They run into an old crush

The automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh as Sara and Lisa stepped out of the regression supply store, the pastel-colored bags dangling from their hands. Just as Sara let out a sigh of relief, eager to put the humiliating experience behind her, she froze mid-step.

Standing a few feet away, casually leaning against a bench with his phone in hand, was Jake. Jake Andrews. Her high school crush.

Sara’s stomach dropped.

His sandy-blond hair was still tousled in that effortlessly cool way, and his green eyes flicked up from his phone at the sound of the doors. His gaze landed on her—then trailed down to the shopping bags in Lisa’s hands. His brow furrowed slightly as his eyes settled on the pack of pull-ups tucked under Sara’s arm.

Sara’s breath caught in her throat.

Oh no.

Jake’s confusion was clear as he tilted his head, his voice casual but tinged with curiosity.

“Hey, Sara… what’s all that?”

Sara’s brain scrambled for an answer, for any way to deflect, to make this less mortifying, but before she could even open her mouth—

Lisa beamed.

"Oh, hello, Jake! My, my, it’s been ages! How are you, dear?” Lisa’s cheerful tone made Sara want to sink into the pavement and disappear forever.

Jake’s polite smile flickered. "Uh, hey, Mrs. Thompson. I’m good… just grabbing some stuff for my little cousin. What about you guys?" He gestured toward the bags, still eyeing the pull-ups.

Sara tried to subtly shift them behind her back, but Lisa had no intention of keeping things subtle.

“Oh, we just finished shopping for Sara’s regression school supplies!” Lisa chirped, her eyes twinkling. “She’s starting next week, so we had to get all the essentials—her new school uniform, pacifiers, pull-ups—”

Sara nearly choked.

Jake blinked. “Wait… regression school?” His eyebrows shot up, realization dawning. “Like… because of the BAM test?”

Lisa nodded enthusiastically. “Yep! Poor thing didn’t pass, so we’re getting her all set up for her new journey! Isn’t it exciting?”

Jake’s gaze snapped to Sara, a flicker of shock in his expression. “You… failed?”

Sara’s face burned.

She clenched the pull-ups in her hands, her knuckles white. “I—” she started, but the words died in her throat. What was she supposed to say? That she was being **** into some humiliating babyish lifestyle? That she was now expected to toddle around in pull-ups and short skirts while teachers checked if she was “adapting properly”?!

Jake ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely surprised. "Wow. I mean… I just didn’t think—” He hesitated, his eyes scanning her face. “You always seemed so… put together.”

Sara felt like she’d been punched in the gut.

“Yeah, well, guess I wasn’t mature enough,” she bit out, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Lisa giggled. “Oh, don’t be grumpy, sweetheart! It’s not so bad! You’ll have so much fun at regression school—playdates, nap time, and all your new little friends will be in the same boat!”

Sara shot her stepmother a glare that could melt steel. Lisa was enjoying this way too much.

Jake let out a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… I guess that’s… different," he said, not quite meeting her eyes.

Sara wanted to die.

She could already see the wheels turning in his head. The cool, mature, confident guy she used to crush on was now looking at her like she was some little kid who needed babysitting.

**** to salvage the situation, she squared her shoulders, attempting to inject some dignity into her voice. “It’s just a temporary thing,” she said firmly. “I’m not gonna be stuck like this forever.”

Lisa hummed. “Well, we’ll see about that, won’t we, sweetie?”