SAVANNAH
The gym smelled like sweat and rubber flooring, that oddly comforting scent that reminded me of effort and grit. I was just about to enter when I bumped into someone at the door.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," I said, stepping back quickly.
"Savannah?" a familiar voice chimed.
I looked up. It was the girl from the other day—Brenda. Blake's sister. Her face lit up with a pretty, contagious smile, and surprisingly, I found myself smiling back.
"Hey! How have you been? I haven’t seen you around in days."
I nodded. "Yeah, I don’t come during school days. I only booked weekends."
"Oh!" she said, then paused for a beat, her eyes scanning me curiously. "I like you."
I blinked. What?
"What?" I asked, half-snorting.
She laughed, a soft, melodic sound. "I don’t know if it’s because Blake is always talking about you or because I was curious to meet the infamous Savvy Williams, but seeing you now, I like you."
My heart did a small flip. No one had ever told me that before—at least, not someone outside my family. My mom? Sure. But this felt different.
"Um… thanks. I think," I said, chuckling awkwardly.
She leaned in a bit, lowering her voice. "And truth be told, I wish for a shape like yours."
I nearly choked. "Wait, what?"
Brenda whispered conspiratorially, "I've been taking weight gain supplements for months now. Nothing’s working. So, I decided to hit the gym. Maybe I can grow some actual butt."
My mouth fell open slightly as I stared at her. She was tall, slim, and stunning. The kind of body people pay money to get. And here she was wishing to look like… me?
"You’re kidding, right?"
She laughed again. "Nope. Dead serious. That body of yours? Girl, people kill for it."
I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. All my life, I’d been so self-conscious, but here was this confident, stunning girl praising me.
"I’d like to be your friend," she said suddenly. "Do you live around here?"
I nodded and gave her my address. She handed me her phone to input my number. I did, and she dialed it immediately. My phone buzzed in my pocket.
"Now we’re officially friends," she said with a wink.
“Yes.”
“Bye.” She waved and walked off, her long legs striding away with easy grace. I watched her go, my heart feeling a strange warmth. She was so different from Blake. She was soft, friendly, and charming.
But then again, she was his sister. So what exactly had Blake been telling her about me?
"Savannah?"
I turned quickly. Tyler.
He stood near the gym doors, looking awkward but smiling. I stepped in beside him.
"I’m sorry about earlier," I said, still thinking about what had happened at the pool.
He waved it away. "It’s fine. I should’ve stood up to him. But I’ll be okay."
My eyes drifted to the swelling on his nose. I winced. "Your nose… is it still hurting?"
"Went to the clinic. Got it checked. I’m good," he said with a shrug.
We moved further inside. The gym was quiet. No instructors, no music, just silence.
"So… why did you ask me to come here?" I asked, suddenly feeling nervous.
Tyler sat down on the bench and patted the space beside him. I hesitated, then sat.
He exhaled deeply. "There’s something I need to tell you."
My eyes narrowed slightly. "Okay?"
He rubbed his hands together nervously. "Getting beaten up by Blake made me realize something. And… I also have a confession."
My heart skipped.
He continued, "That slip you found in your books… the one you thought Blake put there."
I gasped. "It was Blake, wasn’t it? I knew it! That jerk put it there to mess with me. He wouldn’t tell me who did it. Instead, he said it was a favor. A favor? Can you imagine—"
"I did," Tyler interrupted.
I blinked. "What?"
He swallowed. "It was me. I put it there."
I stood up, stunned. "Wait. What?"
"I didn’t mean it the wrong way," he said quickly, rising to his feet. "I just… I didn’t know how to say it to your face. I wanted to be honest but also didn’t want to scare you away. So I thought maybe the note—"
I backed away slowly, trying to process.
"I… I don’t understand. Why would you…"
He looked desperate. "Because I like you, Savannah. I like you."
I froze.