Crushed

Chapter 1

The moment I first saw Tyler Williams was etched into my memory like a tattoo on my heart. It was a crisp autumn afternoon, and the sun cast a warm, golden glow across the high school football field. I was in the stands, watching our school's football team practice, my eyes fixed on him. Tyler, the star quarterback, effortlessly threw a perfect spiral, and I couldn't help but be captivated by his talent and charisma.

I'd had a crush on Tyler for as long as I could remember. He was the quintessential high school dreamboat - tall, athletic, with sun-kissed blonde hair that had a habit of falling over his forehead just perfectly. He moved with an easy grace that made him stand out even among his teammates. To me, he was more than just a guy; he was a symbol of everything I wished I could be.

But there was one problem: Tyler didn't even know I existed. In a school as big as ours, it was easy to get lost in the crowd. I was just an average girl with average grades, and I blended into the background like wallpaper. Tyler, on the other hand, was the star of the show, the king of our high school. He had his pick of girls, all vying for his attention, but I wasn't one of them.

As I watched him from my spot in the bleachers, I couldn't help but let my mind wander into the realm of daydreams. In my fantasies, Tyler and I were the lead characters in a teenage romance movie. We'd bump into each other in the hallway, and he'd flash me a dazzling smile that would leave my heart racing. He'd offer to carry my books, and we'd walk home together, talking about our hopes and dreams.

Of course, in reality, our paths never crossed. I was just another face in the crowd, another student navigating the tumultuous waters of high school. But that didn't stop me from fantasizing about what could be.

As the weeks turned into months, my crush on Tyler only deepened. I found myself attending every football game, not so much for the sport but to catch a glimpse of him on the field. I'd cheer with the rest of the crowd, my heart pounding with each touchdown he scored. And when the game ended, I'd watch him from afar as he celebrated with his friends, the girls fawning over him.

But my feelings for Tyler were a closely guarded secret. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone finding out. What if my friends teased me? What if Tyler himself found out and laughed in my face? No, it was safer to keep my infatuation hidden deep within the recesses of my heart.

One fateful day, though, everything changed. It started like any other school day, with the monotonous drone of the morning announcements and the shuffle of students making their way to class. I was lost in my thoughts, clutching my books tightly to my chest as I navigated the crowded hallway. I was so lost in my daydreams that I didn't notice the commotion ahead.

Suddenly, the corridor seemed to part like the Red Sea, and there he was - Tyler Williams, surrounded by a throng of his friends. My heart raced as I watched him approach, his laughter echoing through the hall. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, and in that moment, it felt like the universe had conspired to bring us together.

But what happened next shattered my dreams into a million pieces. Tyler, with a mischievous grin on his face, turned to his friends and pointed directly at me.

"Hey, guys, check it out!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying through the hall. "Jean over there has been stalking me for months!"

Time seemed to stand still as the entire school turned to look at me. My face turned scarlet, and I wished with all my heart that the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Laughter erupted from the crowd, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

Tyler's words were like a dagger through my heart. He had taken my secret, my precious daydreams, and he had turned them into a cruel joke for the entire school to see. I wanted to disappear, to run away and never come back. The humiliation was unbearable.

As Tyler and his friends continued to laugh, I turned on my heel and fled down the nearest hallway, tears streaming down my face. My world had come crashing down in an instant, and the boy I had adored from afar had become the source of my deepest humiliation.

Little did I know that this humiliating moment was just the beginning of a rollercoaster ride that would take me on a journey of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.