CHAPTER EIGHT

chapter eight: The waiting game:

As the bell rang, snapping Aria out of her thoughts, she quickly made her way back to class, her fingers still tingling from holding the emerald-green letter. Her heart pounded-not out of confusion, but nervous excitement. He was finally going to reveal himself. The mystery that had followed her for weeks would finally have an answer.

After class ended, she pulled out her phone and called Ethan. She had already decided she wouldn't make any decisions until she talked to him first. But when he answered, his voice was rushed.

"I'll catch you later, Aria. I'm in training right now. I'll call you later."

And just like that, the line went dead.

Aria exhaled, staring at her phone. Well, that was no help.

She turned around, finding Lily already watching her with interest. "What's that look on your face? Spill."

Aria hesitated for a second, then pulled out the letter and handed it to her. Lily's eyes widened as she read it, then she smirked.

"I told you he'd reveal himself. Well, he's lucky, because I already started looking for dates for you," she teased, waving the letter in front of Aria. Then, she leaned in. "So... what are you going to do about it?"

Aria let out a breath, rubbing the back of her neck. "I don't know. My heart really wants me to go, but... I'm not sure."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Silly! I told you to give it a chance. You have to go."

Aria hesitated before nodding. "Alright... but I need an excuse. My parents aren't just going to let me leave the house at 7 PM."

Lily grinned mischievously. "Leave that to me."Lily tapped her chin thoughtfully before snapping her fingers. "Alright, let's do it like this. I'll follow you home after school. Later, around six, we'll leave your house in the name of going to my house for a sleepover."

Aria's eyes widened. "Have you gone nuts? Why would my parents believe that? Babe, it's Monday! There's no way they'd let me have a sleepover when we have school tomorrow."

Lily groaned dramatically. "Ugh, fine. Then let's say my parents want to see you."

Aria raised a brow. "And why exactly would they want to see me?"

Lily paused, then threw her hands up. "Okay, okay! How about this-we tell them we're going to study at my place?"

Aria considered it, nodding slowly. "That... actually makes sense."

Lily smirked. "Of course, it does. I'm a genius."

Aria rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. The plan was set. Now, all she had to do was go through with it.

---

After school, Aria and Lily walked home together, chatting about random things, but Aria's mind was somewhere else-on the emerald green letter tucked safely in her bag. Her heart beat a little faster each time she thought about it. Soon, she'd finally know who had been writing to her all this time.

When they entered the house, Aria's mother was lounging in the sitting room, a movie playing softly on the TV. Aria greeted her with a warm hug, feeling a small pang of guilt for what she was about to do. Her mom had come home early from work today-perfect timing for their plan.

Lily gave Aria a small nudge, silently urging her to bring up the study session excuse. Aria hesitated for a second before taking a deep breath. "Mom, Lily and I were thinking of studying together at her place for a bit. We have some assignments to finish, and we want to get them done before tomorrow."

Her mom looked at her, then at Lily. "How long will you be gone?"

Lily jumped in smoothly, "Not too long, ma'am. Maybe until nine? We just need a quiet space to focus."

Aria's heart raced as she waited for her mother's response.

Her mom paused, then asked, "What about Ethan? Are you going with him, or is it just the two of you?"

Aria quickly shook her head. "No, Mom. Ethan's at practice. He won't be joining us."

Lily flashed her most convincing smile. "But we promise we'll be back by nine. We just have a few assignments to finish up."

Aria's mother sighed, giving them a knowing look. "Well, don't push your curfew. You know your dad doesn't like you being out late for too long. Make sure you're back on time."

Aria nodded quickly. "We will, Mom. Thanks."

Lily casually linked arms with Aria, pulling her toward the stairs. As soon as they were out of sight, Aria exhaled in relief. "That was nerve-wracking," she muttered.

Lily grinned. "Girl, that was smooth. Now, let's get ready for tonight."

Upstairs in Aria's room...

Aria pulled open her wardrobe and grabbed a pair of jeans and a crop top. She figured she'd keep things casual-no need to dress up too much for a simple meeting.

But Lily wasn't having it. She eyed the outfit with pure disappointment. "You're meeting your secret admirer, not going grocery shopping."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "And you need to look the part. Hold on." She dove into Aria's wardrobe, rummaging through the clothes until she pulled out a short, flowy purple gown with a silver belt at the waistline. She tossed it onto the bed. "Wear this."

Aria stared at it. "Lily-"

"No arguments. Put it on."

With a sigh, Aria changed into the dress. It fit perfectly, accentuating her figure in just the right way. Lily handed her a pair of ash sneakers. "You still get to keep it comfy, don't worry."

Finally, Lily stepped behind her and gathered her hair into a sleek ponytail. When Aria looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

She fidgeted with the hem of her dress. "Isn't this too much?" she asked, glancing at Lily. "Won't Mom catch on? I mean, I don't usually dress like this just to go study."

Lily waved a dismissive hand, flopping onto Aria's bed. "Silly, she won't. Trust me, you look perfectly normal. Besides, you're just dressing up for yourself, right?" She smirked, wiggling her brows playfully.

Aria sighed but deep down, there was a spark of excitement she couldn't ignore.

Back downstairs...

As Aria and Lily stepped out of the house, laughing at something Lily whispered, Aria's mother watched them from the couch. Her eyes lingered on her daughter's outfit, the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the subtle nervousness in her steps.

She looked different today... almost like she was going somewhere special.

A soft smile tugged at her lips, but a small part of her wondered if there was more to this "study session" than Aria was letting on.

Outside, the cool evening air greeted them as they walked side by side toward Lily's house. The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, painting the streets in a golden hue.

Lily nudged Aria playfully. "So, are you nervous yet?"

Aria sighed. "Lily, stop."

Lily grinned. "What? I'm just saying, it's a big moment."

Aria rolled her eyes. "It's just a meeting, not a marriage proposal."

"Yet," Lily added with a wink.

Aria shook her head, but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips.

By the time they reached Lily's house, the playful teasing had only escalated. They stepped inside, kicking off their shoes, and went straight to Lily's room.

But studying was the last thing on their minds. Books were out, but neither of them touched them.

Lily flopped onto her bed, stretching her arms above her head. "Alright, let's talk about the real reason we're here."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "To study?"

Lily scoffed. "Please. To discuss your upcoming fairytale moment."

Aria groaned. "Lily, I swear-"

Lily sat up with a dramatic gasp. "Oh my gosh, what if he kneels down and confesses his undying love? What if he's actually a prince in disguise?"

Aria grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. "You watch too many romance movies."

Lily caught the pillow, grinning. "I'm just saying, you've got someone out there writing you love letters. That's kind of amazing, don't you think?"

Aria bit her lip. "I guess... I just don't know what to expect."

Lily wiggled her eyebrows. "That's the fun part." Then she suddenly gasped dramatically. "Oh no. What if he's a stalker?"

Aria groaned, covering her face with a pillow. "Why do I even tell you things?"

"Because I'm the best person to tell," Lily said smugly, reaching for Aria's arm and shaking it. "Okay, okay, serious question-what do you want to happen?"

Aria hesitated. What did she want? The idea of someone secretly admiring her was thrilling, but also nerve-wracking. "I just... want to know who it is."

Lily rolled onto her stomach, resting her chin on her hands. "And what if it's someone unexpected?"

Aria sighed. "I don't know, Lily. I'll figure it out when I get there."

Lily wiggled her eyebrows. "Well, in the meantime, let's pass the time with a movie."

They scrolled through the options before settling on a romantic drama. As the movie played, Lily would glance at Aria every time a particularly swoon-worthy scene happened, nudging her and whispering, "That could be you."

Aria did her best to ignore her.

The hours passed quickly, and before she knew it, her phone buzzed. 6:30.

She exhaled, sitting up. "Alright, time to go."

Lily clasped her hands together. "Eeee, I can't wait for the tea. Come straight back and tell me everything."

Aria chuckled, grabbing her bag. "I will, I will. Wish me luck."

Lily grinned. "You don't need luck. You've got main character energy."

Rolling her eyes, Aria waved and left.

---

As she walked toward the school, the evening air wrapped around her like a cool embrace. The streets were quieter now, the sky fading into deep shades of purple and blue.

Her heart pounded a little harder when she reached the gates. Slipping inside, she made her way to the school garden.

The garden was a secluded space, meant for agricultural studies, with rows of neatly organized plants-herbs, vegetables, even a few fruit-bearing trees. The greenhouse stood silently in the corner, its glass reflecting the last light of the sunset.

No students were allowed here outside of class, which made the garden eerily quiet at this hour.

Aria stepped forward, inhaling the familiar scent of soil and fresh leaves. This had always been her favorite place, her personal escape. She often snuck in, either to read or just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

She sat on the wooden bench nestled between the lavender and rosemary plants, wrapping her arms around herself.

Then, a thought struck her.

Ethan doesn't know I'm here.

Her best friend. Her nosy best friend. Would he be upset if he found out? Would he feel left out?

But why does it matter? she argued with herself. He's not my keeper.

Still, guilt nagged at her. Maybe she should have told him.

Too late now.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. The night had fully settled in. The garden was silent.

Now all she had to do was wait.

----------

The school garden was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. The scent of damp earth and fresh leaves filled the air, and a gentle breeze rustled through the plants. Aria sat, her fingers twisting together in her lap.

She had arrived on time, heart pounding with both excitement and nervousness. But now, as the minutes dragged on, that excitement was quickly fading.

She checked her watch-7:55 PM. Any minute now.

She glanced around, half-expecting to see someone emerge from the shadows, maybe stepping forward with a nervous smile. But the garden remained still.

7:59 PM.

Aria held her breath.

8:05 PM.

Still nothing.

Her heart, once fluttering with anticipation, now started to sink. Maybe he was running late? Maybe he had gotten caught up with something?

8:15 PM.

The doubt crept in. What if no one was coming?

She exhaled sharply, rubbing her arms as the evening chill set in.

8:20 PM.

Her stomach twisted with embarrassment. She was starting to feel ridiculous, sitting here alone, waiting for someone who might not even exist.

8:25 PM.

The cold breeze was nothing compared to the icy disappointment settling in her chest. What if this was all just some stupid joke?

She checked her watch again. 8:30 PM.

That was it. She had waited long enough.

Aria stood abruptly, her face burning with humiliation. I was so stupid to believe this.

She clenched her fists. Whoever wrote those letters... were they watching right now? Laughing at me? The thought made her stomach churn with anger.

She turned on her heel and walked out of the garden, her disappointment twisting into something bitter. She didn't look back.

As she made her way to Lily's house, her emotions warred inside her-hurt, anger, frustration. She had actually believed, for one night, that maybe she was admired. That someone had meant every word in those letters.

But I was wrong.

By the time she reached Lily's house, she had already decided-whoever "The Admiral" was, she didn't care anymore.