirk as he looked down at Eli, who stood frozen, his body rigid with anger but clearly not daring to push back.

Odessa's heart beat faster, her chest tightening at the sight. Kyler was leaning in close to Eli, whispering something that Odessa couldn't hear. The whole situation reeked of bullying-just like the countless other times Kyler had picked on people, but it felt different now. The boys' vulnerability, the way they seemed to shrink under Kyler's presence, stirred something inside Odessa.

Before she could move or say anything, Kyler suddenly stepped back and, with a grin, threw Demetri's backpack into a nearby trash can. The bag flopped down into the bin, and Demetri's eyes widened as he glanced at the trash, his face reddening with embarrassment and frustration. It was a small, childish act of dominance, but it made Odessa's stomach churn. Kyler's goons chuckled behind him, clearly enjoying the show.

Miguel was standing a little off to the side, his face a mask of calm, but Odessa could see the tension in his posture-the way his hands clenched at his sides, as if trying to hold back the rage bubbling inside him. He wasn't backing down, but it was clear he was caught in a situation he didn't want to be in.

The scene played out for a few more moments before Kyler and his goons left, walking out of the library with an air of smug satisfaction, their footsteps echoing in the quiet room. Odessa let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

Sam, who had been standing beside her, let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't believe we were so naive to like Kyler," Odessa muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with sarcasm and bitterness. She glanced at Sam, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I know, right?" Sam replied, rolling her eyes. "He was such a jerk."

Odessa's eyes followed the retreating figures of Eli, Miguel, and Demetri as they scurried away from the scene, clearly trying to regain their composure after the confrontation. Miguel shot Odessa a quick, apologetic glance as he passed, but she could see the hurt behind his eyes. It was hard to ignore the weight of it all-the bullying, the mocking, the sense of powerlessness that seemed to follow these guys around when Kyler was involved.

"I mean, seriously," Odessa continued, the words escaping her before she could stop them. "Kyler thinks it's funny to mess with people, but it's just-so messed up. It's not high school anymore, it's just toxic."

Sam shot her a curious look. "So... you and Kyler, huh?" she asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

Odessa blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. "What?" she said, her voice catching slightly in surprise. She'd hoped the topic wouldn't come up. She hadn't exactly told Sam about her brief fling with Kyler last summer.

"Come on," Sam said with a knowing smirk. "You and Kyler had something, right? At the beginning of last summer?"

Odessa felt a slight flush rise to her cheeks. "Didn't last long," she muttered quickly, rolling her eyes. "He kisses weird."

Sam laughed softly, clearly amused. "Well, I bet Miguel's a way better kisser. He's totally into you, Dessi."

Odessa's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Miguel, and her face heated up even more. "What? No. We're just friends, Sam. That's it," she said, brushing the idea off quickly, even though her thoughts were racing.

Sam raised an eyebrow, the mischievous glint in her eyes not missing Odessa's reaction. "Sure, sure. Just friends." She stepped closer to Odessa, her voice dropping a little in teasing. "I saw the way he looked at you earlier. I'm telling you, Miguel's into you. He'd be good for you, Dess."

Odessa opened her mouth to protest again, but the words stuck in her throat. She couldn't deny the connection she felt with Miguel, especially after everything they'd been through together. But the last thing she wanted was to complicate things. "I don't know what you're talking about," she muttered, shaking her head. "I've gotta get to Spanish. I'm already late."

Before Sam could say anything else, Odessa turned on her heel and headed for the door. She needed space to think, and she definitely didn't need to be dragged into a conversation about Miguel, especially not right now. As she hurried away, she heard Sam call after her.

"See you later, Dess!"

Odessa didn't turn back, her thoughts clouded by everything that had just happened-Kyler, the confrontation with the guys, and Sam's teasing comments about Miguel. Her mind was spinning. She just needed a break.

Her footsteps quickened as she headed down the hallway to her Spanish class, determined to leave everything behind, even if just for a little while. The bell rang in the distance, and she pushed through the door to the classroom, trying to focus on something else. But as she sat down in her seat, her mind kept drifting back to Miguel, and the feeling that had sparked in her chest when Sam had mentioned him.

She shook her head. It was complicated, and she wasn't ready to deal with it. Not today.

As Odessa stepped into her Spanish class, the bell had already rung, and she quickly made her way to her seat. She hadn't quite caught her breath from rushing over and was still lost in thought when her teacher, Mr. Ramirez, raised an eyebrow at her.

"Odessa," he said, his tone neutral but firm. "This is your second warning this week for being late. Please make sure to be on time next class."

Odessa nodded quickly, her face flushing slightly. "Sorry, Mr. Ramirez," she murmured as she hurried to her seat, trying to avoid further attention. She didn't want to deal with this on top of everything else, but she was grateful it wasn't anything more serious.

Miguel was sitting a few seats away, looking like he was trying to focus on the lesson. Odessa sat down beside him, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. The tension from earlier in the library still hung in the air between them. She couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that he was holding something back.

"Hey," Odessa whispered, leaning closer to him. "You okay? I saw what happened in the library... with Kyler and the guys."

Miguel looked at her, his eyes briefly meeting hers before he glanced down at his desk, a small frown crossing his face. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said quietly, though his voice lacked conviction. "It's just Kyler being Kyler."

Odessa nodded, unsure of what to say next. There was a lot more she wanted to ask-about the confrontation, about how he was really feeling-but she didn't know how to bring it up. She didn't want to make things awkward, especially not with him. So, in a desperate attempt to keep the conversation going, she just blurted out something random.

"You know, I actually prefer the Spanish version of La Casa de Papel over the English one," she said, immediately feeling a little embarrassed. She knew it was a weird topic, but she was just trying to fill the silence.

Miguel's eyebrows raised slightly, and he gave a small, amused smile. "Yeah, I get that. The Spanish voice acting has more... emotion to it, I guess."

Odessa smiled back, relieved that he was engaging in the conversation, even if it was a bit off-topic. But before she could continue, Mr. Ramirez shot a glance in their direction. "Odessa, Miguel," he said sternly, "Please keep your conversations to a minimum. We're in the middle of a lesson."

Odessa sighed, immediately sinking into her chair, her shoulders slumping slightly in frustration. She'd been warned, and now she had no choice but to keep quiet. She gave Miguel an apologetic look, mouthing a "Sorry" to him as she pulled out her notebook and tried to focus on the lesson.

Miguel noticed the shift in her mood almost immediately. His eyes flickered over to her a couple of times during the class, his expression softening when he saw how dejected she looked, staring down at her notebook in silence. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him, knowing that she had just been trying to be friendly, to talk to him, and now she was forced to stay silent because of him. It wasn't fair.

He could see how uncomfortable she was with the situation. She'd been talking to him, trying to break through the awkwardness between them, and now she was retreating, closing herself off. Miguel hated that he couldn't fix it right away. He wanted to say something, to make her feel better, but with Mr. Ramirez watching, there wasn't much he could do.

So, he did the next best thing-he gave her a small, reassuring smile when their eyes met for a brief moment, hoping it would be enough to let her know he appreciated her trying to talk to him. Odessa returned the smile, her lips curving up slightly, but she quickly turned her attention back to her notebook, feeling the weight of the silence press in on her.

The rest of the class passed by in a quiet blur, and Odessa's mind was too preoccupied with everything happening between her and Miguel to focus on the lesson. She couldn't help but wonder if she had said the wrong thing or if she had pushed too hard. But she didn't have long to think about it before the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

As the students began to pack up their things, Odessa slowly gathered her books, her heart still heavy with the lingering awkwardness. She glanced over at Miguel one last time before standing up, but he was already getting up to leave. He shot her another brief look, this one softer than before, and she couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Despite everything, she was glad that they were talking again, even if it was just small talk. It felt like a step in the right direction.

"See you later, Odessa," he said, his voice low but warm as he headed out of the classroom.

She nodded, offering him a quiet "See you" in return, her heart racing just a little at the simple exchange. It was enough for now. Maybe things weren't perfect between them, but at least they weren't as strained as they had been before.

As she walked out of the classroom, her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and hope, but she knew one thing for sure-she was looking forward to whatever came next.

Later that night, Odessa sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by textbooks and notes, her mind absorbed in her studies. It was quiet in the house-just the occasional rustling of paper and the hum of the refrigerator in the background. Her parents were out, leaving her with a rare opportunity to focus without distractions. But as she flipped through a page of her history book, she couldn't help but feel a little restless. It had been a long day, and studying wasn't helping her shake the weight in her chest-the tension between her and Miguel that had been building ever since the library incident. She knew they hadn't fully cleared the air, but she wasn't sure how to fix it.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, cutting through her thoughts. She glanced up, startled. No one had planned to come over tonight. She set her pencil down and stood up, walking to the door.

When she opened it, she was surprised to find Miguel standing there, his bicycle leaning against the porch railing. He looked a little out of breath, but there was a grin on his face, and in his hands, he was holding a large container of food.

"Hey, Odessa," Miguel said, his voice light, as if this were a normal visit. "My Yaya cooked too much food tonight, so I thought I'd bring some over. You like tamales, right?" He chuckled, shifting the container slightly.

Odessa blinked, her mind processing the unexpected appearance. "Miguel, what are you doing here?" she asked, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

"Well, I thought I'd bring you dinner. Are your parents home?" he asked, looking over her shoulder as if expecting to see someone.

"No, they're out," Odessa replied, stepping aside. "Come in."

Miguel stepped inside, glancing around briefly before looking back at her, his smile still there. The tension in the air between them felt thicker now, and Odessa felt a flutter in her chest as their eyes met. She knew what she wanted to say, but the words were tangled in her mind. Instead, she just felt this rush of impulse, this strange desire to act before she could second-guess herself.

Before either of them could say anything more, Odessa moved closer, leaned in, and kissed Miguel, her heart pounding in her ears. It was quick-just a soft, sudden press of her lips against his-but it was enough to leave her breathless when she pulled away.

Miguel stood frozen for a second, his eyes wide with shock. "Uh... wow," he said, blinking, clearly taken aback. Odessa's face turned bright red, and she quickly pulled back, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise in her chest.

"I-I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice shaky. "I don't know what came over me. I just... I'm really sorry."

Miguel stood there for a moment, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion. But then, to Odessa's relief, he smiled-genuinely, as if he wasn't bothered. "No, it's fine," he said, his voice low but warm. "Honestly, it's... I wasn't expecting that, but it's fine."

Odessa bit her lip, unsure of how to handle the situation. She hadn't meant to make things awkward. She had only acted on impulse, not thinking about the consequences. But as she looked at him, her heart raced again, this time with a sense of excitement mixed with nervousness.

Miguel scratched the back of his head, taking a step closer to her. "Um... can I do something?" he asked, his voice a little unsure. Without waiting for her response, he kissed her again. This time, it was slower, deeper-a long kiss that left both of them breathless when they finally pulled apart.

Odessa's mind was spinning. She didn't know what to think, what to feel. All she knew was that she was there, standing in front of Miguel, and everything else in the world felt distant.

When they pulled away, Miguel looked at her with a mischievous grin. "So... do you want to go on a date with me?" he asked, his tone playful but sincere. "I mean, maybe... I don't know... I have to ask my parents first, but... would you?"

Odessa's heart skipped a beat at the question. She hadn't expected him to ask. But the truth was, she had been wanting to know for a while if he felt the same way, if this whole thing was something more than just a casual flirtation.

"I'd like that," she said, her voice quiet but hopeful. "I'd like that a lot."

Miguel's grin widened, and before Odessa could say another word, he let out an excited laugh, his eyes lighting up with energy. "Yes! Okay, well, I gotta go ask my mom, but I'll-uh-I'll bike over tomorrow. I'll see you!"

And without waiting for her to respond, he turned on his heel, grabbing his bike and running out the door, practically jumping into the seat and pedaling away with the kind of excitement that made Odessa chuckle.

She stood in the doorway, watching him ride off down the street, her heart still racing from the kiss and everything that had just happened. She couldn't help but smile. Maybe things were finally starting to feel like they could go somewhere, after all.

"Well," Odessa murmured to herself with a soft laugh, "this is definitely gonna be interesting."

She closed the door, her thoughts still swirling around Miguel and the excitement of the unexpected moment. But as she turned back to her study materials, there was a new lightness in her chest, and for the first time in a while, she felt like things might just be falling into place.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

they're so awkward for each other. they get so nervous 🥹🥹🥹

im having this major unmotivated writing block. i dont like it

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) PLEASE JUST STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! ITS ANNOYING!! PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE. ITS NOT THAT HARD!!! PLEASE! please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters

im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up bt votes not its hard for my motivation!