Aaron’s heart raced as he sat at his desk, the familiar sounds of the classroom around him fading into a dull hum. His thoughts were consumed by one thing: Valentine’s Day. The days had passed so quickly, and now it was finally here. He had spent the last few weeks meticulously planning how he would ask Diane out, but now, as the day arrived, his nerves were getting the better of him.
He had already decided he didn’t want to make this a huge deal. He wasn’t going to buy her a bouquet of roses or take her to a fancy restaurant. No, he wanted it to be simple. A quiet evening. Just the two of them. He knew Diane wasn’t someone who enjoyed the big, over-the-top celebrations, so this had to feel comfortable for her—something she could say yes to without feeling overwhelmed.
As the clock ticked slowly toward the end of class, Aaron kept glancing over at Diane. She was scribbling something in her notebook, the tip of her pen moving quickly as she focused on the task at hand. Her hair fell in front of her face just enough to hide her eyes, but Aaron knew exactly what that look meant—she was lost in thought, the same way she always was when she didn’t want to talk.
He had to do it now. There was no more time to wait.
With a quick glance at the teacher, Aaron slid a small folded piece of paper across the desk to Diane. His palms were sweaty, his heart racing. He could feel his anxiety rising, but he knew this was the moment. He had been working up to this for weeks, and he couldn’t back out now.
The paper slid quietly across the desk, landing in front of Diane. She stopped writing, her gaze flicking down to the small note. When she looked up, Aaron met her eyes for a brief moment before quickly glancing away. His stomach tightened.
Diane hesitated, looking around the classroom before slowly picking up the note. Her fingers carefully unfolded the paper, revealing Aaron’s messy handwriting. He had kept it simple:
“Would you like to spend Valentine’s Day with me? Just the two of us. No pressure, just us. I really want to be with you.”
Diane’s eyes softened as she read the note, and Aaron could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He watched as she set the paper down, her gaze lingering on it for a moment before she looked up at him.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The classroom noise felt like it was muffled, as if everything had fallen away except for the two of them. Diane’s expression was unreadable, her lips parted as if she was trying to find the right words.
Aaron held his breath, hoping she wouldn’t shut him out. He had already felt the distance between them over the past few days—how she had been avoiding him, how she still struggled to fully open up to him. He couldn’t bear the thought of her pushing him away again.
Finally, Diane looked up at him, her eyes a little hesitant, but something softer in them. She bit her lip before speaking, her voice quiet but steady.
“You really want to spend Valentine’s Day with me?” she asked, as if testing the idea out.
Aaron nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “More than anything.”
Diane paused for a long moment, looking down at the note again. She seemed to be weighing it in her mind, the meaning of the words he had written slowly settling in. He could see her processing it—her usual guarded nature softening just a little.
Finally, she met his eyes again, a shy but genuine smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Okay,” she said softly. “Yeah, I’d like that. I’d really like that.”
Relief washed over Aaron like a wave, and his chest tightened in the best way possible. His heart fluttered in his chest, the weight of the moment feeling like a dream. He hadn’t expected her to say yes so easily, but somehow, hearing her voice, seeing the smile in her eyes, made everything feel right.
“Really?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Diane’s smile grew a little wider. “Really. It’s a date.”
Aaron grinned, feeling lighter than he had in days. He had finally taken the leap, and she was saying yes. It wasn’t just about the date—it was about what it meant. It was a step forward, a chance to prove that he was willing to wait for her, that he wasn’t going anywhere.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Aaron stood up, his heart still racing, but now with excitement. Diane stood too, gathering her things as they prepared to leave the classroom. She looked up at him one last time, her eyes soft and sincere.
“See you later,” she said, her voice quiet but filled with warmth.
“Yeah,” Aaron replied, his smile wide. “See you.”
As they walked out of the classroom together, the world suddenly felt a little brighter, a little lighter. They had made it. They were taking a step forward together, and nothing had ever felt more right.
YOU ARE READING
Fatal Strings
Mystery / Thriller"Every love she touches ends in death. But what if love is the only thing that can save her?" Diane has lived her life shadowed by tragedy. Every boy she's ever loved has met a mysterious, untimely end-from playground accidents to fatal falls. Haunt...
