• •
  Mira & Tayshaun

Mira and Tayshaun had been looking at each other all week, and everybody was starting to notice. Every time they crossed paths in the hallways at Woodward Career Technical High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, it was the same thing—long eye contact, little smiles, and both of them acting like they weren’t paying attention to each other.

But Mira wasn’t about to make the first move. Not her.

They had been going to Woodward since seventh grade, but sophomore year hit different. Especially when it came to Tayshaun.

Baby, that boy had a GLOW-UP.

He went from being about 5’5 in middle school to standing at a whole 6’4, 180 pounds of pure muscle at just sixteen years old. With his fresh barrel twists, clean fade, bright smile, and basketball-player build, he had girls looking twice every time he walked past. And the crazy part? He barely even tried. Basketball was his thing, and everybody knew he was one of the coldest players in the school.

Then there was Mira—the cheer captain. Pretty, confident, and always with her girls. You could usually find her with Zyaire, Myone, and Madison, laughing about something in the hallway or talking about the latest school drama. But Myone? That was her BEST friend. The one who knew everything, noticed everything, and was about to be all up in Mira’s business the second something happened.

And something was definitely happening.

For an entire week, Mira and Tayshaun had been exchanging looks, but neither one had said anything. Until one day, after what felt like the hundredth time their eyes met in the hallway, Tayshaun finally decided he was done playing.

He walked straight up to her.

Mira’s stomach flipped, but she kept her face calm like she wasn’t secretly freaking out.

“Myone,” Madison whispered, already sensing the drama. “Girl, look who coming over here.”

Mira didn’t even have to turn around. She already knew.

Tayshaun stopped right in front of her, his eyes locked on hers, that little smile playing on his lips.

“What’s up, Mira?” he asked.

“Nun, what’s up with you?” she replied, trying not to smile too hard.

He chuckled, looked at her for a second, then finally said the words she wasn’t expecting him to say right there in the hallway.

“So, you gon’ let me take you out or what?”

GIRLLLL.

Myone’s mouth dropped open. Madison grabbed Mira’s arm, and Zyaire was already looking like he had just witnessed the biggest moment in Woodward history.

Mira looked up at Tayshaun, trying her hardest not to let him see how happy she was.

Because after a whole week of looking, wondering, and pretending she didn’t care…

Tayshaun had finally made his move. *