Allison noticed it the moment she walked in.
Maybe it was just her. Maybe it was the way her chest felt too tight, like she was waiting for something without knowing what it was. The hallways buzzed with voices, lockers slamming, shoes squeaking against the floor.
Normal things.
Still, she felt off. She was anxious. Little things that happened around her set her off, and she didn't know what caused that yet in the midst of all this happening no one noticed it's like time stopped around her or at least slowed down.
Emma was supposed to start that day.
Allison kept checking her phone, half-expecting a message saying I'm here or I'm lost or I forgot how big American schools are. But there was nothing.
She stopped at her locker and leaned her forehead against the cool metal for a second.
Get it together, she told herself.
That's when the bell rang.
By second period, the whispers started.
"New student."
"Exchange kid."
"He's British."
That last one made Allison freeze mid-step.
British.
Her brain immediately shut that thought down.
Don't be ridiculous.
Lots of British people existed. London wasn't small. This wasn't a movie.
Still… she walked slower into class.
The teacher was already standing at the front, talking to someone with his back turned.
"Class," the teacher said, clapping once. "We have a new student joining us today."
The boy turned around.
And Allison forgot how to breathe.
He wasn't what she expected.
He was taller than most guys in the room, dark hair slightly messy like he didn't bother taming it. Sharp jaw. Calm eyes. The kind of face that looked unreadable, like he was always holding something back.
His gaze swept the room.
And then
It stopped.
On her.
Just for a second.
But it felt longer.
Something flickered in his expression. Recognition? Confusion?
Allison's stomach dropped.
No.
The teacher cleared his throat. "This is Zayn."
Zayn.
Her hands went cold.
He nodded once. "Hey."
His voice.
Low. Familiar.
Her heart slammed so hard she thought everyone could hear it.
No. No. No.
This wasn't possible.
He took the empty seat near the window.
Near her.
Too near.
Emma found Allison at lunch.
She looked different. Older somehow. Still Emma, the same old Emma but grown.
"Allison," Emma breathed, pulling her into a hug.
For a second, Allison melted into it. The familiarity. The warmth. The you're really here feeling.
"I missed you," Allison said honestly.
"I know," Emma replied softly. "Me too."
Then Emma stepped back, smiling nervously. "So… did you meet Zayn?"
Allison's throat tightened.
"Yeah," she said carefully. "He's… in my class."
Emma laughed. "Of course he is."
Allison forced a smile.
She didn't tell Emma how Zayn's voice sounded exactly like the boy who texted her late at night.
She didn't tell her how her hands were still shaking.
That evening, Allison messaged Z.
Her fingers hovered before she typed.
You didn't tell me you were coming today.
Three dots appeared.
Then stopped.
Then appeared again.
I didn't know how.
Her chest ached.
I saw you.
There was a pause.
Longer than usual.
Yeah, he replied.
I saw you too.
Allison swallowed.
Why didn't you say anything?
Because I wasn't sure it was you, he wrote. And I didn't want to mix up people if it wasn't you on my first day.
And because once I was sure… it felt dangerous.
Her heart thudded.
Why dangerous?
Another pause.
Then... because I already like you.
Allison stared at the screen.
Her phone buzzed again.
And now you're real.
She lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing.
Z was real.He was here.He was in her life.
And she still didn't know his last name.
She still didn't know how he fit into Emma's world.But she knew one thing with terrifying certainty:
Whatever this was, it was already too deep to walk away from.