Unwanted Attention

My smartwatch vibrates.

I open my eyes slowly.

Another day.

I get ready for the day, grab my backpack and head down the stairs.

In the kitchen, a piece of toast waits for me—along with my mom.

“Good morning.”

Her hands move easily.

I take the toast and bite into it.

“Good morning.”

“Ready for another day?”

I roll my eyes.

The sleeves of my blue sweater slide down my arms as I raise them.

“Oh yeah. Can’t wait.”

I pull the toast away to take another bite, then wave at her as I head for the door.

I give myself a pep talk as I walk to school.

Today will be normal.

I'm sure everyone has already forgotten about it.

I was wrong.

The moment I step inside, I feel it.

The stares are worse than usual.

The hallway buzzes—not sound, but movement. Attention.

I keep walking, trying to make myself small.

It doesn't work.

Three girls step into my path, close enough that I have to stop.

The one in front looks directly at me. Her two friends linger just behind her, watching.

Her lips start moving.

“How do you - “

I lose the rest of it.

I slip one arm out of my backpack and pull out my notebook and pen.

Sorry. Deaf.

I turn the notebook and point to my ear.

She tilts her head.

Then rolls her eyes.

She takes the pen from my hand and writes quickly.

How do you know Ren?

Her frustration is clear—even through writing.

I shake my head and take the notebook back.

I don't know him.

She snatches it again, writing harder this time.

Don't lie. Everyone saw you two yesterday. So are you related or something?

I reach for my notebook when a tug yanks my arm.

Ren?

I turn.

It’s not him.

It’s someone else.

The sleeve of his oversized cardigan drapes over his hand as it closes around my wrist.

Not rough. Not tight.

Just firm enough to move me.

His mouth moves as he says something to the girls. I don’t catch the words, but his facial expression is easy. Confident.

Before anyone can react, he’s already pulling me away.

Dark leggings disappear into scuffed sneakers as he pulls me down the hall.

We turn down a side hallway. Quieter. Empty.

Only then does he let go.

For a moment, neither of us moves.

I press my back against the wall and focus on breathing. 

My heart is still hammering.

After the chaos of the main corridor, the hallway almost feels quiet through my cochlear implant.

The boy — whoever he is — leans back against the opposite wall and looks at me.

Not like he's studying me.

Not like he's waiting for something.

Just... looking. 

Calm in a way that feels almost unfair given what just happened.

He tilts his head slightly.

One eyebrow raised.

Like he's asking if I'm okay without wanting to make a big deal of it either way.

I reach for a notebook.

His face lights up immediately.

He takes it and writes quickly.

You okay?

I blink. Then nod.

I take the notebook and write back.

Thank you.

He reads it, then grins and scribbles.

Anytime. You looked trapped.

I hesitate before writing again.

Do you know them?

He shakes his head dramatically and writes:

Nope. But I know that look.

Something about that makes my shoulders loosen more.

He adds another line.

I’m Luca.

I write my name beneath it.

Callista.

He glances back toward the hallway, eyes sharp with interest, and writes:

So spill it, how do you know Ren?

I look up at Luca.

He’s still smiling—easy, unapologetic—but his eyes are sharper now. Watching me.

I don't know him. Why does everyone care?

He turns the notebook back towards himself.

The smile fades.

He writes slowly this time.

Are you joking?

No.

He pauses, eyes flicking to my face like he’s deciding how much to say.

Then he writes again.

He’s the most popular guy in school.

I stare at the words.

My stomach drops.

Luca waits. Doesn’t rush.

Then he adds more.

And he never gives girls attention. Ever.

My fingers curl around the fabric of my skirt.

He hesitates again before continuing.

You sat with him at lunch.

You walked home with him.

The hallway seems to tilt.

This feels like too much.

I swallow hard.

I don’t have room for this.

Luca sees it.

He reaches out—not touching me this time—but gently closes the notebook.

The pressure in my chest eases just a little.

He takes it back and writes one last line, calmer now.

Once there’s nothing to watch, they’ll move on.

I nod.

I turn to leave.

A light tug stops me again—different this time. Careful.

Luca holds out his phone.

He wants my number.

I hesitate, then nod.

My phone buzzes almost immediately.

A message from Luca.

It’s a meme—a cat hanging from a branch, wide-eyed.

You got this.

I stare at the screen.

My chest feels lighter.

Maybe I’m not completely alone here.

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The school day moves on.

I move from class to class as quickly as I can, trying to avoid the stares.

Trying to avoid the questions.

I remind myself what Luca wrote.

Once there’s nothing to watch, they’ll move on.

I repeat it like a promise.

Eventually, the final bell vibrates through the building.

Students start moving toward the exits.

Finally.

I sling my backpack over my shoulders and head for the doors.

Almost there.

Then -

I see him.

Ren stands in the hallway.

Sweatpants. A loose t-shirt. Like he has nowhere better to be.

And he sees me.

Just keep walking, Callista.

I lower my head, avoiding eye contact.

My stride quickens.

It doesn't matter.

A tap lands on my shoulder.

I freeze mid step.

Slowly, I lift my head.

Ren is standing there, looking at me.

Like he’s just found what he’s been searching for.

The expression on his face makes my chest tighten.

His hands raise. More confident than yesterday.

“There you are. I've been looking for you all day.”

My hands tremble as I raise them.

I keep my gaze away from those blue eyes.

“Oh…sorry. Busy day.”

His smile fades slightly.

“I didn't see you at lunch either.”

I lower my head and shoulders.

“I ate in the library.”

My hands pause.

“Why were you looking for me?”

For a moment, he looks uncertain.

Then his gaze drifts downward to my backpack.

The cat keychain swaying gently against it.

The one I reattached last night.

His hands raise, then drop.

Like he had to find different words than the ones that came first.

“I see you put the keychain back on.”

I glance down at it.

“Oh, yeah. I've had it for years.”

My fingers brush the faded pink fur.

“It feels weird without it.”

Something bright sparks across his face.

His smile returns—bigger than before.

His hands move faster now.

Lighter.

“I'm glad it didn't get wrecked from those girls.”

People start slowing down in the hallway.

Students who were heading home begin lingering.

Watching.

Watching us.

My hands begin to shake again.

I try to keep them steady.

“You should really stop checking on me…I'm ok.”

Ren blinks.

Confusion spreads across his face.

“Wait…what? I just wanted to say - “

My hands move sharply.

The words come out faster than I mean them to.

“Every time you talk to me … it gets worse.”

He pauses.

“What does?”

I gesture around us.

At the students watching.

“This.”

Ren glances around.

His brows knit together.

Like he genuinely doesn’t understand.

“Who cares?”

My chest tightens.

My hands snap upward.

“I do!”

The sign comes out sharper than I intend.

Then my hands lower.

My movements slow.

Smaller now.

“Please… just leave me alone.”

I don't wait for a response.

I turn and push through the crowd.

Students part just enough for me to pass.

I head for the exit.

For quiet.

For air.

For peace.

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That evening, in my room, I lie on my bed trying to make sense of the day.

The ceiling becomes a movie screen as my mind replays everything that happened.

His face appears again in my memory.

Those eyes.

That carefree look.

Ugh.

I’m glad he didn’t seem bothered by it.

Easy for him.

I close my eyes.

He's still there.

My phone buzzes.

I reach over and grab it.

A text message.

From that boy—Luca.

I almost forgot about that part of the day.

Luca: So I heard you made headlines at the end of the day.

My stomach twists.

Callista: Oh… People are talking about it already?

Luca: Oh yeah. That’s all anyone talked about while leaving school.

Callista: What are they saying?

Is this weird? Texting a boy I just met like we’re already friends?

Luca: You asked Ren out and he shot you down.

My thumbs type on their own.

Callista: What???????

Luca: Supposedly he was super nice about it though. Always the prince. 🙄

I get the urge to throw my phone across the room.

Instead, I take a slow breath.

Callista: That is NOT what happened at all. I told him to leave me alone and stop talking to me.

Luca: You did???? Legend. 👑

A small smile creeps onto my lips before I can stop it.

Callista: How would people even know? We were signing the whole time.

Luca: Ooooh he signs? 👀

Callista: That's not important.

Luca: Right. Well… if he actually listens and leaves you alone, hopefully it dies down.

Another message appears.

Luca: Then you’ll just be another name on the list of girls who tried with Ren.

I sigh.

Callista: Well I guess that's better than nothing.

Luca: That's the spirit!

Another message pops up immediately after.

Luca: See you tomorrow — whether you like it or not. 😂

Luca: This drama is just too good. 😉

My thumb hesitates again.

Callista: Um ..Thanks. See you tomorrow.

I set my phone down and stare at the ceiling.

For once, I’m almost smiling.