TO CHERISH AND BE LOVED

As Lucas Everett sat down at his table with his friends, he couldn't stop replaying the coffee incident in his head. The image of the dark liquid splattering onto the girl's shirt and her startled expression was etched into his mind.

"Man, you've been zoning out ever since you got here," one of his friends, Daniel, said, nudging him. "What happened? Did you spill coffee on someone or something?"

Lucas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I did. On this girl—she was with her friends. Totally not my finest moment."

Daniel laughed. "That's rough. Was she mad?"

"No, actually," Lucas replied, staring at his cup. "She was... calm about it, which somehow made me feel worse. Like, if she'd yelled or something, I could've just apologized and moved on. But she was all composed, and now I can't stop feeling guilty."

His other friend, Ryan, smirked. "Was she cute? That might explain why you're overthinking this."

Lucas shot him a glare. "That's not the point. I just feel bad, okay?"

Ryan leaned back with a knowing grin. "Sure, that's all it is."

Lucas shook his head, trying to ignore the teasing. His thoughts drifted back to the girl—what was her name? Her friends had called her Sophia.

Even through the awkwardness, there was something about the way she handled the situation that stuck with him. She was poised, confident, and had a sharp wit that had left him fumbling for words.

"Maybe I should just let it go," Lucas muttered to himself, though a part of him wasn't sure he could.

"Did you get her number?" Ryan teased, leaning forward with a mischievous grin.

Lucas groaned, leaning back in his chair. "No, Ryan, I didn't ask for her number. I spilled coffee on her. Pretty sure that's not how you make a great first impression."

Daniel laughed, shaking his head. "Well, it's a unique one, I'll give you that. Who knows, maybe she'll remember you forever as 'Coffee Guy.'"

Lucas shot him a deadpan look. "Yeah, because that's exactly how I want to be remembered."

Ryan smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "You're missing an opportunity, my guy. What if that's fate? The universe might've thrown coffee at her just so you could talk to her."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "If that's how the universe works, it seriously needs a better game plan."

But even as he joked, Lucas couldn't shake the image of Sophia from his mind—her calm demeanor, the way she brushed off the situation with a hint of humor, and the sharp words she used to handle her friends.

There was something intriguing about her, and the thought lingered far longer than he expected.

"Forget it," Lucas finally said, shaking his head. "I'll probably never see her again anyway."

Daniel shrugged. "Maybe. But if you do, you better have something better to say than 'Sorry for the coffee spill.'"

Lucas chuckled lightly but didn't respond. Deep down, he wondered if their paths would cross again, and if they did, how he'd manage to make it less awkward the second time around.

"Ever wonder if they go to the same school as ours?" Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't think so," Lucas replied, leaning back in his chair. "I've never seen them around campus before." He paused, thinking. "But I did see 'NA' on her shirt."

Ryan perked up. "Oh, that's easy. They probably go to Northwood Academy. That's what the 'NA' stands for."

Lucas nodded slowly, processing the information. "Northwood Academy, huh? Makes sense. It's not far from here."

"Figures," Daniel said, smirking. "That's the rival school, right? Kind of funny if the girl you spilled coffee on is from there."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Yeah, hilarious. Because what I need is more reason for them to hate me."

Ryan grinned. "Well, if fate wants to mess with you, you might run into her again during one of those inter-school events."

Lucas shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "Doubt it. And honestly, I'd rather not. I've embarrassed myself enough for a lifetime."

But as his friends moved on to another topic, Lucas couldn't help but wonder if their paths might cross again.

Something about Sophia—and the way she carried herself—kept replaying in his mind.

"I should get her a new shirt as a gift," Lucas muttered under his breath, the guilt still gnawing at him. He tapped his fingers on the table, already formulating a plan. "Yeah, that's what I'll do. I'll buy one after class and head to their school later. It's the least I can do."

Daniel, overhearing him, smirked. "You're really not letting this go, are you?"

Lucas shot him a look. "It's called being decent, Daniel. I owe her that much."

Ryan leaned forward with a teasing grin. "Are you sure it's just guilt, or are you trying to score some brownie points with the Northwood girl?"

"Cut it out," Lucas said, shaking his head. "It's nothing like that. I just want to make things right."

"Uh-huh, sure," Daniel replied, clearly unconvinced. "Well, good luck with that. Let us know if you survive the rival school territory."

Ignoring their comments, Lucas checked his watch and started mentally mapping out his next steps. He didn't know why he felt so compelled to fix things, but something about Sophia stuck with him.

"This better not turn into a disaster," he muttered, standing up. He had no idea how she'd react, but he figured it was worth a try.

"Hey, I'm not going alone," Lucas said, pointing at his friends. "You guys are coming with me after class."

Daniel groaned, leaning back in his chair. "Why do I have to be part of your guilt trip? You're the one who spilled the coffee!"

"Yeah, but you're my friends, and friends are supposed to have each other's backs," Lucas replied with a sly grin. "Besides, if I show up alone, it'll be even weirder. At least if you're there, it'll look less... awkward."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "So, you want us to act as your moral support while you gift a random girl a shirt she probably doesn't even want? Sounds fun."

"Exactly," Lucas said, ignoring the sarcasm. "Come on, it'll take like fifteen minutes, tops. I'll get the shirt, apologize, and we'll be out of there."

Daniel sighed. "Fine. But you're buying us snacks after this."

"Deal," Lucas said, already feeling more confident. He had no idea how Sophia would react, but at least he wouldn't have to face it alone. "Let's just make it quick, alright? No unnecessary comments or jokes."

Ryan smirked. "No promises."

After finishing their coffee, Lucas pushed his chair back and stretched. "Alright, let's head back. Don't want to be late for class again."

Ryan smirked, tossing his cup into the nearby trash bin. "Not like you're ever on time anyway."

"Yeah, but I've got a reason to hurry today," Lucas replied, grabbing the neatly wrapped shirt he had bought earlier.

"Still on this mission, huh?" Daniel teased, standing up and slinging his bag over his shoulder.

Lucas shot him a look. "Yes, I am. Let's go."

The trio made their way out of the café and walked toward Harbor Academy, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement.

The streets were filled with students returning from their breaks, some chatting excitedly, others hurrying to beat the bell.

"So, what's your plan when you actually see her?" Ryan asked, breaking the silence.

Lucas shrugged, keeping his gaze ahead. "I'll give her the shirt, apologize properly, and leave it at that."

Daniel laughed. "Sounds simple enough, but knowing you, it won't go that smoothly."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Lucas replied dryly.

As they approached the gates of their school, Lucas slowed down, glancing around. "Do you think it's weird to show up at their school later? Like, what if she thinks I'm stalking her or something?"

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Relax, man. You're overthinking it. Just hand over the shirt and explain. If she's reasonable, she'll appreciate the gesture."

"Yeah, and if she's not, at least you tried," Daniel added with a grin.

"Helpful," Lucas muttered, though he couldn't help but crack a small smile.

The trio entered Harbor Academy, the familiar hum of activity greeting them as students milled about the hallways. Lucas glanced at the time on his phone. "Alright, let's get through class first. Then I'll figure out how to deliver this thing."

"Good luck with that," Daniel said, clapping him on the shoulder.

Ryan chuckled as they headed to their respective classrooms. "This is going to be fun to watch."

Lucas shook his head, trying to focus on the rest of his day. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder how his next meeting with Sophia would go.

The bell rang just as Lucas walked into his classroom, signaling the start of his next class. He dropped his bag on the desk, still holding the neatly wrapped shirt, and settled into his seat, trying to focus on the lesson. His mind, however, kept drifting back to the encounter earlier.

He couldn't deny it: there was something about Sophia that intrigued him. The way she handled the situation with the coffee, the way she wasn't afraid to call him out—she was different from the other girls he'd met.

He wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he had to make things right, not just for the coffee incident, but for whatever else had sparked between them.

"Lucas, are you even listening?" His teacher's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Uh, sorry, yeah," he mumbled, glancing at the board.

Ryan leaned over from the desk next to him and whispered, "You're really thinking about that girl, huh?"

Lucas shot him a look. "It's not like that. I just… I don't know, okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Ryan smirked. "Whatever you say, man. But if you're serious about this, you should make your move sooner rather than later."

Lucas didn't reply, his thoughts now a bit more muddled. When the class finally ended, he grabbed his bag and made his way out, meeting Daniel and Ryan in the hallway.

"So, are we still going to go to Northwood Academy?" Ryan asked, giving him a knowing look.

Lucas hesitated. "Yeah, I'm going. I'll figure out the right moment."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know where to go once you get there? Or are you just going to show up like a lost puppy?"

"I'll figure it out," Lucas muttered, clearly not in the mood for teasing.

The three of them quickly gathered their things and left the school grounds. On their way to Northwood Academy, Lucas felt a surge of nervous energy bubbling up.

He kept thinking about what he would say to Sophia when they met again. Would she even want to talk to him?

When they arrived, they stood at the gates for a moment, Lucas staring at the familiar campus.

He hadn't thought this far ahead, but now that he was here, there was no turning back.

"Alright, I'm going in," he said, a little more confidently than he felt.

"You sure you don't need us to come with you?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll be fine," Lucas replied, shaking his head. "You guys stay here. I've got this."

With a deep breath, he approached the gate, his heart pounding in his chest. He asked the guard for directions to the student council office, and after receiving them, he walked through the campus, his eyes scanning for any sign of Sophia.

As he neared the building, he spotted her. She was standing near the entrance, talking with a couple of her friends.

For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of how to approach her. But before he could overthink it, he took a step forward, calling her name.

"Sophia!"

She turned, her eyes narrowing in recognition. "Lucas?"

He smiled nervously, holding out the shirt. "I know this might be a bit much, but I just wanted to apologize again for earlier. I got you a new one."

Sophia looked down at the shirt, and then back at him, an unreadable expression on her face. For a moment, there was silence between them.

"Okay, so you're really serious about this, huh?" she finally said, taking the shirt from his hands.

"I am," Lucas replied, his voice steady. "I didn't mean for things to go like they did. I just… wanted to make it right."

Sophia glanced at her friends, who were watching with interest, before looking back at Lucas. "Alright, I'll give you credit for trying. But don't think this makes us best friends or anything."

Lucas laughed softly. "Fair enough."

"Well, thanks for the shirt. I guess I can't complain about a free gift," she added, giving him a small smile before turning to leave with her friends.

Lucas watched her walk away, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment. At least it wasn't a total disaster.

Maybe this would be the start of something more, or maybe it would just be another awkward encounter. But for now, he was content knowing he did his part.

Turning back to his friends, he sighed, "I did it."

Ryan and Daniel gave him a thumbs-up, both looking impressed.

"See? That wasn't so bad," Ryan said with a grin.

"Yeah, but it's not over yet," Lucas replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll just have to wait and see how she reacts later."

Later that day, as Lucas and his friends left Northwood campus, they could already feel the eyes of the students on them. Whispers and curious glances followed them as they made their way toward the gates.

"Looks like Sophia got some admirers from Harbor Academy," Marco said, glancing over at Sophia, who was talking to her friends near the entrance. He couldn't help but notice the tension in Damien's posture as he stood nearby.

"Someone beating you to it, Damien," Clarence, another one of Damien's friends, teased with a smirk, his eyes locked on Lucas, who was walking a little ahead of them.

Damien, clearly irritated, tried to brush it off but couldn't hide the frustration building in him. "I don't care about that guy," he muttered, his tone sharp. "It's just some random guy. Doesn't mean anything."

Clarence raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because you've been looking at Sophia like she's your personal property for months now. You sure it doesn't bother you?"

Marco chuckled, enjoying the back-and-forth. "I mean, it's not like she doesn't have admirers. It was bound to happen sooner or later."

Damien clenched his jaw, keeping his gaze locked on Sophia from across the yard. "It doesn't matter," he said, his voice tight. "She knows who she's meant to be with."

Clarence and Marco exchanged amused glances but didn't press further. They could tell Damien was starting to get a little worked up, and neither of them wanted to push him too far.

"Well, good luck with that, man," Marco said with a grin. "Looks like you've got some competition now."

Damien remained silent as the three of them walked off, but his thoughts were consumed with Lucas.

Who was this guy, and why did Sophia seem to be so at ease with him? He couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get more complicated.

"You guys head to the dorm first, I forgot we had a student council meeting today," Damien said, stopping in his tracks as he turned back toward the school.

Clarence and Marco both looked at him, surprised by the sudden change in plans. "A meeting? You sure you don't want to join us?" Clarence asked with a grin. "I mean, we could head to the dorm and chill out."

Damien shook his head. "Nah, I need to deal with this. You two go ahead. I'll catch up later." His voice was curt, a clear sign that he wasn't in the mood for casual conversation.

Marco and Clarence exchanged a look before shrugging. "Alright, man. We'll see you later," Marco said before the two of them headed off toward the dorm, leaving Damien standing alone at the entrance of the school.

Damien turned back, his eyes scanning the campus one last time before he headed inside. His mind was racing with thoughts about Sophia, Lucas, and the strange unease he felt.

What was it about that guy that bothered him so much? And why did he feel this strange pressure every time he saw Sophia talking to him?

Shaking his head, Damien pushed the thoughts aside as he made his way to the student council room.

He knew he needed to focus on the meeting, but his mind kept drifting back to the events earlier that day.

Damien entered the student council room, trying to push aside the lingering thoughts about Lucas and Sophia. The room was already filled with the usual group of council members, chatting quietly among themselves.

As he walked in, all eyes briefly turned to him, and then the room settled into an expectant silence.

"You're late, Damien," the president, Sophia, remarked without missing a beat, her tone both casual and stern as she glanced at her watch. "We were about to start."

Damien froze for a second, caught off guard by her sharp tone, though he couldn't help but notice the way she effortlessly took control of the room. It always amazed him how she balanced authority and calmness with such ease. He cleared his throat and offered a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, lost track of time," Damien replied, hoping his excuse was enough to brush off the awkwardness. He moved to his seat, trying to act like nothing was wrong, but his mind kept replaying the events from earlier—the way Lucas had spoken to him and the feeling of being challenged in a way he wasn't used to.

Sophia gave him a side-eye before continuing with the meeting. "Well, let's get this started. We've got a lot to discuss." She spoke with the same composure, flipping through the papers in front of her as she began the agenda.

Damien sat back in his chair, zoning out as the meeting unfolded. He couldn't help but let his thoughts wander back to earlier that day, to the brief but intense encounter with Lucas, and to the way Sophia had seemed... different. Was it just him, or had something shifted between them?

"Damien," Sophia's voice cut through his thoughts again, this time sharper. "You're zoning out again. Focus."

He snapped back to attention, blinking at her. "Right, sorry." He gave a quick glance around the room, seeing the other council members looking at him with slight concern.

Sophia, though, was still watching him, her expression unreadable. "We're talking about the event logistics, Damien. Can you at least pretend to care?"

"Yeah, I care," Damien muttered, trying to sound less distracted than he felt. He grabbed his pen and started taking notes, though his mind was still on Sophia.

He wasn't sure what was going on with him, but the more he thought about it, the more complicated everything seemed.

The tension with Lucas. The unexpected feelings that were surfacing. And the way Sophia was completely unaware of the effect she had on him.

The meeting continued, but Damien couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change—whether he was ready for it or not.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, the members began to disperse, chatting and laughing as they filed out of the room. Damien stood up, his heart pounding as he glanced over at Sophia, who was gathering her papers.

"Hey, Sophia," he called out, his voice a little more urgent than he intended.

She turned around, raising an eyebrow. "What is it, Damien?"

He hesitated, unsure if he should even say anything. After a moment, he forced a half-smile. "Just wanted to apologize for being late earlier. Didn't mean to hold things up."

Sophia looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "No big deal. Just don't make it a habit."

Damien nodded, feeling a bit relieved, but as he turned to leave, he couldn't stop the words that slipped out. "You should be careful around the guy from earlier."

Sophia paused, her hand halfway to the stack of papers she was gathering. She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "What guy?" she asked, her voice even but laced with curiosity.

Damien hesitated, suddenly realizing how he had sounded. He hadn't meant to sound so possessive or protective, especially not in front of her. "You know, the guy from Harbor Academy. The one you bumped into today."

Sophia's eyes flickered with recognition, but she didn't seem as concerned as Damien had expected. "Lucas," she said, her tone casual. "Don't worry about him. It was just an accident."

"Yeah, but..." Damien's voice trailed off. He wasn't sure why he was even bringing it up. Lucas was just a guy who had spilled coffee on her, but for some reason, it felt like there was more to it.

Sophia gave him a questioning look, her expression softening. "Damien, you're overthinking it. It was just some spilled coffee. It's nothing."

He swallowed, wanting to press further but not sure why he felt the need to. "I just... don't like the way he looks at you," Damien muttered, his voice quieter than before.

Sophia's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, her gaze shifted, more thoughtful than before. But then she shrugged, brushing off the tension. "You're reading into it too much," she said, her tone light but firm. "We're fine, Damien."

Damien felt a strange knot in his stomach as he nodded. "Right. I'll... I'll drop it." He turned to leave, but the weight of her words, and the way she dismissed his concerns, lingered in the air.

As he walked out the door, he couldn't shake the feeling that something more was happening between them—something he wasn't ready to face just yet.

"That's the first time he seemed nice around you," Jade said, watching Sophia with a teasing smile.

"Yeah, but I think he was jealous about Lucas," Maya teased, nudging Jade playfully.

Sophia rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the fluttering sensation in her chest. "Jealous? Please. Damien doesn't get jealous," she replied, though a small part of her wasn't entirely sure.

"Come on, Sophia," Maya grinned. "It's obvious. You two have some kind of tension. It's like watching a soap opera every time you two are in the same room."

Sophia sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's not like that, okay? We're just—"

"Just what?" Jade interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "You've known each other for how long, and yet he's only started acting like he cares now? Something's up."

Sophia glanced out the window, deep in thought. She wasn't sure what it was about Damien's behavior recently, but there was definitely a change. The way he'd acted after the coffee incident... protective, even. Was it because of Lucas? Or was there something else?

"I don't know," Sophia admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "Maybe you're right. Maybe he is jealous. But it's complicated."

"Complicated how?" Maya pressed, her interest piqued.

Sophia hesitated. "I don't think he likes me that way. He's just... unpredictable."

Jade leaned in, grinning. "If it makes you feel any better, I think he's just trying to hide it."

Sophia shook her head, a small laugh escaping her. "Whatever it is, I'm not interested in figuring it out right now. I've got enough on my plate."

Maya and Jade exchanged glances, knowing well enough that when it came to matters of the heart, Sophia could be both stubborn and blind to the obvious.

"Well," Jade said with a grin, "If he really is jealous, then I guess you've got some power over him."

Sophia rolled her eyes again. "Can we talk about something else? Please?"

They all burst out laughing, but inside, Sophia couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Damien's recent actions, his protectiveness—it was all starting to feel like more than just friendly rivalry.

She wasn't sure what it meant yet, but for the first time in a long while, she found herself wondering if maybe, just maybe, Damien had feelings for her after all.