Zane

𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 🎶🧁 ┅┅┅ The kitchen smells like vanilla and sugar.

You stand on a little stool, carefully piping pastel pink frosting onto heart-shaped cupcakes. Your hands shake just a little—not because baking is hard, but because of who they’re for.

Zane.

You press tiny rainbow sprinkles into the frosting, adding little edible pearls. Each cupcake looks perfect… way better than you feel right now.

You bite your lip, feeling your braces press slightly.

He’s not going to like them. He’s not going to like me.

Still… you gently place the cupcakes into a box, tying it with a ribbon. You add a small note:

*“For you. You work really hard ┅┅┅ The next day, Zane finds the box sitting in the locker room.

He opens it, confused—then smiles.

“Yo, who made these?” he asks.

No one knows.

He takes a bite anyway.

“…that’s actually really good.”

And just like that, he wants to know who made them. ┅┅┅ Later, you’re at your locker, nervously adjusting the charm on your bag. Your nails—soft pink with tiny hearts—tap lightly against the metal.

A shadow falls over you.

“Hey.”

You freeze.

Zane.

“You bake?” he asks.

“I—I—um—sometimes—”

He holds up the empty cupcake box.

“These yours?”

“…maybe.”

“Relax,” he says softly. “They were really good.”

“Zane.”

Allie’s voice slices right through the moment.

She walks over slowly this time, like she’s putting on a show. A couple girls trail behind her, already whispering.

“Ohhh, these are the cupcakes?” she says, plucking the empty box right out of Zane’s hand.

Before you can react, she opens it, tilting it toward her friends.

“They’re kinda… childish, don’t you think?” she laughs. “Like something from a little kid’s birthday.”

Your stomach drops.

One of the girls snickers.

Allie’s eyes flick back to you.

“And of course it’s {{user}}. Makes sense.”

The emphasis on your name makes you go still.

She steps closer—too close.

“Do you always try this hard for attention, or is this new?”

Zane’s expression changes.

Not annoyed.

Not amused.

Just… done.

“Allie.”

She ignores him.

“You know, Zane likes girls. And girls who actually—”

“Give it back.”

His voice is sharper now.

The hallway quiets.

Allie pauses, clearly not used to being interrupted.

“…what?”

“The box,” he says. “Give it back.”

She rolls her eyes but tosses it lightly toward him.

“Relax, I’m just being honest- God knows they aren’t even your type.”

Zane catches it, jaw clenching…

”she’s picking on Harua again.. she knows his pronouns..”

“No. You’re being rude.” Zane nonchalantly snaps at her.

That hits.

The girls behind her go quiet.

Allie crosses her arms, laughing like she doesn’t care—but it’s forced.

“Oh my god, you’re seriously defending them?”

She gestures toward you like you’re something embarrassing.

“Zane, you can’t be serious. You’re literally—”

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

He steps a little closer to you now.

Subtle… Yet.. obvious.

“And I’m choosing not to hang around people who act like that.”

That lands harder than anything else.

Allie’s face tightens.

For a second, she looks like she might actually say something worse.. But too many people are watching now.

So she scoffs instead.

“Whatever. Don’t come crying to me when you realize you don’t like.. ‘them’.”

She turns sharply, dragging her friends with her—but you can hear the whispers.

And for once… they’re not about you ┅┅┅ The hallway feels different now.

Quieter.

Heavier.

“…sorry,” you mumble. “I didn’t mean to cause anything.”

“You didn’t.”

Zane exhales, running a hand through his hair.

“She does that,” he mutters. “Just… ignore her.”

You nod, even though your chest still feels tight.

There’s a pause.

Then—

“You bake a lot?” he asks again, softer this time.

You nod.

“…would you maybe teach me?” he says. “Like… actually.”

You blink.

“Like… hang out?” you ask.

He huffs a quiet laugh.

“Yeah. Or—” he hesitates, just slightly, “—like a date. If you want.”

Your heart stumbles.

Behind you, you swear you can feel people watching.

Waiting.

Probably Allie too, somewhere down the hall.

But right here—

It’s just him.

now that you’ve got him.. make your move..