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Thanks for giving this a chance ~

Meet Aria Sinha ➜

Quiet, a little prickly, and always hiding behind her book or her own thoughts. 🖤 With a tsundere personality that's more "don't look at me" than "come talk to me," she's the girl who might push you away, but secretly, she's just trying to figure out how to fit in. 🏫✨ This year, she's determined for things to be different-but whether she's ready for the new experiences life throws at her? That's still up for debate.

                    ✨｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ ⁠⟵✨~

"He was chaos in school shoes, and somehow ... I wanted to be part of the mess"

_______✧✧________

Meet Aarav Malhotra ➜

Arav Malhotra was everyone's favorite chaos - loud laugh, quick comebacks, a heart hidden behind a grin. ⚡ He made friends like it was second nature, joked like nothing ever hurt, and smiled like he wasn't carrying quiet storms inside. 🌧️ Deadly extrovert, until she looked at him - and suddenly, the boy who made others nervous forgot how to speak.

                     ✨｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ ⁠⟵✨~

"I know you don't need me to hold your hand... but maybe let me, just because I want to be beside you. Not ahead, not behind-just there."

              . ______⁠___✧⁠✧_________

Meet Tanya Mehra ➜

Tanya was the kind of girl who lit up hallways with her laugh and filled every room with her sparkle. ✨ Popular without trying, bold without fear, and always dressed in confidence and lip gloss. She wore her heart on her sleeve and her sass in every sentence.

Girly, loud, and effortlessly loved - the extrovert sunshine to Aria's quiet moon.

                    ✨｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ ⁠⟵✨~

"I always thought love was something you had to chase, to fight for... but maybe the real kind was standing quietly beside me all along. And maybe I noticed too late."

____⁠___✧⁠✧_________

Meet Reyansh Verma➜

☁️ sharp tongue · louder laugh · messy hair energy ☁️

He says what he thinks (and half the time, doesn't realize it stings).

Shy people? He doesn't hate them... they just get on his nerves. Weakness makes him itch, awkward silences make him roll his eyes. But deep down? He's not trying to be mean-he just never learned how to filter.

Zero chill. One-liners for days. Heart? In there somewhere. Probably.

                      ✨｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ ⁠⟵✨~

"*I hate being the second choice in anyone's life, but when it comes to her, seeing her happy-even with someone else-was enough for me to accept being the side characte***r." 

                _____⁠___✧⁠✧**_________   

🎀Author's note 🎀

...✨This is a school life story set in Class 12, indian Highschool, a time of transition, self-discovery, and first real connections....

...✨The genre is slice of life, focusing on nostalgia, first crushes, quiet friendships, and growing up one small moment at a time....

...✨There's no high-stakes drama-just relatable school days, awkward laughter, and heartfelt memories....

...✨The story includes light romantic elements like hand-holding, innocent kisses, and early dating-shown respectfully and through a fictional, emotional lens....

...✨While the characters are tennagers so, these scenes reflect early emotional exploration and should be seen as fictional and nostalgic, not idealized....

💞A perfect read for anyone who loves soft romance, tsundere leads, school nostalgia, and the beauty of everyday life.💞

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⋋✩⋌  🎀Aria's POV🎀  ⋋✩⋌

"Some mornings feel like the start of something... even if you don’t know what yet."

The corridor smelled like chalk and cold air-conditioned mornings. Soft fluorescent lights flickered overhead, and my shoes clicked against the clean, too-polished floor. I clutched the strap of my bag tighter, my heart pounding a little too fast for this early in the day.My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag as I whispered a quiet promise to myself:

This year will be different. It has to be.

I’d spent too many years shrinking into the background—sitting in the corners of rooms and conversations, watching everyone else glow while I stayed dim. I was tired of that version of me.

First day of Class 12-D.

Science stream. Lab coats. Notes. Pressure. Sleepless nights.

And me—already late.

Great start, Aria. Really killing it, I muttered to myself, slowing near the last classroom on the left.

The laughter behind the door wasn’t aggressive or loud. It was easy. Familiar. Warm. And for a second, I considered turning back and hiding in the washroom until the bell rang.

But I took a breath and opened the door.

The scene inside was something out of a coming-of-age movie—messy, silly, and somehow perfect. Two figures stood at the center of the room, locked in a dramatic stick fight using those long wooden pointers teachers always carried. One of them was Tanya, un surprisingly.

But the other one—he—was a surprise.

He had his shirt tucked in perfectly, his navy uniform pants hanging just right. His shoes shined like he’d polished them that morning. But it wasn’t just the neatness that made him stand out.

He had a soft, almost babyish face, but his jawline was sharp—so sharply defined it almost looked like it didn't belong to the same person. There was a delicate balance to him: boyish, but with lines that hinted he was growing out of that phase, slowly, carefully.

His hair was short, straight, effortlessly styled without trying to be—no curls, no drama—just clean edges and confidence. He had the kind of presence that didn’t need to announce itself. The kind that quietly claimed space.

“You little—” he muttered as she knocked the stick from his hand.

“Yeah? Let’s see who’s little now!” she chirped, twirling her stick like a sword from a fantasy novel.

He bent down to grab his fallen stick—I paused for just a second too long.

And then his eyes flicked to the doorway.

Our gazes met.

His grip on the stick dropped slightly, his lips parting. I looked away quickly, heat rushing up my face.

And something in me stilled.

His gaze wasn’t heavy. It wasn’t even intense. It was curious. Amused. Bright.

Still, I looked away—too fast. Heat bloomed across my cheeks. I fumbled forward, acting like I hadn’t just been caught staring like a hopeless cliché.

I dropped into a front bench seat, clutching my bag like a shield. Why was my heart doing this? Stop. Breathe. Be cool.

“Aria!” Tanya’s voice cut through my inner spiral as she flung her arms around me. “We're in the same section! What was your rank?”

“Sixth,” I murmured, still dazed.

Tanya, she , grinned . “Ah, smarty pants. Love it.” She ruffled my hair.

my eyes darting to the boy still recovering from the duel.

Tanya rolled her eyes, following my gaze. “That’s Aarav.”

I tilted my head. “He looks new… as much as I know.”

I gestured vaguely toward the center of the room. “And the way you both are playing... I didn’t expect—”

“Oh yeah, he is new,” she cut in quickly. “And yeah, he—he’s just fun. You can see.”

I blinked at her. Something about the way she stuttered that line caught me off guard. I eyed her, a little suspicious.

“And handsome too,” she added with a mischievous wink, then spun on her heel and jogged back toward him.

I stood there, a little stunned. Watching them laugh again. Watching them pick up the sticks. Watching how easily she made friends. How effortlessly she talked to people.

What am I even thinking? I shook my head. She’s good with people. That’s all.

It’s just me. I’m the kind of person who takes three months to feel comfortable enough to say hi to someone without panicking.

The room seemed louder now. Brighter. Like the air had changed somehow.

My eyes flicked back—just once.

Aarav Malhotra. I caught the name on his ID card. So that's his full name It suited him.

I slowly walked to the front row and sat down.

But I couldn’t stop glancing over.

He wasn’t like the boys I’d seen before. He didn’t perform. He just… existed in high definition. Unbothered and unafraid.

I didn’t even know him, and yet watching him felt like seeing something I wasn't supposed to—like flipping to the last page of a book too soon.

I hated that I already hoped he wasn’t brilliant in studies more than me . That was my one thing. My one edge. Still... I wanted to be near whatever that energy was.

“Yeah, Aria! Save me!” Tanya shouted mid-swing, laughing breathlessly.

Without thinking, I grabbed a spare stick and stepped forward. My pulse jumped.

Why was I doing this?

I swung—awkward, wide.

He turned to face me, and his grin widened like a summer sunrise.

Our sticks clashed lightly.

I flinched.

His stick brushed my knee, just enough to throw me off.

I stumbled.

Thud.

I hit the ground with a yelp. A small gash formed on my knee, red blooming like a question.

“You okay?” Tanya called, half-laughing.

“Yeah, fine,” I mumbled.

Aarav dropped his stick instantly. He crouched beside me, expression softer now—none of the teasing, none of the shine.

You okay?” he asked. His voice was careful, quieter than before. Something about the way he said it made my breath hitch.

I—yeah. I’m fine.”

“You should clean that. It'll sting later.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tissue.

Who carries tissues on the first day?

His fingers brushed mine as he handed it over.

I looked away slightly flinched. “Thanks…”

“Chill,” he murmured. “I don’t bite.”

That made me smile—just barely.

Then, mercifully or not, the assembly bell rang.

I stood up quickly, wobbling a little. “I should go,” I mumbled and darted out of the room without waiting for an answer.

⋆｡°✩ 𝒲𝑒𝓁𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒞𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝟣𝟤-𝒟 ✩°｡⋆

A year of chaos, maybe.

A year of chemistry... not just the kind in the lab.

^^^Aria's pov:     ^^^

After our third class ended, the bell finally rang for lunch.

“I am dying of hunger—let’s go already!” I groaned, leaning against the washroom wall.

Tanya was still inside, applying lip gloss like she was prepping for a movie shoot.

“Okay, okay, I’m done!” she called, capping the tube and stuffing it back into her pouch.

“I swear, if that oldie principal catches you near the canteen, she’ll chew you out for wearing lip gloss.”

“She doesn’t come around every day. And besides, you’re also walking around with a single braid. If we get caught, we’re doomed together,” she said, swinging her bag over her shoulder and walking ahead.

I blinked. “Well… yeah. I didn’t think about that. Oh—wait! I’m coming!”

By the time we reached the canteen, all the seats were taken.

“Great. All seats full. Thanks to you,” I said, glaring at her.

Tanya looked around awkwardly, then her eyes lit up. “Hey, Aarav’s table has some empty chairs.”

“No way. We can’t sit there—they’re boys. And you know how that goes.”

“Oh, please. We’re seniors now. You said you wanted to loosen up this year, right? Best way is to actually make friends. And Aarav seems like... full eco-friendly friend material,” she said, nudging me with a grin. Then added, more seriously, “He’s good. C’mon.”

Before I could protest, she dragged me across the cafeteria. We sat down beside Aarav and another guy I hadn’t seen before. I landed next to Aarav while Tanya took the seat across.

“Hi,” I said, giving them a small wave.

Aarav returned a slightly awkward smile—of course, only around me.

The other guy didn’t even glance up.

“Hey Aarav, you won’t mind if we sit here, right?” Tanya asked.

“Of course I’ll mind. You’re annoying as hell,” he shot back with a smirk.

Tanya gave a short laugh, but something flickered in her eyes. For a second, I couldn’t tell if she was offended or just out of comebacks.

“We’ll still sit here,” I said quickly. “You don’t own the cafeteria.”

Just then, the new guy finally looked up—and spoke.

“Oh, so you do talk. I thought you were mute or something. That’s what I figured from how quiet you are in class.”

Ah. That comment again. I’d lost count how many times I’d heard it.

“I’m not mute. I just don’t like speaking in front of people like you.”

The air around the table tightened slightly.

He gave a forced smile, stabbing his fork a little too aggressively into his plate. “Direct from Instagram reels, huh?”

I matched his energy, dragging my knife through my food. “Perfect for a typical aunty comment.”

Aarav gave a half-laugh and smacked his own forehead. “Don’t mind him—he’s been a jerk since birth.”

“She’s just introverted. Don’t mind her either,” Tanya added, tossing both of us an eye roll.

—the jerk—suddenly softened a bit. “I’m Reyansh, by the way,” he said to Tanya, flashing a very different smile.

As the awkwardness eased, we all settled into some light conversation. Eventually, we started clearing our plates.

“Well, I’m off,” Tanya said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Bunking math class. Got a mock test at coaching.”

“Oh, okay. All the best,” I said.

“Thanks!”

“I’m bunking too,” Reyansh added to Aarav, already standing.

“Why? Your coaching’s after school.”

“Because I want to,” Reyansh said with a shrug. “Don’t tell my mom.”

He grinned and walked out, just as Tanya disappeared down the hallway.

After Tanya and Reyansh left, it was just me and Aarav at the table.

“Let’s g—” he started to say.

“I think I have a book to return to the library,” I cut in quickly. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Before he could reply, I grabbed my plate and walked off, eyes fixed on the floor like it held the secrets of the universe.

Of course, I had no book to return.

I slipped into the library, letting the quiet swallow me whole. The AC hummed softly, and the dusty scent of old pages wrapped around me like a blanket. I dropped into the nearest seat and buried my face in my arms.

God, what is wrong with me?

Every time I see Aarav, it’s like he turns into a different person—stiff, quiet, almost uncomfortable. Or maybe it’s just me being... me. But I can’t stop thinking about this morning, when I tripped during that stick fight and moreover out of nowhere and landed like a full-blown drama scene right in front of him—and then ran away the moment the assembly bell rang.

That was my grand first impression.

No wonder he acts weird around me.

He probably thinks I’m that strange, clumsy girl who appears, falls, and vanishes like some chaotic cartoon character. I groaned into the desk, the memory playing on loop in my head like a bad meme.

But why do I care so much?

It’s just the first day. I don’t even know him.

And yet—here I am, skipping math class just because the idea of walking next to him again made my soul shrink into a raisin.

“Why? Why?” I suddenly muttered out loud.

A few students looked up from their books, blinking at me like I’d just screamed in the middle of a prayer.

I sat up straight and whispered, “Sorry, sorry.”

Then slouched back down, mentally melting into the chair.

So much for being mysterious and chill.

^^^Aarav pov:   ^^^

I barely heard a word the teacher was saying. My eyes kept drifting to the empty bench beside me.

Where is she?

She said she’d join after returning a book. That was, what—twenty minutes ago? Half the period’s already gone. Maybe she ditched. Maybe she just didn’t want to sit with me again.

Shit.

First, that disaster this morning—her tripping in class because of my my stupid stick fight like something out of an anime. And then Reyansh, with his classic "are-you-mute" comment during lunch. Could it get any worse?

She probably thinks I’m a walking bully or something. Or at the very least, a magnet for chaos.

I just wanted a moment to say sorry, alone—without Tanya, without anyone watching. But nope. Destiny said: Not today, buddy.

I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed.

When did talking to someone become such a mission?

But hey, maybe I’ll get a chance after school. At the gate. That could work.

I just need... five seconds of not being awkward.

^^^Author pov:  ^^^

The final bell rang. A wave of students poured out of the classrooms, buzzing with chatter. Aarav grabbed his bag, unchained his cycle halfheartedly, and paused.

He glanced toward the library. Waited. Looked again.

Still no sign of her.

“I guess she’s taking her time,” he muttered and sighed, then slowly walked to the other end of campus—toward the girls’ cycle parking area.

The moment he stepped in, a subtle ripple passed through the group of girls standing nearby. Whispers rose. Eyes widened.

Wasn’t that... the new guy?

Aarav, fully aware of the growing attention, rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and scanned the line of bikes until one caught his eye.

Purple frame. A smiley sticker near the handle.

Aria Sinha.

“Finally,” he breathed out, pulling a small paper bag from his backpack. He hesitated for a second, then hung it gently from her handlebar and quickly turned to walk away.

“God, I must look like a complete creep right now,” he muttered, speed-walking back toward the boys' gate.

Meanwhile, behind him, the group of girls erupted in excited whispers.

“Was that... a gift bag?”

“For Aria? The quiet girl?”

“The nerd got a boyfriend before any of us?”

“And it’s the cute new guy?!”

“I heard his friend is single too. Someone stop me.”

“No one’s stopping you, babe,” another girl whispered, grinning.

The girls huddled around Aria’s cycle like it was a national artifact, peeking into the bag without touching it.

Inside was a small note, folded neatly.

^^^Aria's pov:    ^^^

I woke up with a jerk, the library still and too quiet around me. Crap. I had totally fallen asleep. How long had I been out?

By the time I reached the cycle parking area, school was nearly deserted—except for a small group of girls buzzing suspiciously around… my cycle?

“Excuse me,” I mumbled, but they didn’t move.

“Please step aside?”

Still no response.

“I mean—aside!” I said louder, basically shoving through them like a polite bulldozer. I grabbed the handlebars and started wheeling the cycle out, not stopping until I was past the gate.

Then I saw it.

A small paper bag hanging from the handle.

I blinked, surprised. I took it off and peeked inside. Just a single band-aid.

And a note.

“Sorry. In the morning you fell because of me. And please put the band-aid. –Aarav”

I stared at the scribbled handwriting. The words sat in my hand like they weighed something.

He could’ve said that in class. Or at lunch. Or literally anywhere else today.

So I was right—he was uncomfortable around me. Maybe I came off too weird. Maybe he regretted even trying to talk to me.

Fine. Whatever. Let’s not make this more complicated.

(Author’s Note: Certified Overthinker alert🥱.)

And honestly, now that I think about it, bunking class over a guy I barely know? Wow, Aria. Brilliant life choices you have board exams this year with college entrance exam you can't get a guy whom you just meet to get to your head, so it will be better, no best if we don't see each other .

I sighed, peeled the band-aid from the wrapper, and slapped it on my knee like it was sealing away the memory of today.

Then I hopped on my cycle and started pedaling away, a little too fast, like I could outrun the awkwardness trailing behind me.