CHAPTER ONE

"The last day of school for this session." I whispered to myself as I got dressed.

I wore a crisp white long-sleeve shirt and layered it with a blue sleeveless jacket. My pleated blue-and-white striped skirt barely reached mid-thigh, perfectly paired with long white socks that stretched up to my knees and sleek black flats.

I stood in front of the mirror, tilting my head slightly.

"What a beautiful damsel," I mused, smiling at my reflection.

I styled my hair neatly, pinning a medium-sized blue bow to the right side. Just as I admired the final look, my best friend, Angel, barged into the room.

"Hey, vain girl! Aren't you done yet?" she teased, folding her arms.

Angel had been staying over at my house since her home was far from school, while mine was just a short drive away.

I sighed, grabbed my school bag, and rushed downstairs. After a quick breakfast of tea and sandwiches, I pecked my mom goodbye. Dad was already waiting by the car, and soon, we were on our way.

The last day of school was uneventful. There were no real lessons, just scattered conversations and goodbyes. While Angel was off somewhere with her boyfriend, Adam, I found myself alone in the library, scribbling in my notebook.

I was writing about him again—Justin. Would he ever notice me? Would he ever look at me the way I looked at him?

Closing my book with a sigh, I decided to take a long walk outside. Sometimes, being indoors for too long made me feel suffocated.

"Hey, I'll be back soon," I told Angel as I passed her.

"Sure," she said without looking up.

I left the school gate with Justin still on my mind. There was no way he'd ever notice me, and even if he did, why would he love me? He was already in college, while I was just about to start my final year of high school.

"Oh, Ellie, stop dreaming."

As I walked, lost in my thoughts, I saw him.

Justin.

My heart stopped.

Tall, fair-skinned, and effortlessly handsome, with curly brown hair that framed his perfect face. And his smile... God, his smile. I could faint a thousand times just watching it.

I quickly entered a nearby restaurant, choosing a window seat where I could observe him better. He was standing outside, buying a ticket for something.

"Good afternoon, miss. What would you like from the menu?" a waiter asked, snapping me out of my trance.

"Uh—um, strawberry ice cream," I mumbled absentmindedly, waving him away as I turned back to the window.

But he was gone.

"Oh no! I lost him!"

Just as I was about to sulk, the doorbell chimed. I looked up, and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

Justin.

"Oh my God. Oh my gosh. JUSTIN!"

I panicked.

"Not now. He can't see me looking like this!"

He walked in and took a seat at the table right next to mine. This was my chance! I could finally say something—anything. But before I could even gather my thoughts, a girl walked in and sat with him.

She laughed. He laughed. They looked so comfortable, so close.

And just like that, I felt like my heart had been stabbed.

"Well, what was I expecting? A guy like him couldn't possibly be single. Oh, Ellie, you're such a fool."

Fighting back tears, I got up to leave. But as fate would have it, my skirt got caught on the edge of the table. In my attempt to yank it free, I lost my balance—and bumped straight into Justin.

I froze.

His hands brushed mine. I had dreamed about this moment a thousand times, and yet, right now, I felt nothing but pain.

"I'm so sorry... so sorry," I muttered, my voice breaking as I fought back tears. Without waiting for a response, I turned and ran out of the restaurant.

"Miss! Your order!" the waiter called after me, but I didn't stop.

I ran all the way back to school, crying my eyes out. The moment I reached my locker, I packed my things and swung my bag over my shoulder.

"Going home already? So early?" Angel asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah... I'm tired," I muttered.

She studied my face. "What happened?"

"Nothing. You can stay if you want... I don't want to ruin your day." I glanced at Adam and forced a weak smile before walking away.

Since school hadn't closed yet, my car wasn't there, so I walked home.

The moment I stepped into my room, I changed into a plain yellow dress, threw myself onto the bed, and let sleep take over.

A Few Hours Later...

"Hey!"

I groggily opened my eyes to see Angel standing over me.

"Hey," I mumbled.

"What happened?" she asked again.

Sighing, I told her everything.

When I finished, she burst into laughter.

"Oh, Ellie! What am I going to do with you?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Just because he was talking to a girl doesn't mean she's his girlfriend! What if she's his sister? Or just a friend?"

I blinked.

She had a point.

"Oh my God. There I was, thinking something terrible happened... You're such a fool," she said, tapping my forehead before walking out of the room.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Yeah… I need to stop assuming the worst all the time."

Just as I closed my eyes, an image flashed in my head. A woman. Her face was familiar, yet distant, like a dream I could never fully remember.

I had been seeing her face since I was nine. Now, at eighteen, it still wouldn't leave me.

Maybe I just needed more sleep.

💜💜💜💜 ELLIE