A Risk Worth Taking ( Evan's POV )

I've always prided myself on staying calm, never letting my emotions get the best of me. But tonight, as I stared at my phone, waiting for Annie to respond, calm was the last thing I felt.

We'd walked home together earlier, but something felt off. She was quieter than usual, almost distant, and even though she smiled when we said goodbye, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something. The image of her soft smile lingered in my mind, but now all I could feel was worry.

With a sigh, I opened my phone and hovered over her name. Should I text her? Maybe I'm overthinking things. But what if she really is upset? I found myself typing before I could second-guess.

Evan : Hey, Annie, are you alright? You seemed a little off today…

I hit send, my heart pounding in a way that didn't make sense. I mean, it's just Annie. We've become good friends—closer than I ever thought we would be after the contest. But lately, being around her has felt different, more intense. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about her more often than usual.

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Annie : Yeah, I'm okay… Just thinking about some things too.

I stared at her response for a moment, trying to figure out the right words. Something inside me pushed past the hesitation, the doubt.

Evan : Can I be honest with you?

My finger hovered over the send button. Was I really going to do this? But there was no turning back now. I hit send.

Annie : Of course.

That was it—the moment I'd been waiting for, yet dreading at the same time. I took a deep breath and typed out what I had been holding back for a while now.

Evan : I've been wanting to tell you something for a while…

There was a pause, and my chest tightened. What if this ruined everything? What if she didn't feel the same?

Evan : I really like you, Annie. More than just a friend.

I stared at the message, my heart racing as I pressed send. There was no going back now. It was out there.

The seconds felt like hours as I waited for her reply. What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if—

My phone buzzed, and I nearly dropped it in my rush to check her response.

Annie : Evan… I like you too. I've felt this way for a while.

My breath left me in a rush, relief washing over me. She liked me too. I couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face as I quickly typed back.

Evan : You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.

Annie : Me too… I didn't know if you felt the same.

I leaned back against my pillows, feeling lighter than I had in days. She liked me back. It felt so unreal, but so right. All the tension between us seemed to melt away. Finally, we were on the same page—officially.

Evan : So… does this mean we're together now?

There was a short pause before her reply came.

Annie : Yeah… I guess it does.

Just reading those words made my heart skip a beat. We were a couple now—no more guessing or waiting. I couldn't help but smile, imagining how things would change from here. I wanted to see her again, to walk with her, and just… be with her.

We kept texting, the conversation flowing more easily now that the uncertainty between us had dissolved. I felt like I could be more honest with her, like there was nothing left to hide.

Evan : I noticed you were a little off today. Was it because of all the girls hanging around?

Her reply came quickly.

Annie : Yeah… It's silly, but I guess I've been a little jealous.

I couldn't help but laugh softly to myself, picturing her with that slight blush she always got when she was embarrassed. It was endearing, really.

Evan : You don't need to worry about that. I only have eyes for you.

Annie : I know, but… it still gets to me sometimes.

I understood that. I'd seen the way other guys looked at her, and to be honest, it made me feel a little possessive too, though I tried not to let it show. Now that we were together, though, it felt like I could finally be open about it.

Evan : I get it. I've been jealous too, you know. Especially when I see guys flirting with you.

Annie : Really? I didn't think you'd get jealous.

Evan : I guess you bring out a side of me I didn't know I had, Annie.

Her next response made me laugh again.

Annie : Well, at least we're in this together now.

The next morning, I couldn't wait to see her. Walking to school together had become a routine, but today felt different. I wasn't just walking with a friend—I was walking with my girlfriend.

We met at the usual spot, but there was something about her today. Maybe it was the way she smiled a little more shyly than usual or the way her cheeks were faintly pink when I greeted her.

"Morning," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but I couldn't help the grin on my face.

"Morning," she replied, her smile growing when she noticed mine. I could feel the excitement bubbling up inside me, knowing that from today, everything between us had changed.

We walked in comfortable silence for a while, but every now and then, I'd glance over at her, catching her blushing when she thought I wasn't looking. It made me smile even more, knowing I had this effect on her.

When we got to school, it didn't take long for Maya and Alya to find us.

"Oh my God, look at you two! Is there something we should know?" Maya teased, her eyes darting between us with a knowing smirk.

Annie rolled her eyes, but the blush that crept up her neck gave her away. "Maya, stop…"

"You're too easy to tease," Maya continued, nudging Alya, who just gave us both a small smile.

"Maya, leave her alone," Alya said softly, though even she couldn't hide the amusement in her eyes. "It's nice seeing you two like this."

Annie tried to fight off the blush, but when she looked at me, it only deepened. I couldn't help but smile at her, and when Maya raised an eyebrow, I just shrugged, feeling more relaxed than ever.

We headed inside together, and that's when I saw her again—the girl from yesterday. She was sitting with her friends, but her eyes were on us, following every move we made. I tried to ignore it, but something about her made me uncomfortable. She smiled at me again, that same flirtatious look she'd given me before.

Annie noticed too, her expression changing slightly. She didn't say anything, but I could tell she wasn't happy. I placed my hand gently on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't worry," I said softly, leaning close enough so only she could hear. "I told you, I only have eyes for you."

She glanced up at me, and though she didn't say it out loud, her softened expression told me she believed me. We walked toward our seats, and I could feel the girl's gaze still on us. She wasn't going to give up easily.

As we sat down, Annie gave me a quick smile, but I could see something lingering in her eyes—something that told me she wasn't just worried about the other girls. Maybe it was the way she kept glancing at that girl, as if trying to place where she'd seen her before.

"Do you know her?" I asked quietly, nodding toward the girl.

Annie looked over briefly before shaking her head. "No… but she looks familiar."

I didn't push it. There was something about that girl that put me on edge, but I wasn't going to let her get between me and Annie. Not now.

Later at lunch, I noticed Annie was quieter than usual, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the table where the girl sat with her friends. I couldn't blame her. It wasn't just that girl—all the attention I was getting lately from other girls was a bit overwhelming, and I could tell it was bothering Annie.

When lunch was over, we walked home together like usual, but the conversation didn't flow as easily as it usually did. Something had changed, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Annie was holding back.

"Is everything okay?" I asked after a while.

She looked up at me, her expression softening again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."

I didn't push it. I could tell she needed space, but I also knew that whatever it was, we'd figure it out. We were together now, and I wasn't going to let anything—or anyone—come between us.

As we reached her house, she smiled at me, that soft, shy smile I was starting to love.

"Thanks for walking me home," she said quietly, her soft smile making my heart skip a beat.

"Always," I replied, matching her smile. There was something special about moments like this, where we didn't need to say much to understand each other.

Annie hesitated for a moment, like she had something more to say but wasn't sure how to express it. The air between us felt different now, but in a good way—like we were both still adjusting to the new dynamic. Officially being a couple was exciting, but it was also new territory for both of us.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" she asked, her voice lighter than before, though a hint of something unspoken lingered in her tone.

"Of course," I said, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, an instinctive gesture I hadn't planned but couldn't resist. Her blush deepened, and I felt my own cheeks heat up. "We'll walk together."

Her eyes softened, and for a second, it felt like the world outside didn't exist—just me and her. She nodded, her smile growing just a little before she turned to head inside. I stayed there, watching her until the door closed behind her, unable to wipe the grin off my face.

As I started my walk home, I couldn't help but feel lighter, like something important had clicked into place. We were together now. Annie had always been someone I admired, but this was different. It was real. And I was determined to make this work, no matter what came our way.

Still, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling about that girl from school—whoever she was. The way she looked at me, how she tried to get between me and Annie. It wasn't just a coincidence. Something about her felt off, but I couldn't let it get to me. Not when everything else was finally falling into place.

For now, I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on what mattered most—Annie and the future ahead of us. The other girls, the attention, none of it mattered. As long as we were together, I was happy.

And tomorrow, I'd get to walk beside her again. Maybe things wouldn't be perfect right away, but we were in this together.

That's all that mattered.