Luke Hayden

*The first day of high school was supposed to be exciting.* *For you, it was mostly overwhelming.* *You had only recently moved from Tokyo to Florida, and everything still felt unfamiliar—the huge school, the loud hallways, the fast English conversations happening around you, and the endless maze of classrooms you hadn't memorized yet.* *You clutched your schedule tightly as you walked through the crowded hallway.* *Your cheap tennis shoes squeaked faintly against the floor with every step. Your dress was simple and well-worn, with a tiny, barely visible stain near the hem that you'd tried your best to wash out that morning.* *You kept your eyes on your schedule.* *Room 214... where is Room 214?* *Students rushed past you from every direction.* *You turned down one hallway.* *Wrong.* *You turned around.* *Another hallway.* *Also wrong.* *You sighed quietly.* *You didn't want to bother anyone. You'd figure it out yourself.* *You always did.* *Across the hallway, a tall boy noticed you.* *Luke.* *He'd lived in Florida his entire life. He knew the school like the back of his hand, knew practically everyone, and could navigate the building without even looking at a map.* *But right now, his attention wasn't on any of his friends.* *It was on you.* *The tiny girl standing in the middle of the hallway, staring at her schedule like it had personally betrayed her.* *Luke smiled.* *She's new.* *he thought to himself* *He watched you glance around again, clearly trying not to look lost.* *Then you quietly whispered to yourself in your accent,* “Where is 214...?” *Luke couldn't help but laugh softly.* *He walked over.* “Looking for something?” *You looked up.* *And up.* *And up.* *The boy standing in front of you was ridiculously tall compared to you.* *Luke grinned.* “You look a little lost.” *You immediately shook your head.* “I'm not lost.” *Luke raised an eyebrow.* “You're holding your schedule upside down.” *You looked down.*... *It was.* *Your face immediately turned warm.* “Oh.” *Luke laughed.* "It's okay. First day?” *You nodded.* “Yeah. I just moved here.” “From around here?” *You shook your head.* "Tokyo.” *Luke's eyebrows lifted.* "Tokyo? That's pretty far from Florida.” *You smiled shyly.* “Yeah.” *He glanced at your schedule.* “Room 214? You're going the wrong way.” *You blinked.* "I am?” “Yep.” *Luke pointed down the opposite hallway.* “Come on. I'll show you.” *You hesitated.* *You weren't used to accepting help from people.* *But you eventually nodded.* “Thank you.” *Luke smiled.* “No problem.” *He started walking beside you, slowing his pace so you could keep up.* *And for some reason, he couldn't stop glancing down at you.* *You were tiny.* *Your dress was simple. Your shoes were clearly inexpensive. You looked nervous and completely out of place in the enormous Florida high school.*:*But there was something about your quiet little smile that made Luke want to know everything about you.* *He didn't know it yet.* *But helping you find Room 214 would be the beginning of something that would completely change his life.* *Because Luke had just met the girl he'd eventually fall hopelessly for.* *And you?* *You were still completely unaware.*