The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the school courtyard as students spilled out in noisy clusters. Micheal adjusted the strap of his backpack, trying to keep his tone light even though his chest felt tight.
"Hey Tee, I was thinking…" Micheal began after the closing bell. "What if we went to that ice cream shop close to the park and just chill later this evening?"
Teema slowed her steps. For a moment, she looked tempted—then her shoulders sagged slightly.
"Um… that would be nice but I… I promised Daniel that I'll show him around town this evening, so…" She trailed off with a small sigh.
"Oh. Daniel again," Micheal muttered before he could stop himself.
She turned to face him immediately. "No, it's not like that, Mich. It's just that we made those plans before now."
Micheal nodded, though the gesture felt stiff. The name sat between them like an uninvited guest. Daniel Fairburn—the new transfer student. Tall, polite, and still carrying that new kid energy that made teachers extra attentive and classmates curious.
"I know," Micheal said after a pause. "It's just… you've been spending a lot of time with him lately."
Teema hugged her books closer to her chest. "He doesn't know anyone here. You remember how that feels, right?"
That hit closer than Micheal expected. He exhaled slowly. "Yeah. I do."
They stood there awkwardly as groups of students passed them by, laughter and chatter filling the air where their words had thinned out.
"I didn't mean to make you feel sidelined," Teema said softly. "Tonight is just… one evening."
Micheal forced a small smile. "Right. One evening."
Daniel appeared near the school gate just then, waving a little too enthusiastically when he spotted Teema. She lifted a hand in response, then looked back at Micheal.
"I'll call you later, okay?"
"Yeah. Sure." Micheal stepped back, giving her space. "Have fun."
She hesitated, as if wanting to say more, then turned and jogged toward Daniel. Micheal watched as they walked off together, their voices blending into the evening noise.
The courtyard slowly emptied. Micheal remained where he was, staring at the spot where Teema had stood moments earlier. He didn't hate Daniel—he barely knew the guy—but the unease wouldn't go away. It wasn't jealousy alone. It was the quiet fear of becoming an afterthought.
As he finally started toward the bus stop, his phone buzzed. A message from Teema.
> I really do want that ice cream. We'll do it soon. Promise.
Micheal typed back after a moment.
> Yeah. Anytime.
He slipped the phone into his pocket, the sky above him turning orange and then pale blue. Somewhere between trust and doubt, he walked home—hoping he was overthinking things, and afraid that he wasn't.
The bus ride home felt longer than usual.
Micheal sat by the window, forehead resting lightly against the glass as the city slid past in blurred colors. Street vendors were packing up, horns blared in the distance, and the sky deepened into a quiet purple. Normally, he'd be texting Teema by now—sending dumb jokes, arguing about music, planning nothing and everything at once.
Tonight, his phone stayed silent.
When he got home, the house was unusually calm. His mom hadn't returned from work yet, and the TV hummed softly in the background, forgotten. Micheal dropped his bag by the couch and went straight to his room. He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling fan as it spun lazily above him.
One evening, he told himself again.
He didn't realize just yet how often that sentence would repeat itself and how much ground he would lose each time he believed it.
---
Across town, Teema walked beside Daniel along the cracked sidewalk that led toward the park. He kept his hands in his pockets, glancing around with open curiosity.
"So this is where everyone hangs out?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah," Teema replied. "The park, the ice cream shop nearby, sometimes the arcade when it's not too crowded."
"That actually sounds nice," he said with a small smile. "Back at my old school, people didn't really talk to new kids."
Teema nodded. "It can be rough."
They stopped near the park entrance, where streetlights flickered on one by one. Daniel hesitated, then spoke again, his voice careful.
"Hey… I hope I'm not causing problems. With you and Micheal, I mean."
Teema blinked, surprised. "What? No—why would you think that?"
"I can tell he doesn't like me much," Daniel said with an awkward laugh. "Or at least, he doesn't like me being around you."
She looked away for a moment, guilt tugging at her chest. "Micheal's just… protective. He's been my friend for a long time."
Daniel nodded, accepting the answer even if it didn't fully satisfy him. "I get it. I just didn't want to step on anything important."
---
Back in his room, Micheal finally checked his phone again. Still nothing. He rolled onto his side, grabbing his headphones, but even music couldn't drown out his thoughts.
What if she starts choosing him over me?
The idea unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
> I'm at the park now. It's actually kind of quiet, Teema texted.
I wish you were here.
Micheal sat up slowly, reading the message twice.
> Yeah, he typed back. Me too.
He stared at the screen for a second, then added another message before he could overthink it.
> Be safe, okay?
The reply came quickly.
> Always.
Micheal leaned back against the wall, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The evening wasn't over yet—but something had shifted. He could feel it, like a crack forming in something fragile.
Whether it would heal or widen… only time would tell.Night settled in fully by the time Teema left the park.
The streetlights painted the sidewalks in pale yellow as she and Daniel walked back toward the main road. The conversations had grown quieter, lighter—stories about old schools, favorite teachers, embarrassing moments that made Daniel laugh a little too loudly. Still, Teema's thoughts kept drifting back to Micheal.
Her phone buzzed again.
> You home yet? —Micheal
She smiled faintly and typed back.
> Almost. Just leaving the park.
> Good.
That single word carried more weight than he probably intended.
Daniel noticed her expression. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," she said, slipping her phone into her pocket. "Just checking in."
They stopped at the junction where their paths split. Daniel shifted his backpack higher on his shoulder, suddenly unsure.
"Thanks for today," he said. "I really appreciate it. You didn't have to."
"I know," Teema replied. "But I wanted to."
He hesitated, then added, "Tell Micheal… I'm not trying to cause trouble."
Teema met his eyes, surprised by the sincerity there. "I will."
Daniel nodded once, gave a small wave, and headed down the opposite street. Teema watched until he disappeared, then turned toward home, the night air cool against her skin.
---
Micheal heard the front door open just as he was drifting toward sleep.
His mom called out a tired greeting, moving through the house. He checked the time—almost ten. He unlocked his phone again, thumb hovering.
A few seconds later, a message came in.
> I'm home now.
Relief washed through him, followed closely by something heavier.
> Good. How was it? he replied.
There was a pause longer than usual.
> It was okay. He just needed help settling in.
Micheal stared at the ceiling, choosing his next words carefully.
> I don't want to be the guy who gets mad over nothing.
> Then don't be, Teema replied. Just talk to me.
That made him sit up.
> I'm trying, he typed. I just don't want to lose my place.
The typing bubble appeared, disappeared, then appeared again.
> You're not losing anything, Mich. But you have to trust me.
He exhaled slowly.
> I do.
It wasn't a lie—but it wasn't the whole truth either.
---
The next morning, school felt different.
Whispers followed Daniel down the hallway. A few students greeted him now, familiarity growing fast. Micheal noticed how easily Daniel fit in, how teachers smiled at him, how Teema waved when she saw him across the corridor.
Something twisted in Micheal's chest.
At lunch, Samson slid into the seat across from him, dropping his tray with a clatter.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Samson said. "Let me guess—Teema and the transfer kid"
Samson leaned back, studying him. "Look, man, you can't fight shadows. Either you trust her, or you don't."
Micheal looked up. "What if trust isn't the problem?"
Samson raised an eyebrow. "Then what is?"
Micheal glanced across the cafeteria, where Teema laughed at something Daniel said, her head tilted slightly the way it always was when she was relaxed.
"…Timing," Micheal said quietly.
The bell rang, cutting the moment short. Students stood, chairs scraping loudly against the floor.
As Micheal grabbed his bag, he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was happening between the three of them wasn't just a passing moment.
It was the beginning of something none of them had planned for.