---::--
The next few days passed like slow-burning fire. They met again—classroom corners, quiet benches, another library session. The project was only half the reason now. Ariana knew it. And so did he.
She just couldn't admit it out loud.
Friday came like a whisper. Rain fell in soft taps against the windows as students buzzed about the upcoming talent show and weekend plans. Ariana sat at her desk, trying to focus, but her eyes kept drifting—to him.
Rowan sat a few rows ahead, leaned back in his chair, lazily spinning a pencil between his fingers. At one point, he turned around, caught her watching—and smirked. Not a mocking smirk.
A secret one. A shared one.
Later that afternoon, they met again to finalize their presentation. They were sitting in the back of the art room this time, surrounded by paint-splattered tables and old plaster sculptures. He was flipping through index cards, testing her.
"What did the Mayans believe about astronomy?" he asked.
She gave the answer without missing a beat.
"Damn," he said, laughing. "You're kind of a genius."
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
Then came the silence again. But it wasn't awkward anymore. It was filled with something else.
He leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes fixed on her.
"You know," he said softly, "I like saying your name."
She blinked, stunned. "What?"
"Ariana," he said again, slower this time. "It sounds… nice. You don't hear it much around here. It's soft, but kind of powerful too."
Her cheeks burned.
"I bet no one says it right," he added. "They say it like 'AIR-ee-ah-nah.' But it's more like 'Ah-ree-ah-nuh,' right?"
She nodded slowly, heart sprinting in her chest.
He smiled. "Told you. I notice things."
She looked down, trying not to melt.
He reached across the table, tilted her chin up just enough so she could see his eyes.
"I notice you, Ariana."
The door opened behind them. Loud laughter. Two girls from Zayden's circle waltzed in—one of them the flawlessly styled Chloe, who had been eyeing him for weeks.
"Oh," Chloe said, with fake surprise. "Didn't know this was a study date."
Ariana blinked fast, her hand immediately moving to her bag.
Zayden didn't even look at them. He kept his eyes on Ariana and said—calmly, but firmly—
"I'm not on a date. But if I was… it'd be a good one."
Chloe stared, lips parted. Ariana froze.
Rowan stood, gently picking up their flashcards.
"Come on," he said to Ariana with a grin, "let's go somewhere quieter."
And in that moment, she wasn't invisible.
Not to him.
Not anymore.