Sweet Luck: A High School Love Story

Sometimes getting lost is the best way to find what you’ve been looking for all along.

Chapter 1: The Lucky Charm

My heart hammered against my ribs as I stood before the massive gates of Mountain Spring University High School. MSU. The letters gleamed in the morning sun, impossibly intimidating and thrilling all at once.

For a hopeless romantic introvert like me, the first day of high school felt like standing on the edge of a cliff—terrifying, but with the slightest possibility I might learn to fly.

New year. New school. New everything.

The scholarship letter was still tucked safely in my bag, a constant reminder of why I was here. I’d worked so hard for this opportunity. I should be thinking about grades and study schedules, not about whether I’d make friends or—heaven forbid—find my first love.

But tell that to my overactive imagination.

I spotted my fellow freshmen clustered near the entrance, all looking various degrees of nervous and excited. A tour guide with a clipboard was calling everyone to attention.

“All right, Candy,” I whispered to myself. “This is it.”

Chapter 2: The Squirrel in a Hoodie

The campus was absolutely breathtaking. As we walked through hallways and courtyards, I couldn’t stop marveling at everything. The architecture blended traditional and modern elements seamlessly. Bamboo lined the walkways, and I could actually hear a stream somewhere nearby despite being in the middle of a bustling school.

Everything was immaculate—polished floors, organized bulletin boards, students moving with purpose. The air smelled like flowers and fresh rain, and somehow beneath all the usual school noise, there was an underlying sense of peace.

I could study here. I could really focus here.

Then I saw it.

A squirrel. Wearing a tiny hoodie.

I blinked, certain I was hallucinating from first-day nerves. But no—there it was, a small gray squirrel in what appeared to be a custom-made miniature sweatshirt, munching on an acorn near a tree.

“Where did it even get that?” I muttered, completely mesmerized.

I pulled out my phone to take a picture. Just for two seconds. Maybe three.

When I looked up again, my tour group had vanished.

Panic hit me like a bucket of ice water.

“Oh no. No, no, no.” I spun in a circle, searching for any familiar faces. Nothing. They were gone, swallowed by the maze of beautiful buildings and perfectly manicured gardens.

I was about to have a full meltdown in the middle of the courtyard when a voice behind me made me freeze.

“Need some help? You look a little lost.”

Chapter 3: Mr. Perfect

I turned around and time stopped.

The guy standing behind me looked like he’d stepped out of a manga. Seriously. Perfect hair that caught the sunlight, a smile that could probably cure diseases, and an aura that practically radiated kindness and confidence.

My knees went weak.

Like, actually weak. I felt myself swaying, the world tilting slightly as my brain short-circuited.

His arm shot out, catching me around the waist before I could faceplant into the courtyard tiles.

“Whoa there. Are you okay?”

His face was inches from mine. I could see actual concern in his eyes, and I wanted to die of embarrassment right there.

“I—uh—yes! Sorry! I’m so sorry!” The words tumbled out in a jumbled mess. “I was with a tour group—new students—we were going to the auditorium for orientation and I—I lost them because I—”

He smiled, and I swear the sun literally came out from behind a cloud just to make him look even more perfect.

“You’re not far off. The auditorium’s this way. I can walk you there if you’d like.”

“Oh my god—I mean, you really don’t have to! I don’t want to waste your time, and—”

“I insist.”

“But—”

“Please.”

How could I argue with that?

Chapter 4: The First Gift

As we walked, I snuck glances at him every few steps, trying to memorize every detail. The way he walked with easy confidence. The way he nodded politely to students we passed. The way his uniform somehow looked better than everyone else’s even though we were all wearing the same thing.

“Here you go.”

I blinked. We’d arrived at the auditorium. Already?

“Oh! Right. Thank you so much.”

“No problem. Happy to help anytime.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out something small, holding it out to me. “Here. A little good luck for your first day.”

It was a piece of candy. Wrapped in shiny paper, completely ordinary, and yet in that moment it felt like the most precious thing in the world.

“Oh, thank you! This looks sweet—I mean, it IS a candy, right? Of course it’s sweet. That’s what candy is. Sweet.”

He laughed softly. “Good luck.”

By the time I snapped out of my daze, he was already walking away, disappearing into the crowd of students streaming toward their classes.

I stood there clutching the candy like it was made of gold, my heart still racing.

I didn’t even get his name.

Chapter 5: The Glaring Seatmate

The orientation ceremony felt like it lasted both forever and no time at all. I barely registered what the principal said, too busy replaying my encounter with Mr. Perfect in my head.

When we finally made it to our homeroom, I headed straight for the back row—my natural habitat as an introvert. I slipped into a seat by the window and immediately noticed my seatmate.

She was gorgeous. Long dark hair, sharp eyes, flawless makeup. The kind of girl who looked like she belonged in a magazine.

She was also glaring at me like I’d personally offended her entire bloodline.

I glanced away, then back. Still glaring.

The glaring continued through every class. Not a single word, just pure, concentrated death stares that made my paranoid brain spiral into increasingly wild scenarios.

By lunchtime, I was a nervous wreck. I grabbed my tray and found the most isolated corner of the cafeteria, hoping she’d forget I existed.

A tray slammed down across from me.

I looked up to find her—the glaring girl—settling into the seat with all the confidence in the world.

“Mind if I sit here?”

It wasn’t really a question. She was already sitting.

“Uh… sure?” I managed.

She studied me for a long moment, then smirked. “So you do talk. Thought you were mute or something. I’m Trixie, by the way.”

Chapter 6: Finding a Friend

“You’re not… mad at me?” I asked carefully.

“What? Why would I be mad?”

“You kept glaring at me all day!”

Trixie laughed—a genuine, loud laugh that made a few people at nearby tables turn to look. “Oh, sorry about that. That’s just my resting witch face. Can’t help it. But hey, maybe I do want to eat you alive. You look like a cute little candy.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Funny you say that. My name actually is Candy.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, let me guess. Your last name is Crush?”

We both burst into laughter, and just like that, all the awkwardness melted away.

I usually struggled with making friends. Being naturally shy meant I rarely made the first move, and I spent most of my life feeling like an outsider looking in. But with Trixie, everything felt easy. Natural.

It was like winning the friendship lottery on day one.

By the end of lunch, we were already deep in conversation about everything—favorite shows, embarrassing moments, secret dreams. And for an introvert like me, one solid friend was all I needed.

Chapter 7: The Crush Confession

A week passed in a blur of classes, homework, and getting to know my new school. Trixie and I were inseparable, much to my surprise and delight.

One afternoon, while we were eating lunch in our usual corner, she leaned in with a mischievous grin.

“So, have any cute guys caught your eye yet?”

I nearly choked on my sandwich. “Trixie, it’s only been a week.”

“So what? This campus is packed with hot nerds and athletes. You could collect at least five crushes in an hour.” She studied my face, then grinned wider. “Oh my god, you already have one, don’t you?”

My cheeks burned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar! Spill. Now.”

Eventually, I caved and told her everything about my encounter with Mr. Perfect—the getting lost, the catching me, the lucky charm candy that I still had tucked safely in my wallet.

Trixie’s eyes went wide as saucers. “Girl, we need to hunt him down.”

“No! Absolutely not. It’s just a harmless crush. He’s probably already taken anyway. Please don’t do anything stupid.”

“Don’t worry,” she said with a smile that absolutely worried me. “I got you.”

Chapter 8: The Hunt Begins

Telling Trixie about my crush was, in hindsight, a huge mistake.

Within hours, she’d told Cassandra—Cass for short—the effortlessly elegant girl who sat near us in class. Cass looked like she’d stepped out of a fashion magazine, all grace and poise, and I assumed she’d laugh at my silly romantic fantasy.

Instead, her eyes lit up.

“That’s adorable! So what’s he like? Did you get his name?”

“Unfortunately, no,” I admitted. “I kind of forgot the whole ‘introducing yourself’ part.”

“Amateur move,” Trixie declared. “That’s why she needs our help.”

“I’m in,” Cass said immediately. “This sounds like fun.”

And just like that, I had two co-conspirators in the world’s most embarrassing manhunt.

Cass couldn’t join us for most of our searches since she was usually busy picking up her little sister from the elementary campus, but Trixie more than made up for it. Every day, she’d drag me around campus on what she called “reconnaissance missions.”

We scoured the gardens, peeked into study halls, loitered near popular hangout spots. Trixie turned every walk between classes into a full-blown stakeout operation.

“This is ridiculous,” I protested for the hundredth time as she pulled me toward the science building.

“This is romantic,” she countered. “Years from now, you’ll thank me at your wedding.”

Chapter 9: The Wrong Blue Hoodie

Then one day, we spotted him.

Or at least, we thought we did.

A tall figure stood by the fountain, wearing the same blue hoodie I’d mentioned. My heart leaped into my throat.

“That’s him! Go say something!” Trixie gave me a hard shove before I could protest.

I stumbled forward, my heart racing as the figure slowly turned around.

It was not him.

Not even close.

The guy had a completely different face—sharper features, a cocky smirk, eyes that looked me up and down in a way that made my skin crawl.

“Whoa, back off, baby girl. You’re not my type.”

Before I could respond, Trixie appeared at my side like an avenging angel.

“The audacity of you to say that with a face like THAT, you ugly, delusional lobster cracker!”

“Trixie, calm down!” I grabbed her arm before she could physically assault the guy. “We just made a mistake. Sorry about that.”

“What a lame excuse just to get my attention,” he called after us as I dragged Trixie away.

Once we were safely out of range, a depressing thought hit me. “What if he’s from the upper campus?”

MSU had two campuses—lower for scholarship students and middle-class families, upper for the extremely wealthy. The divide wasn’t official, but everyone knew it existed.

“Nah,” Trixie said confidently. “I can sense he’s from our campus. We’ll find him.”

Chapter 10: The Lineup Disaster

Trixie’s determination reached new heights—or perhaps new lows—when she somehow convinced a group of cute guys to line up in front of me in the courtyard.

“Trixie, what are you DOING?” I hissed, mortified as a dozen confused but attractive boys stood in a row.

“Is this him?” She pointed to the first guy.

“No.”

“Okay, move. How about this cutie?”

“No! Please stop this. I don’t think he’s here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! You’re embarrassing me!”

“All right, boys. Bounce away.” She dismissed them with a wave, and they scattered like confused pigeons.

Later, during our painfully boring history class with Mr. Olden—a teacher who looked older than the subjects he taught—Trixie passed me a note.

I sighed and attempted a drawing, despite having zero artistic talent. When I showed her the result, she snorted so loudly that the entire class turned to stare.

A shadow fell over our desk.

Mr. Olden loomed above us, gripping his ancient cane, his squinty eyes narrowed in disapproval. Despite looking approximately 150 years old, the man was built like a tank.

“So, you two think my class is a comedy show, eh?” His voice could have frozen hell. “I’ve been teaching since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. Seen your kind come and go. None of them made it out unscathed after disrupting my class.”

He straightened up with a loud crack of his spine, then effortlessly lifted a nearby desk with one hand like it weighed nothing.

“Next time, I might just lift you two for a little history lesson on manners.”

“Sorry, Mr. Olden!” Trixie squeaked. “Candy was just showing me ancient drawings for… historical purposes.”

He stared at us for a long moment, then set the desk down. “Very good. Pay attention.”

We didn’t make a sound for the rest of class.

Chapter 11: The Library Encounter

Days passed with no sightings of Mr. Perfect. I started to wonder if he’d been a figment of my imagination—some romantic hallucination conjured by first-day nerves.

Maybe he was from the upper campus after all. Maybe he was so far out of my league that fate was just being cruel by letting our paths cross.

Still, I couldn’t give up hope entirely. I started spending time at the central library, the one place where students from both campuses mixed freely.

One afternoon, while browsing the history section, I pulled out a thick book on ancient civilizations.

And there he was.

On the other side of the shelf, visible through the gap, was the face that had been haunting my dreams for weeks.

Time stopped. My heart forgot how to beat. Every coherent thought evaporated from my brain.

His eyes lifted, and for one breathless moment, our gazes met through the space between books.

I panicked and dropped to the floor, hiding behind the bookshelf like it could somehow make me invisible.

When I finally gathered the courage to peek around the other side, he was gone.

Relief and disappointment warred in my chest. I sat on the library floor for a solid five minutes, trying to remember how to breathe normally.

Chapter 12: The Morning Walk

The next morning, as I walked through the school gates, a familiar flutter filled my chest. It was that sixth sense you develop when your crush is nearby—part hope, part terror.

I glanced back and nearly tripped over my own feet.

He was there. Just a few steps behind me. Walking in the same direction.

I could feel each of his footsteps getting closer. My heart pounded so loudly I was certain everyone could hear it. We ended up walking side by side, and I tried desperately to act natural, which somehow resulted in me walking like a limping dog.

From the corner of my eye, I could see just how tall he was. How his uniform fit him perfectly. How the morning light made his hair shine like something out of a shampoo commercial.

Every step was torture in the best possible way.

Then he turned and headed into the sophomore building.

Chapter 13: The Vending Machine Moment

When I told Trixie about the morning encounter, her eyes gleamed with renewed determination.

“Let’s stake out the sophomore building. Come on, he could still be around.”

We lurked in the lobby, trying to look casual despite being obvious freshmen in sophomore territory. After a few minutes, Trixie excused herself to the restroom, leaving me alone.

I was exhausted from an all-nighter studying for a biology exam, and coffee was calling my name. Thankfully, there was a vending machine right there.

Just as I shuffled over, yawning wide enough to swallow the sun, I heard footsteps beside me.

He was there. Right next to me. Again.

With a trembling hand, I reached for the coffee button, but he beat me to it.

“You go first.”

“No, no, it’s fine. You go ahead.”

“Please, I insist.”

My mind raced. This was my chance. I could ask his name. Mention that I still had the candy he gave me. Thank him properly for helping me that first day.

But my courage completely abandoned me.

I grabbed my coffee with shaking hands, mumbled something incoherent, and when I looked up again, he’d disappeared down the hall.

His coffee sat untouched in the vending machine slot.

Chapter 14: The Photograph

When Trixie returned, she was practically glowing.

“OMG, guess what? I had the cutest moment with my crush in the hallway just now!”

“Wait, your crush is here too?”

“Yeah! I wish you’d seen it. I’ll point him out next time.”

“Okay. Well, while you were having your rom-com moment, I kind of had an encounter with my crush at the vending machine.”

Her excitement dimmed slightly. “How did I miss that? Did you at least get a picture?”

“It’s not exactly polite to take photos without permission.”

“Okay, but what if you took a selfie and he just happened to be in the background?”

The idea was brilliant and slightly creepy, which meant it was perfect.

Later that day in the cafeteria, Trixie went to grab extra food, and I saw him pass by our table. Moving on pure instinct, I lifted my phone, pretended to take a selfie, and managed to catch him in the background.

“Trixie, look! I finally got him!”

Her eyes went wide, but then something strange happened. Her expression shifted—excitement replaced by something I couldn’t quite read.

“Oh. Good for you.”

That was it. Just three flat words.

For the rest of the day, Trixie seemed distant. She barely participated in our usual jokes, gave short answers to my questions, and eventually excused herself early.

I watched her go, a knot forming in my stomach.

Chapter 15: The Terrible Realization

That evening, I obsessed over the photo. Zooming in, studying every pixel of his face, replaying every fantasy scenario in my head.

He was so handsome. So kind. So perfect.

I fell asleep with my phone clutched in my hand, his face the last thing I saw before drifting off.

The next day, Trixie texted that she was sick and wouldn’t be coming to school. Her messages were short, almost cold.

Something was wrong.

As I sat in class, alone without my usual partner-in-crime, a horrible thought crept into my mind.

We were both in the sophomore lobby that day. We both said we saw our crushes there.

The realization hit me like a freight train. My stomach twisted into knots.

Trixie hadn’t come to school for several days after that. When Cass mentioned she’d seen her at MSU Hospital, I knew I had to visit.

I skipped my last class, caught the school bus, and headed to the hospital with a small care package of snacks and flowers.

Chapter 16: The Heartbreak

The hospital receptionist gave me Trixie’s room number after I showed my student ID. My heart pounded as I made my way through sterile white hallways, following the signs to the patient rooms.

As I approached her door, a nurse exited, and through the brief opening, I caught a glimpse that shattered my world.

Mr. Perfect—my Mr. Perfect—was sitting by Trixie’s bedside, holding her hand, looking at her with gentle concern.

The world tilted. My vision blurred.

We did have the same crush. And he’d chosen her.

Of course he had. Trixie was beautiful, confident, outgoing—everything I wasn’t. Why would someone like him ever choose me?

I turned and ran before either of them could see me. Tears burned in my eyes as I frantically pushed the elevator button, desperate to escape.

When the doors finally opened, I rushed inside and slammed into someone.

“Sorry,” I choked out, not even looking at who I’d hit. “Sorry.”

I spent the entire weekend in my room, ignoring Trixie’s texts, especially the one asking why I’d left so quickly when I’d come to visit.

What could I possibly say?

Chapter 17: Monday Morning Confession

Monday arrived too quickly. I dragged myself to school early, hoping to clear my head before inevitably facing Trixie.

I sat by the river that ran through campus, watching the water flow, trying to prepare myself for the painful conversation ahead.

“Hello? Candy to Earth?”

I blinked and looked up to find Trixie standing there, looking perfectly healthy and completely confused.

“Trixie. How are you feeling?”

“All better now. I tend to get sick easily—doesn’t match my tough exterior, I know.” She sat down beside me. “Candy, I have something to confess. Please don’t be mad.”

My stomach dropped. “I already know, Trixie. Your crush—he visited you at the hospital.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, how did you know he visited me?”

The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “Look, I get it. If he likes you, I understand. You’re prettier and more charming than I’ll ever be, so it only makes sense. I just—I wish I’d known sooner so I wouldn’t have—”

“Candy, stop.” She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. “Get over here now. I don’t care what you’re doing.”

“What are you—”

“Just wait.”

Chapter 18: The Brother

Less than five minutes later, someone appeared on the path, slightly out of breath and looking confused.

It was him. Mr. Perfect. My crush.

“Hey, why are you crying?” he asked, looking directly at me with genuine concern.

Why did he look so worried? Why was he here?

“Okay, confession time,” Trixie announced. “This guy’s name is Drew. And newsflash—he’s my brother.”

The world stopped spinning.

“Your… what?”

“Drew. My brother. This guy, your crush, Mr. Nice Guy—he’s my BROTHER. Is that clear enough for you now?”

I stared at her, then at him, then back at her. “You never mentioned you have a brother! We’ve been friends for months!”

“I’ve literally told you like 23 times, but you were always too busy studying or obsessing over your crush who just happens to be him.” She grinned. “The reason I didn’t say anything earlier was because, as your protective and very pretty best friend, I wanted to make sure he was serious about whoever he was crushing on. He mentioned he had a crush but didn’t give details. Then last weekend, I caught him scrolling through your Instagram. He already knew we were best friends but was too shy to tell you.”

My brain struggled to process this information. “He… he knew?”

Drew looked embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I, uh… yeah.”

Trixie stood up, giving her brother a little shove toward me. “He got a little too shy. But trust me, I’ve been pushing him to confess since he’s the guy here.” She started walking away, then turned back. “Oh, and by the way? My crush is someone completely different. I’ll tell you about him later. Right now, you two better sort this out properly.”

And with that, she disappeared, leaving me alone with Drew.

Chapter 19: The Real First Conversation

We sat in awkward silence for what felt like an eternity. I fidgeted with my fingers, sneaking glances at him, waiting for someone to say something.

Finally, he cleared his throat. “Um, sorry about my sister. She can be kind of intense sometimes.”

“Intense. Right. Yeah.” More silence. I stared at the river like it held all the answers to the universe.

After what felt like forever, he sat down beside me—keeping a careful two feet of distance between us, like he was afraid of getting too close.

Our eyes met, and he quickly looked away.

He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t really know how to do this.”

“Do what?”

“This… romance thing.”

“Me too,” I admitted. “This is my first time.”

“I actually liked you since the first time I saw you.”

My heart stopped. “Since the beginning?”

“Every time I saw you on campus, I didn’t know what to say. I tried to act cool, but you’re just… you’re really cute, and I’d just freeze up.”

“Me? Cute?”

He inched closer. Our hands were almost touching on the bench between us.

“Is it okay if I hold your hand?”

I could barely breathe, but I nodded.

His hand was warm as it gently wrapped around mine. “You’ve got soft hands. And cute nails.”

I was melting. Completely, utterly melting.

“I still have that candy you gave me,” I blurted out. I pulled it from my wallet to show him—the same wrapped candy from that first day, now slightly crumpled but still precious.

“You kept it?”

“I kind of thought of it as my lucky charm.”

The smile he gave me could have powered the entire city. “That’s… that’s really sweet.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a similar candy. “Want to share? I always carry these.”

We unwrapped our candies and ate them together, and the sweetness on my tongue felt like a metaphor for everything happening in my heart.

“So,” he said after a moment. “I know this cafe in town. They have amazing desserts. Would you maybe want to go on a date with me this weekend?”

“Yes,” I said immediately. “Definitely yes.”

We both laughed, and suddenly everything didn’t feel so tense anymore. His fingers intertwined with mine, and I felt a warmth spreading through my chest—sweeter than any candy, more thrilling than any crush.

This was real. He was real. We were real.

Epilogue: Sweet Beginnings

That Saturday, Drew took me to the cutest cafe I’d ever seen. We spent hours talking about everything—our favorite books, embarrassing childhood stories, dreams for the future.

He told me about the first time he’d seen me, lost and confused by the tour group, and how he’d been working up the courage to talk to me ever since.

I told him about Trixie’s increasingly elaborate schemes to find him, and we laughed until our stomachs hurt.

As we left the cafe, our hands swinging between us, he turned to me with that perfect smile that had started everything.

“I’m really glad that squirrel wore a hoodie,” he said.

I burst out laughing. “What?”

“Trixie told me that’s why you got separated from your group. If you hadn’t stopped to stare at a fashionable squirrel, we might never have met.”

“So what you’re saying is, I have a squirrel to thank for my love life?”

“Basically.”

We walked back toward campus as the sun set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The lucky charm candy wrapper was in my pocket, a reminder of where we’d started.

But I didn’t need luck anymore.

I had Drew.

And according to Trixie (who texted me seventeen times during our date demanding updates), that was the best kind of sweet ending.