The stairwell fell completely silent.
Teresa stood there with wide eyes.
Andrea stood frozen.
Samuel leaned back against the railing slowly, trying—and failing—to look unaffected.
Teresa pointed between them aggressively.
"I KNEW IT."
Andrea immediately covered her face.
"Oh my god."
Samuel looked way too amused.
Teresa stared at Andrea in betrayal.
"You said NOTHING happened."
Andrea groaned.
"Can you lower your voice before the entire school hears you?!"
Too late.
Footsteps echoed faintly from downstairs already.
Teresa slapped a hand over her mouth dramatically.
Then whispered loudly,
"You two are INSANE."
Samuel finally spoke.
"Hi Teresa."
Teresa looked at him like he personally caused all her emotional distress.
"Don't hi Teresa me."
Andrea wanted the floor to open beneath her.
Samuel looked suspiciously entertained by this entire situation.
Andrea glared at him instantly.
"Why are you smiling?!"
Samuel shrugged innocently.
"This is funny."
"It's not funny."
Teresa pointed again.
"You were literally about to kiss!"
Andrea's soul nearly left her body.
Samuel coughed lightly to hide a laugh.
Andrea looked at him in horror.
"You are enjoying this WAY too much."
"A little."
Andrea groaned louder.
"I hate everyone."
Teresa walked closer dramatically.
"No actually explain EVERYTHING right now."
Andrea shook her head rapidly.
"No."
Teresa gasped.
"You kissed him again, didn't you?"
Andrea froze.
Wrong reaction.
Teresa screamed.
Not loudly.
But enough.
"OH MY GOD YOU DID."
Andrea grabbed Teresa's shoulders immediately.
"If you don't calm down I will THROW YOU down these stairs."
Samuel laughed openly this time.
Andrea turned toward him instantly.
"YOU TOO."
Samuel raised his hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay."
But he was still smiling.
And the worst part?
Andrea loved seeing him smile.
By the next class—
People were already looking at Andrea differently again.
Teresa had technically promised not to tell anyone.
But Teresa also physically couldn't keep excitement inside her body.
So now—
Something was spreading again.
Not details.
Just energy.
Suspicion.
Andrea sat down at her desk slowly.
Diana leaned over immediately.
"…You kissed him again."
Andrea stared blankly.
"I hate Teresa."
Diana grinned.
"So it's true."
Andrea dropped her head onto the desk dramatically.
Samuel walked into the classroom a few seconds later.
Andrea made the mistake of looking up.
Their eyes met instantly.
Samuel smirked slightly.
Andrea's face heated immediately.
Diana looked between them once.
Then whispered,
"Oh this is BAD bad."
Andrea kicked her lightly under the desk.
"Shut up."
But honestly?
It was bad.
Because Samuel didn't feel temporary anymore.
And that terrified her.
Lunch break.
Andrea walked through the hallway alone this time, trying to breathe normally again.
Then—
"Andrea."
She stopped immediately.
Matthew.
Again.
But this time—
He looked angry.
Actually angry.
Andrea sighed tiredly.
"Matthew, not now."
"You and Samuel?"
Straight to it.
Andrea crossed her arms instantly.
"What about it?"
Matthew stared at her.
"So it's true."
Andrea laughed dryly.
"What exactly are you asking?"
Matthew stepped closer.
"You moved on that fast?"
That hit a nerve immediately.
Andrea's expression hardened.
"Moved on?"
Matthew looked frustrated.
"You know what I mean."
Andrea shook her head slowly.
"No. Explain it to me."
Matthew ran a hand through his hair aggressively.
"You spent YEARS liking me."
Andrea laughed bitterly.
"And you spent years ignoring me."
Silence.
Matthew looked hurt again.
But Andrea didn't stop this time.
"You don't get to be mad because someone finally chose me."
Matthew froze completely.
The words hit directly.
Andrea stepped closer now.
"You had your chance."
Matthew swallowed hard.
"Andrea…"
"No," she interrupted sharply. "You don't get to suddenly care because I stopped waiting."
Matthew looked genuinely shaken now.
Andrea could see it.
But for once—
She didn't feel satisfaction.
Just exhaustion.
Matthew's voice dropped quieter.
"I didn't think you'd actually leave."
Andrea stared at him for a second.
Then laughed softly.
Broken.
"That's the problem."
Silence stretched painfully between them.
Then Andrea stepped back.
"I can't keep being the girl waiting for you to notice her."
Matthew looked destroyed hearing that.
And maybe part of Andrea still loved him.
But another part—
A newer part—
Was finally learning to let go.
After school, Andrea sat on the rooftop alone with her headphones on.
The wind felt cold today.
But calm.
She stared at the city quietly.
Thinking.
About everything.
About how quickly life changed.
About how terrifying happiness felt.
The rooftop door opened softly behind her.
She already knew who it was.
Samuel sat beside her without speaking.
For a while—
Neither of them talked.
Then Samuel quietly asked,
"You okay?"
Andrea smiled faintly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Andrea looked at him.
"How honest you want me to be."
Samuel leaned back on his hands slightly.
"Honest."
Andrea stared ahead again.
"I think I'm scared of losing this before it even starts."
Samuel looked at her carefully.
"You think too far ahead."
Andrea laughed softly.
"I always do."
Samuel bumped his shoulder lightly against hers.
Andrea's chest tightened softly again.
Not painfully this time.
Comfortably.
Samuel looked at her for a moment.
Then said quietly,
"You know you don't have to earn being cared about, right?"
Andrea froze slightly.
That sentence went deeper than he probably realized.
She looked down quickly.
"Still working on believing that."
Samuel nodded once.
"Okay."
No pressure.
No fixing.
Just understanding.
Andrea looked at him again slowly.
And suddenly—
Without overthinking—
She leaned against his shoulder.
Samuel went still for half a second.
Then relaxed beside her.
And neither of them moved away.
Because for the first time—
Andrea didn't feel invisible anymore.