The Boy I Wasn't Supposed To Notice

The first thing Aria noticed wasn't his face.

It was the roar.

The football field erupted with cheers as the final whistle echoed through the evening air. Students rushed toward the fence, screaming the goalkeeper's name while others jumped up and down in celebration.

Aria sighed.

"Here we go again," she muttered, adjusting the strap of her backpack.

"You act like this doesn't happen every week," Rachel laughed, elbowing her playfully.

"Because it does."

Zoey rolled her eyes dramatically. "You're impossible. The school's hottest guy just saved a penalty, and you're acting like it's the morning assembly."

"I came to buy snacks, not watch football."

Katherine smirked. "And that's exactly why you're single."

The four girls burst into laughter as they walked past the crowded field.

Students surrounded the players, asking for pictures and congratulating them.

In the middle of it all stood Ethan.

Still wearing his navy-blue jersey with the number 1 on the back, he smiled awkwardly as everyone praised him. Unlike the other players celebrating wildly, he simply thanked them before grabbing his water bottle.

"He doesn't even look excited," Aria observed.

Rachel shrugged. "That's because he's used to everyone treating him like a celebrity."

"He's overrated," Aria said.

Zoey gasped dramatically. "Take that back."

"I won't."

"You don't mean that," Zoey teased.

"I do."

Katherine folded her arms. "You've never even spoken to him."

"Exactly."

"And yet you've already decided you don't like him."

Aria smiled.

"Some people are just... easier to admire from a distance."

Before anyone could reply, a football rolled across the pavement and stopped at Aria's feet.

The crowd suddenly went quiet.

She looked down at the ball.

Then up.

Ethan was jogging toward her.

For a second, their eyes met.

"Sorry," he said with a small smile. "Can you pass it?"

Aria nudged the ball toward him with the tip of her shoe.

It rolled perfectly into his path.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

He picked up the ball, gave her one last polite smile, then jogged back to his teammates.

Rachel turned so quickly her ponytail nearly slapped Aria in the face.

"You just talked to Ethan."

"So?"

"So?!" Zoey squealed. "The Ethan?"

"It was literally one word."

Katherine laughed.

"I don't know... I have a feeling that won't be the last."

Aria shook her head, completely unconvinced.

She picked up her bag and continued walking, never once looking back.

She didn't know it yet...

But the boy she wasn't supposed to notice had just walked into her story.