Jeremiah had never believed in love at first sight. Sure, he'd heard about it in movies, read about it in books, and seen it in TV shows. But, to him, it always seemed like one of those over-romanticized ideas that didn't really apply to real life. That was, of course, until today.
It was the start of a new school year, and Jeremiah wasn't particularly excited. In fact, he felt a little nervous as he walked through the large gates of Brookstone Middle School. His backpack bounced against his back as he shifted it to get more comfortable. He hadn't made many friends the previous year, and the thought of the awkwardness that sometimes came with new classes made him uneasy.
The bell rang, signaling the beginning of the day. He walked down the hallway, passing by groups of familiar faces, when something — or rather someone — caught his eye.
She was standing by the lockers, chatting with her friends. Her name was Zoey, and Jeremiah had heard of her before. She was the kind of girl everyone seemed to know. She had a quiet confidence that made her stand out, but not in a showy way. Her dark hair framed her face just right, and her smile seemed to make the entire hallway light up.
Jeremiah didn't mean to stare. He tried to glance away, but something about her caught him — like a magnet pulling at his chest. His heart began to race. His palms felt sweaty. He had no idea what was happening. This wasn't like anything he had ever felt before.
She laughed with her friends, and Jeremiah couldn't help but notice how perfect her laugh sounded, like the soft melody of a song he didn't know he needed to hear. He wanted to say something, anything. His mind raced with all the possible things he could say to her, but the words got caught in his throat.
*What if she thinks I'm weird? What if she doesn't like me?* His inner thoughts swirled in a confusing mess, each one more overwhelming than the last.
And just like that, the moment passed. Zoey and her friends moved down the hall, and Jeremiah stood frozen, unable to speak, as though the words he had wanted to say were locked away in his chest.