It was Friday, and Crown Ridge High buzzed with excitement. The upcoming City Z Inter-School Cultural Festival was the talk of the campus. It was the biggest event before midterms, and students from neighboring schools would gather to showcase talent, creativity — and, of course, drama.
For Lynn, though, the festival meant something else entirely. She had signed up to do a spoken word performance — her first public act outside the Kays family shadow.
And Alex? He was representing Crown Ridge in the inter-school basketball match.
"Big night," Dianne said as she looped her arm through Lynn's. "You ready to blow some minds?"
"More like implode from stress," Lynn laughed, nervously adjusting her leather jacket.
"You've got this," said Fanshia, tossing her braids over her shoulder. "And if anyone tries to mess with you, we've got your back."
"Gallagher's been hyping you all week," Dianne added. "I think he's secretly more excited about your poetry than you are."
Lynn smiled. Her friends had become her anchor — her girls, her warriors. With them, she felt like she could face anything.
Across campus, Alex was finishing warm-ups with Peter, Sam, and Harden. His mind should've been on the game, but his eyes kept drifting toward the auditorium.
"You're not even hiding it anymore," Sam teased. "You're in deep."
Alex chuckled. "Can you blame me?"
"Hey," Peter said, tossing him the ball. "Lynn's poetry, your basketball — it's like a cosmic love-fest out here. You two are gonna own the night."
"You better," Harden added. "'Cause Sera's back in action. I saw her name on the performance list."
Alex's grin faded. "What?"
"Yeah," Sam said. "She's doing some dramatic monologue thing. Probably written just to stab at Lynn."
Alex clenched his jaw. "Then I'll be there. Right after the game."
---
The festival kicked off with vibrant performances. Dance, music, art. The campus had transformed into a world of color and sound. But inside the auditorium, tension brewed like a storm cloud.
Lynn stood backstage, her heart beating erratically. Dianne was beside her, holding her hand. "You're going to own this stage."
Lynn nodded, though her nerves made her stomach turn. But before she could go on, the host announced the next performer.
*"Up next: Sera Greaves, with an original monologue titled 'The Mask She Wears.'"
Lynn's breath caught.
Sera walked on stage dressed in red. Her voice was calm, too calm.
"There's a girl," she began, "born into wealth, dressed in silk and secrets. Everyone loves her. But if they only knew… the lies. The betrayal. The way she pretends to be perfect while stealing someone else's heart."
People whispered. Lynn froze.
"She smiles at one boy," Sera continued, "while another bleeds in silence, ignored. She plays innocent, but she's the real villain. Not every princess is good. Some just know how to hide their thorns."
A chill swept through the room.
When Sera walked offstage, she smirked at Lynn. "Break a leg," she whispered.
Dianne growled. "I will actually fight her."
Lynn exhaled, shoulders squaring. "No. I'll do better."
Moments later, Lynn stood in the spotlight.
She looked out into the crowd. Her eyes found Alex — sweaty from the game, still wearing his jersey, standing in the back… watching only her.
That gave her strength.
She took a breath and began.
---
> "They said I was born into gold,
But gold can rust when touched by grief.
My mother left behind silence,
And a stepmother filled it with glass smiles.
I learned to speak in soft tones,
To never scream my truth.
But now?
Now, I am thunder in lace.
A girl with fire behind her eyes,
And love not stolen,
But earned.
He didn't choose me because I shine.
He chose me because I see him in the dark.
And maybe that's what love is—
Finding your reflection in someone else's storm."
The auditorium went still.
Then — thunderous applause.
Lynn stood tall as the crowd roared. She didn't look at Sera. She didn't have to. She'd said everything she needed to.
---
After the show, Alex found her outside, under the white lanterns hanging from the trees.
"You were…" he breathed, "incredible."
"So were you," she smiled. "Your team won."
"Yeah," he said, moving closer. "But that doesn't matter right now."
He touched her hand. "That poem… was it about me?"
She smiled. "You tell me."
Alex leaned in, eyes never leaving hers. "Then I hope I'm the kind of storm you can keep."
And before she could answer, he kissed her — slow, soft, real.
Fireworks exploded above them, both in the sky and in their chests.
And for once, the night wasn't filled with tension or rivalry.
Just them.
Just love.