The day after their kiss by the pond, Maya felt like the world had shifted on its axis. Everything felt different—brighter, more intense. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Lucas since that kiss. The feel of his lips on hers, the warmth of his hand in hers—it was all burned into her memory. And it scared her.

As she walked into school that morning, she spotted Lucas by his locker, talking to a few friends. He hadn’t seen her yet, and for a moment, Maya hesitated. She wasn’t sure how to act now, how to navigate this new reality where Lucas wasn’t just her rival or project partner, but... something more.