eir moment together over and over in her mind, each time feeling a little bolder, a little more sure of herself. At school, things felt different-not just between her and Alex, but in

tscore each other. Jamie loved the thrill of competition, but more than that, she cherished the camaraderie they shared. With each goal scored, she felt a growing confidence in their bond. After the first round, they stood side by side, catching their breath. "Okay, I'll admit, you're pretty good," Alex said, ruffling his hair in mock frustration. "Pretty good? I was amazing!" Jamie teased. "But I'll let you redeem yourself in the next round." As they walked to the next game, Jamie felt a sense of comfort wash over her. The tension that had lingered between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by the ease of their friendship. But she couldn't shake the feeling that they needed to talk about what was happening between them, and she was determined to find the right moment. After a few more games, they found themselves at a quieter corner of the arcade, nestled in a booth that overlooked the dance floor. The vibrant lights danced around them, and for a moment, everything felt magical. "Hey, can we talk about something?" Jamie asked, her heart pounding. She knew this was the moment she had been waiting for. "Sure, what's up?" Alex replied, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "I feel like things have changed between us since that day at the park," she began, her voice steady. "And I don't want to ignore it. I want to know how you feel." He hesitated, his eyes searching hers. "I've felt it too. It's like there's this spark that wasn't there before." Jamie's heart soared at his words. "Exactly! I think we owe it to ourselves to explore this... whatever it is." Alex nodded, a smile creeping onto his face. "I