Crush

In the buzzing corridors of Miller High, art fills the walls as much as lockers and gossip. Paige Evans spends her days sketching dreams of a summer at CalArts, feeling the tension between the quiet intimacy of her studio and the louder, unpredictable rhythm of teenage life. The school itself feels like a canvas—each hallway a brushstroke, every class a palette waiting for the right mix of color and courage.

When a practical dilemma forces her to step outside the easel, Paige reluctantly laces up a pair of running shoes and joins the track team. The world of sprinting and relay exchanges is far removed from pigments and pencils, but the discipline, teamwork, and unspoken competition offer her a fresh framework to test her limits. The track becomes a new kind of studio, where effort is measured in strides and the echo of a starting gun replaces the scratch of charcoal.

Among her new teammates, Gabby Campos stands out—a charismatic presence whose confidence seems to illuminate the entire lane. Their shared moments hint at an unexpected connection that blurs the line between friendship and something more tender. Parallel to that, AJ, Gabby’s sister and a dedicated mentor on the squad, slowly turns into a confidante, offering Paige a different kind of support that feels both grounding and exhilarating. The trio’s interactions weave a subtle tapestry of first love, self‑discovery, and the delicate balancing act of teenage relationships.

The tone of the story hovers between the dreamy introspection of an artist’s mind and the kinetic energy of a high‑school sport. It captures the exhilaration of stepping into the unknown, the quiet bravery required to reveal hidden talents, and the bittersweet ache of growing up in a world where every sprint, sketch, and whispered conversation can reshape who we think we are.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:51