Chapter 1

Ping.

[Posted.]

The word on my screen shattered the 2:47 AM silence and froze every drop of blood in my veins.

I jabbed frantically at the retract button, but Spark only offered a cold, merciless notification: [Anonymous posts cannot be retracted.]

I was screwed. I stared at the text I'd just posted, my breathing nearly stopped:

[To the one who brings color to my black-and-white world: You may never know who I am. I think I fell for you somewhere between watching the sun hit that stupidly perfect blonde hair of yours, and seeing your silhouette out on the pitcher's mound. For two years, I've hidden in the crowd, dreaming of just saying 'I like you.' Before we graduate, I want you to know—falling for you was the most beautiful accident of my youth. —A girl whose name you'll never know]

This was supposed to be my 47th secret love letter to Caleb Sullivan.

In my nightly ritual, it should have lived in my notes for three minutes like the previous 46, then been cleanly deleted.

But half a minute ago, in my half-asleep state, I'd tapped the wrong button—missing "delete" entirely and posting it straight to the anonymous forum used by all three thousand students at our school.

My heart hammered in my chest for a full minute before I could force myself to find a shred of rationality.

Wait. I took a deep breath.

It was anonymous.

Three thousand students. Girls posting confessions all the time. And I kept such a low profile—who would connect it to me?

It'll be fine. Tomorrow this post will be buried under new gossip.

I reassured myself, shut off my phone, and buried myself under the covers.

Dreamless sleep, until—

"Daphne! Oh my God!"

My roommate, Molly's shriek jolted me awake. The wall clock read 7:15 AM.

"Someone posted the most romantic confession ever on Spark! The whole school's going crazy!" She charged over, phone thrust forward.

I opened Spark. My heart plummeted. I mean, I basically doxxed him—it didn't exactly take a genius to decode those hints.

999+ likes. 247 comments. 115 shares.

The comment section was in literal shambles:

@@Cheer_Hailey: "OMG this is SO romantic!"

@Reed_24: "Ayo @Caleb_S you lucky dog 💀"

@Chloe_Sparks: "Blonde hair + the pitcher's mound? Literally just @ Caleb Sullivan already 🙄"

@Lexi_xo: "Omfg my jaw is on the floor. WHO WROTE THIS??? 👀🍿 I need names."

"Everyone's guessing!" Molly bounced around excitedly. "There's a poll thread—top vote goes to Brittany from the cheer squad!"

At least it's anonymous. Relief washed over me. As long as I stayed silent, no one would know.

"You look terrible. Are you sick?" Molly asked with concern. "Should you stay home today?"

"No!" My reaction was too strong—Molly actually jumped. "I mean... first period's that killer chem exam. Can't miss it."

Act normal. Just be another spectator.

After a rushed morning routine, I pulled on a beanie, wrapped myself in a hoodie, and headed out.

The hallways buzzed with gossip, but no one noticed me. Perfect. Still invisible.

At lunch, the cafeteria was packed, every table dissecting the drama.

I found a corner seat and hunched over my tray. Freya, an underclassman from photography club, sidled over. "Did you see that confession? It was gorgeous!"

"Yeah..." I focused on my sandwich.

"Who do you think it is?" Freya leaned in. "My money's on someone from the lit club!"

"Maybe..." I mumbled noncommittally.

Suddenly, the entire cafeteria went silent. I looked up, and my heart nearly stopped.

Caleb Sullivan stood on top of the center table, sunlight streaming through the windows and illuminating him like a spotlight. His golden hair gleamed like a crown. He wore his signature red varsity baseball jacket, phone in hand.

What was he doing? No way... he wouldn't publicly search for the girl, would he?

"I know you're here." His voice carried across the cafeteria. "The girl who wrote those beautiful words."

My hands started trembling. The sandwich fell onto my tray.

"That confession was the best gift I've received all year." Caleb's gaze swept the crowd. "For two years, I've been waiting for someone who could truly see me."

The cafeteria erupted in whispers:

"Oh my God, what's he doing?" "Is he really looking for her?" "But it's anonymous!"

As long as I didn't admit it, as long as I just sat here like everyone else, nothing would happen.

"I know who you are." Caleb's voice rang out again, carrying unmistakable certainty.

What?!

The room exploded in screams and gasps. Every girl was fixing her hair, anticipating that chosen moment.

Hailey and her cheer squad posse were already standing, ready to claim their glory.

He's bluffing! There's no way he actually knows!

"Daphne Pierce."

Time froze.

I heard my name echo through the massive cafeteria, clear as thunder, deafening.

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible!

Every single person—every single one—turned to stare at me.

I saw shock and disbelief flash across Hailey's face. Saw Molly's hand fly dramatically to her mouth. Saw Freya's eyes go wide. Saw three hundred students gape at me like I was an alien specimen.

How could he possibly know?! There was nothing in that post that pointed to me!

But in that moment, as ear-splitting screams filled the cafeteria, that absurd question instantly fled my mind.

"It's you, isn't it?" Caleb jumped down from the table. The crowd automatically parted.

"The girl who quietly takes photos in photography club. The one always hiding behind the lens, observing the world. The one with the most beautiful soul."

He walked straight toward me, each step landing on my heart.

I'm going to pass out. I'm seriously going to pass out right here.

"I... this is a mistake..." My voice came out barely above a whisper.

Caleb reached me and dropped to one knee before the entire cafeteria. From his back, he produced a bouquet of wildflowers—simple daisies from the lawn outside, but heartbreakingly beautiful.

"Daphne Pierce," his blue eyes locked onto mine with devastating sincerity, "will you be my date to prom?"

The cafeteria exploded in ear-shattering screams.

"Say YES!" "Say yes to him!" "OMG this is so romantic!"

My brain went blank. I'd never expected a response. I only wanted to quietly like him from afar. That was all.

But looking into his gentle eyes, at the daisies in his hand, hearing the cheers surrounding us, I found I couldn't say no.

Because this was the scene I'd dreamed of for two years.

"I..." Tears blurred my vision. "Yes..."

Caleb stood, placed the bouquet in my hands, and then—before three hundred pairs of eyes—gently pressed his lips to mine.

The cafeteria went absolutely wild. Screams, cheers, whistles merged into chaos.

I heard Hailey's furious voice: "Her?! Are you kidding me?!"

Heard someone whisper: "Does she even deserve Caleb?"

Also heard someone sigh: "Now that's real love..."

Just like that, completely out of nowhere, I became the girl every other girl at school low-key hated: Caleb Sullivan's girlfriend.

The sun was spilling over us, the cafeteria chatter fading into this perfect, cinematic hum. 

 In that moment, I was foolish enough to believe my high school rom-com was finally getting its perfect happily-ever-after.

Until a few days later, I got a call from my mom.