---
Lila woke up the next morning thinking about three things:
1. Popcorn still inside her hoodie.
2. Theo's flirty whisper that made her knees suspiciously weak.
3. Kai. Just Kai. Being Kai. Stupid jacket, stupid popcorn, stupid perfect jawline.
She groaned into her pillow.
"WHY IS EVERYONE ACTING SO WEIRD?!"
Her pillow had no answers. Rude.
---
At school, Theo was waiting at the gate with a coffee.
"For you," he said, smiling too brightly. "No reason."
Lila blinked. "Did you poison it?"
Theo mock-gasped. "Why do you hurt me?"
She sipped it anyway.
Enter Kai, walking past like he hadn't stayed up all night overthinking that one time their hands brushed in the popcorn bucket.
"Nice coffee," Kai muttered, grabbing a sip.
"HEY— That's mine!" Lila protested.
"Not anymore."
Theo nearly choked. "Bro. Wtf."
Kai's face didn't even twitch.
Lila: 💀
---
In class...
Lila was busy doodling hearts on the side of her notebook, not realizing they suspiciously looked like Theo's smile.
Kai, sitting next to her, leaned over.
"Are those... organs?"
"Wha— No! They're hearts!"
Kai shrugged. "Look like intestines."
"YOU LOOK LIKE INTESTINES."
From the back, Theo leaned forward. "I like how you draw. Even if they do look like internal bleeding."
---
Later, in the hallway...
Theo casually took Lila's hand as they walked toward lunch.
She blinked down at their hands. "Um—hello?"
"I'm practicing," he said.
"For what?!"
He winked. "Future girlfriend stuff."
Lila's brain: System malfunctioning... please reboot...
Behind them, Kai cleared his throat — loudly. "You dropped something."
Lila looked down. "I didn't—"
And then slipped. Dramatically. Right into Theo's arms.
"Wow," Theo smirked, catching her bridal-style. "I knew you'd fall for me eventually."
Lila: blushing, stammering, internally screaming
Kai: standing frozen, watching his worst nightmare in slow motion
---
After school...
Lila sat alone on the swing set near her house, her brain still short-circuiting.
Then Kai showed up. Quiet. Uninvited. And holding... a juice box?
"I figured you'd need emotional support," he said, handing it over.
Lila blinked. "You... brought me grape juice?"
He shrugged. "It was that or punching Theo. This seemed more legal."
She smiled without meaning to. "You're weird."
"You're clumsy."
They looked at each other.
Long pause.
Then Lila sipped. "Still prefer coffee."
Kai rolled his eyes. "Of course you do."
---
Somewhere else, Theo sat in his room, t
exting:
Theo: I think she's finally noticing me.
Also Theo (2 minutes later): Wait. What if she's noticing him too??
---