Anaya Rao never believed in chaos. She liked things neat~~books in order, uniforms pressed, words carefully chosen. Her world was predictable, and she liked it that way.
Aarav Mehta was a walking contradiction to that.
He was the boy who showed up five minutes late every day, with rain in his hair and a smirk on his face. His notebooks were messy, his jokes louder than necessary, and somehow, people always loved him anyway.
So when he took the seat next to her on the first day of Class 11, she didn't even bother to look up.
"You're new," he said, chewing gum and flipping open his pen cap like it was a drumstick.
You're annoying," she replied, eyes fixed on her notebook.
He laughed~~and didn't leave.
~~
By the second week, Aarav had made it his mission to get a reaction out of her.
He left tiny doodles on her desk. He borrowed her pens without asking. He gave her the nickname "Topper" even though she never responded to it.
And then one rainy Thursday, the school bus broke down and left them stranded outside together, under a tiny awning.
He offered his umbrella. She refused.
"I don't talk to strangers," she said simply.
"I'm Aarav. Now I'm not a stranger," he replied grinning.
She hesitated, the took the umbrella.
That was how it started.
~~
They became friends in the way that only teenagers can~~slowly, awkwardly, and then all at once. What began with project partnerships turned into shared secrets and whispered jokes behind textbooks. He started walking her to class. She started saving a seat for him at lunch.
Aarav brought the chaos. Anaya brought the calm.
They balanced each other out without ever really trying.
One day, he showed her his sketchbook~~filled with pages of people, places, and one quiet drawing of her, tucked between cricket bats and classroom walls.
"You drew me?" she asked, cheeks flushing.
"You look better on paper," he teased.
She rolled her eyes~~but smiled anyway.
~~
Their first kiss was in the back courtyard of the school, hidden from teachers and noise. It was late after a debate competition, and they were the only two left waiting for their parents.
The air smelled like rain. Her hair was still pinned back. He was fidgeting with his tie.
She was talking about something mundane~~books, maybe~~and he just...leaned in.
No fireworks. No music. Just his lips brushing hers, uncertain and soft.
And she didn't pull away.
~~
At seventeen, they didn't know what forever meant.
But in that moment, with the world quiet and their hands tangled together like lifelines, it felt close enough.
Almost.