C14 A Glimpse of Forever
For the first time in a long while, Elena woke up smiling.
Her phone buzzed beside her pillow — a text lighting up the screen before she could even open her eyes.
Jayden 💬: Morning, sleepyhead. Hope you didn’t forget our deal.
She frowned, still half-asleep. Deal?
Before she could type back, another message came in.
Jayden 💬: You promised to watch my practice today. Don’t even think about running off this time.
A laugh escaped her lips as she sat up, her heart fluttering at the thought of seeing him again.
⸻
The gym smelled of polish and energy when she arrived that afternoon. The squeak of sneakers echoed, the sound of basketballs bouncing filling the air. Jayden was already on the court, leading drills — focused, confident, and somehow even more handsome under the harsh fluorescent lights.
When he noticed her sitting on the bleachers, his whole expression changed. A grin spread across his face, quick and natural, and his teammates immediately noticed.
“Yo, Hale, eyes on the game, man!” one of them teased.
Jayden just smirked. “Maybe you should play well enough that I don’t get bored watching.”
The team erupted in laughter, and Elena shook her head, hiding a smile.
He was impossible.
⸻
After practice, Jayden jogged over to her, towel around his neck and that boyish smile still plastered on his face. “So? How’d I do?”
She pretended to think. “Hmm… you missed a few shots.”
He gasped in mock offense. “Wow. Harsh critic.”
“Honest critic,” she said, laughing.
He leaned in a little closer, eyes teasing. “Then maybe I need extra practice… with you watching every time.”
Her cheeks warmed instantly. “Jayden…”
He grinned, loving the way she said his name — soft, hesitant, like it meant something more every time.
⸻
They stopped by the café near Crestview afterward — the same one where most students hung out. The bell above the door jingled as they entered, and once again, all eyes turned.
Whispers started almost immediately, but Jayden didn’t care. He pulled out a chair for her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You don’t have to do that,” Elena said shyly as she sat.
“I want to,” he replied, sitting across from her. “You deserve to be treated right.”
The words made her heart skip.
They talked about everything and nothing — favorite movies, embarrassing memories, how Sophie once got detention for accidentally setting off the fire alarm during a prank.
For once, it felt normal. Just two people, laughing and learning each other’s rhythms.
When they stepped back outside, the evening sky was painted gold and pink. Jayden walked her home, their hands brushing occasionally until he finally caught hers.
“You’re really quiet,” he said softly.
“I’m just… happy,” she admitted.
He smiled, tightening his grip. “Good. I like you like this.”
They stopped in front of her gate, the same spot where they’d first walked home together. The world felt smaller, quieter, like the air itself was holding its breath.
“Jayden,” she whispered.
“Yeah?”
Her eyes softened. “Thank you… for choosing me.”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned forward and pressed his forehead gently against hers. “Don’t thank me, Elena. You were never a choice. You were always it.”
The words sank deep — warm and terrifying all at once.
⸻
Later that night, as Elena lay in bed, staring at her ceiling, a single thought kept circling her mind:
Is it possible to be this happy and this scared at the same time?
Because somewhere inside, she could feel it — that subtle, quiet warning that love this perfect never stays untouched for long.
And even as she smiled at Jayden’s goodnight text, her heart whispered a truth she couldn’t ignore:
Every story has its calm… before the storm.
⸻
Lot of love 🤍
Xoxo 💋
