Chasing After You

Chapter 1: The New Beginning

The summer break had come and gone in a blink of an eye, and there I was, standing in front of my new school in Dubai. I was nervous, excited, and a little scared all at once. The thought of leaving my old school behind and starting fresh made my stomach turn. But my parents had promised me it would be a new adventure, a new chapter in my life. I wasn’t so sure.

The school, with its grand architecture, was so different from anything I had seen before. The teachers were speaking in a mix of English and Arabic, and the sounds of new languages filled the air. I walked through the gates with my heart pounding, clutching my backpack like a lifeline.

As I entered the classroom, I scanned the room for a friendly face. The kids here seemed to know each other already, talking and laughing like they’d been friends forever. I felt like an outsider. But then I saw them—two girls sitting near the window. One had a wide, confident smile that could light up the room, and the other had a calm, thoughtful aura about her. I took a deep breath and walked over to them.

“Hi,” I said, my voice shaking a little. “I’m Riley. I’m new here.”

The girl with the big smile, Tanisha, turned to me immediately. “Hey! I’m Tanisha, and this is Avita. Welcome to our school!” she said warmly.

Before I knew it, I was sitting with them during lunch. We talked about everything, our favorite foods, hobbies, and what it was like to live in Dubai. They made me feel at home, and by the end of the day, I already felt like I had made two new best friends.

Tanisha was the top student in class, always getting the highest marks in every subject. Avita was just a step behind her but still a brilliant student. I wasn’t as much of a star student, but I was happy just being part of their circle. We were like a trio, inseparable and always together, supporting each other in everything we did.

For the first time since I moved, I felt like I belonged.

Chapter 2: Kyle

The days in school passed by, and everything felt like a routine. But then, on one seemingly ordinary day, something changed. I noticed a boy sitting at the back of the classroom who kept glancing over at me. At first, I thought nothing of it. After all, he was just another classmate. But the more I noticed him, the more I felt... something. He was always looking at me, and every time I turned my head, his eyes would dart away.

His name was Kyle, and he was quiet, one of those boys who never really stood out but somehow caught your attention. He didn’t talk much, but I had the strangest feeling that he was always observing me.

At first, I just shrugged it off. Maybe I was overthinking things. But then I overheard some of the other students whispering in the halls. “Kyle likes Riley,” they said, and I couldn't ignore it anymore. I tried to act like it didn’t bother me, but deep down, I started wondering if I liked him too.

But the more I tried to figure it out, the more I realized that every time he came close to talking to me, something always interrupted him. A teacher would call him, a friend would walk by, or I’d get distracted by my friends. It was like there was always an invisible barrier keeping us apart.

I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was it just a silly crush, or was there something more to it? But whatever it was, I couldn’t deny that Kyle had a certain pull on me that I couldn’t explain.

Chapter 3: 5th Grade and the Love Note

The start of 5th grade came with a whole new set of changes. Boys and girls were separated into different classes, and I ended up in Section F with Tanisha and Avita. Kyle, however, was in Section C, a class that seemed so far away yet so close at the same time.

In the beginning, I tried to focus on my new routine. I had new subjects to learn, new teachers to get to know, and everything was still so fresh. But every time I passed by Section C on the way to class or saw Kyle in the hallway, my heart would race. And then one day, something shifted inside me.

It was like a spark had ignited. I started noticing little things about Kyle, his smile, the way his hair always seemed to fall in front of his eyes, the way he would laugh at something funny that no one else noticed. I realized I had started developing feelings for him. It wasn’t just a silly crush anymore, it was deeper than that.

One afternoon, after thinking about it for days, I decided to do something bold. I bought a chocolate bar from the school canteen, and then, on the bottom of the wrapper, I wrote a note. It wasn’t long, but it was honest. I carefully stuck the note to the bottom of the chocolate and waited until the school day ended.

I rushed over to where Kyle usually sat, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t back out now. With shaking hands, I handed him the chocolate bar, trying my best to seem casual. “Hey, Kyle, I got this for you,” I said, trying to sound normal.

He looked at me, surprised but smiling. “Uh, thanks, Riley. What’s this?”

I shrugged, unable to stop the smile creeping onto my face. “Just a little something for you.”

As he opened the chocolate, I watched him notice the note. His eyes widened, and I could see a slight blush creeping up his neck. For a moment, neither of us said anything. But the look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.

Chapter 4: The Secret Exchange

After that day, everything between Kyle and me changed. We started passing notes to each other, and each one was like a secret message only we understood. The notes were simple at first, little things like “How was your day?” or “What are you doing this weekend?” But soon, they became more personal. Sometimes, they would be little jokes or drawings, other times just sweet words that made my heart flutter.

We didn’t talk much in person, but the notes felt like our own special language. Every time I saw Kyle, I couldn’t help but smile, and I could tell he felt the same way. Our little secret grew stronger with every note exchanged. We didn’t need anyone else to understand, we were happy just being us.

It felt like I was living in a fairy tale, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn’t alone in this big, new world. Kyle was more than just a classmate. He was becoming someone special.

Chapter 5: The Email

By the time 6th grade rolled around, Kyle and I were closer than ever. The rumors about us started circulating, and I began to hear people whispering in the halls again, saying that Kyle liked me. It was funny at first, but then it got a little annoying. I wasn’t sure what to think anymore. But one thing was clear, Kyle and I had something that no one else could understand.

One day, Aryaan, a friend of Kyle’s who was also in my art club, casually mentioned to me, “Kyle really wants your email. He’s been asking about it for days.”

That was when I realized how serious Kyle was. He wasn’t just messing around. He wanted to stay in touch with me outside of school.

Later that day, Kyle’s best friend Chris asked for my email too. “Kyle really wants it,” he said with a wink.

I couldn’t say no. I quickly wrote my email down on a sticky note and handed it to Chris, who promised to pass it along to Kyle. That evening, I was shocked when I got an email from him. It was simple, just a “Hey, Riley!” at first, but it was enough to make my heart race.

From that moment on, Kyle and I began emailing each other every day. Our conversations flowed so easily, and we shared everything, our dreams, our worries, our favorite games. It felt like we had our own little world where nothing else mattered. We started talking on Discord, playing Roblox together, and soon, I felt like I had found my best friend... and maybe something more.

Chapter 6: The Drama

Things were going great, at least until the drama started. I was having a good time in 6th grade, making new friends, getting closer to Kyle, and enjoying our little group of friends. But then, Lisa and her popular gang—Faiza, Chantel, Mariya, Leana, and Nisha, started gossiping about me and Kyle.

“They’re so cute together,” they would say mockingly, or worse, “What’s Riley even doing with him? Does she even know who he is?”

It wasn’t just the gossip that bothered me, it was the way they acted like they had the right to judge us. I tried to ignore it at first, but one day, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I told Kyle everything. He was furious. “We can’t just sit back and let them talk about us like this. We need to do something.”

And that’s when we made a plan. I would add Kyle to our class group chat, and then he’d confront Lisa and the others about the gossip.

It was total chaos. The group chat exploded with messages, and before I knew it, everyone was involved, Chris, Arnel, Marc. It turned into a full-on argument, and it felt like the whole class was divided. But in the end, Lisa agreed to stop, and the drama died down. For a while, at least.

Chapter 7: Trust and Tension

Things were calm for a while, but then trust issues started to bubble up. One day, Kyle asked me about Marc, one of my friends from the group chat.

“Did something happen between you and Marc?” he asked, his voice tight.

I was caught off guard. “No... Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know,” he said quietly. “You two just seem... close.”

It hit me. Kyle was starting to feel jealous. I wasn’t sure how to handle it. My friendship with Marc was innocent, but the more Kyle’s questions lingered, the more I realized something. Maybe Kyle and I had something more than just friendship.

And maybe... just maybe... we were ready to take the next step.

Chapter 8: The Marc Incident

The tension between Kyle and me had been building ever since the moment Marc texted me. It started off innocent enough, just a simple message saying, “Hey, Riley! How’s school going?” At first, I didn’t think much of it. Marc had always been friendly in class, so replying felt natural.

But then it became more frequent. His messages were always the same: casual, friendly, with a hint of something more that I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. He would ask me how my day was going, send funny memes, and sometimes just check in to see if I needed help with homework. I’d respond, and it was like we were becoming friends.

But deep down, I knew that Kyle wouldn’t be happy about this. Kyle had always been protective of me, and I knew that if he found out Marc had been texting me, it would cause problems. So, I kept it secret, thinking I could just carry on like everything was normal. I never planned on hiding things from Kyle, but at that moment, I didn’t want to cause a fight.

But everything changed one afternoon. I was walking to class when Kyle caught up with me in the hallway. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a serious expression.

“Riley, did Marc text you?” he asked, his voice tight with tension.

I froze, caught off guard. “Yeah, he messaged me a few times. Why?”

Kyle’s eyes darkened, and I could see his jaw clenching. “He has a crush on you, Riley,” he said, his voice low and intense.

I couldn’t believe it. Marc? A crush on me? I had never thought of Marc that way. But as Kyle’s words sank in, something inside me stirred. Kyle was upset. I could see the frustration and jealousy in his eyes.

“Just stay away from him,” Kyle demanded, his voice rising slightly. “I don’t want you talking to him anymore.”

I blinked in disbelief. “Kyle, you’re overreacting. Marc’s just being friendly.”

But Kyle wasn’t having it. “You don’t get it, Riley,” he said, his voice shaking with anger. “I don’t want you hanging out with him. He’s trouble.”

I could feel my heart pounding. The tension between us was palpable, and for the first time, I felt like things were slipping out of my control.

“Why are you being like this?” I snapped, my own frustration bubbling up. “I’m not doing anything wrong!”

Kyle looked at me, his face clouded with hurt. “You don’t see it, do you? I care about you, Riley. I can’t just watch some guy flirt with you and do nothing about it.”

I took a deep breath, trying to hold my emotions in check. “Kyle, I like you,” I said softly, my voice shaking. “But I don’t want to fight with you over Marc. He’s not worth it.”

Kyle shook his head, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and anger. “Then what are you going to do, Riley? You’re either with me or with him. I don’t want to be stuck in the middle.”

I felt the sting of his words, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. We stood there in silence, the hallway around us growing louder with the sound of other students, but to me, everything felt quiet.

Chapter 9: The Chaos

That evening, everything fell apart. The tension that had been building between Kyle and me finally erupted, and what followed was nothing short of chaos.

I tried to talk to Kyle that night, but he was distant. I could tell he was still angry, still upset. I messaged him, trying to explain, but he wouldn’t reply. Hours passed, and I was left alone with my thoughts. My heart ached as I stared at my phone, waiting for a message from him that never came.

The next day at school, everything felt awkward. Kyle barely spoke to me, and every time I tried to approach him, he would walk away. It was as if the distance between us had grown too wide to bridge.

Marc, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the drama. Every time he saw me, he would flash me a grin, acting like everything was fine, like he hadn’t just been the source of all this chaos. I tried to ignore him, but the way he would look at me, like I was the only person in the room, made my stomach turn. I hated that he had caused this rift between me and Kyle.

It was during lunch when the fight really escalated. Kyle and I were sitting at opposite ends of the cafeteria, surrounded by our friends. The air was thick with tension. I could feel my heart pounding as I watched him across the room, talking to Arnel and Marc. He kept glancing at me, his face hard and unreadable.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up and walked over to him, my mind racing. “Kyle,” I said, trying to sound calm, “can we please talk?”

He didn’t look up at first, but when he did, his expression was cold. “I don’t have anything to say to you right now, Riley.”

“Please, Kyle,” I begged, my voice cracking. “This isn’t what I wanted. I don’t want to lose you over Marc.”

He shook his head, his eyes filled with hurt. “I can’t trust you, Riley. You’re not listening to me. I’m trying to protect you.”

“Protect me?” I repeated, my frustration boiling over. “I don’t need protecting, Kyle! I’m not a little kid!”

“I’m not saying you are,” he said through gritted teeth, “but you don’t get it. Marc is dangerous. He’s playing games with you.”

At that, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “You’re just jealous!” I shouted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “You’re acting like I belong to you!”

Kyle’s face went pale, and for a moment, it seemed like the whole world had gone silent. “I care about you, Riley,” he said quietly, his voice strained. “But I can’t keep doing this.”

With that, he stood up and walked away, leaving me standing there in shock, surrounded by our classmates who were now whispering amongst themselves.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I couldn’t concentrate in class, couldn’t focus on anything. My thoughts were consumed by Kyle’s words, and by Marc’s presence, which now felt like a shadow over everything.

Chapter 10: The Last Day - Reconnection

Days passed, and slowly, Kyle and I got back together. We both knew we didn’t want to stay distant forever.

It wasn’t perfect, there were still moments of awkwardness, but we were back to talking, playing games, and sharing laughs like we used to. And for me, that was enough.

The last day of school arrived, and the thought of leaving was both bittersweet and strange. Three years at the same school, with memories I would never forget, but knowing that it was time to move on. Kyle and I didn’t talk much during the final day, there wasn’t much to say. It wasn’t the ending I had imagined, but it felt right.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, I made my way outside to the school gates. I found Kyle standing there, just like he always did, looking at me with that familiar smile.

I walked up to him, a little nervous but mostly happy to see him again.

“I guess this is it,” I said, my voice softer than I expected.

“Yeah,” Kyle replied. He stepped closer to me and held out his hand. “Good luck, Riley. You’ll do great wherever you go.”

I smiled and shook his hand, but then something in me just clicked. I pulled him into a quick hug, one that wasn’t dramatic, but full of everything I wanted to say.

“Take care, Kyle,” I whispered.

He smiled against my shoulder, his voice muffled as he said, “You too, Riley. Don’t forget me, okay?”

I pulled back and looked at him, his face slightly flushed but his eyes kind.

“I won’t,” I said.

And with that, I turned and walked away, knowing this was just the end of one chapter, but the beginning of a new one.

No matter where life took me next, the memories I made in Dubai—full of drama, friendship, and yes, love- will always be with me.

Based on a True Story.