Chapter 2: The Unexpected Parter

The next week at Saint Crest Academy started like any other — the echo of footsteps in polished hallways, the chatter of students swapping stories from the weekend, the rustle of notebooks and papers. Liam Reyes walked to class with his usual calm expression, clutching his binder close to his chest.

Everything was predictable. And that was exactly how he liked it.

But that Monday morning, predictability decided to abandon him.

“Alright, class,” Ms. Dela Vega said, setting her papers on the desk. “For the upcoming Science Fair, you’ll be working in pairs. The project will count for 40% of your final grade.”

Groans filled the air. A few students whispered nervously, others sighed in relief. Liam, however, felt a quiet thrill of confidence. Group projects weren’t his thing he preferred working alone, where he could focus without distractions. Still, it didn’t matter. He’d win, like always.

He raised his hand, already about to ask if he could work solo, when Ms. Dela Vega smiled.

“And to make things interesting this year,” she continued, “I’ve already chosen your partners.”

The class fell silent.

Liam slowly lowered his hand. “Wait, what?” he muttered under his breath.

The teacher scanned the list in her hands. “Let’s see… Marcos with Eli, Kara with Janelle, and…” she paused, glancing up with a small smirk. “…Liam Reyes will be partnered with Ethan Cruz.”

The room exploded with whispers.

“No way!” someone gasped.

“They’re both top students! They’ll either win or murder each other.”

“This is going to be entertaining.”

Liam’s jaw clenched. He turned his head, meeting Ethan’s amused grin from across the room.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily. “Well, looks like we’re stuck together, partner,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp with mischief.

Liam exhaled slowly through his nose. “Perfect,” he muttered, already regretting every life choice that led to this moment.

That afternoon, they met in the school library to start their project.

Books, notebooks, and half-empty snack wrappers covered the table. The clock ticked softly in the background, but neither of them seemed to care about time.

“You’re doing the calculations wrong,” Liam said after glancing at Ethan’s notebook. His tone was calm, but his brow furrowed.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Wrong? Excuse me, Mr. Perfect, but not everything has to be your way.”

“It’s not about my way,” Liam replied coolly, reaching for the notebook. “It’s about the right way.”

Ethan quickly pulled it out of reach, leaning forward with that teasing smirk that always made Liam’s patience wear thin. “Then show me, genius.”

Their faces were suddenly inches apart.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. The space between them seemed to shrink, the air heavy with something neither could name. Liam could feel Ethan’s breath warm, steady brushing against his cheek. His heart thudded against his ribs, too fast, too loud.

Ethan’s teasing expression faltered, his eyes flickering from Liam’s lips to his eyes, something uncertain flickering there. For a brief, fleeting second, the world went quiet.

Then Ethan leaned back and laughed, breaking the moment. “Relax, Reyes,” he said, grinning. “It’s just science.”

Liam blinked, quickly looking away. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it,” Ethan said, flashing a smug grin.

“I don’t,” Liam replied quickly maybe too quickly.

Days turned into weeks, and somehow, they began to work better together. Their arguments softened into jokes, and their silences became comfortable. They stayed late after school, side by side, surrounded by half-finished posters and open books.

Ethan brought snacks, claiming he couldn’t focus without food. Liam complained, but always ended up eating them too.

He learned that Ethan wasn’t just loud and arrogant he was creative, passionate, and surprisingly patient when he cared about something.

And Ethan learned that Liam wasn’t cold he was cautious, afraid of failing, afraid of disappointing anyone who believed in him.

One Friday evening, as they finished another long day in the lab, the power suddenly went out. The fluorescent lights flickered, then vanished, leaving only darkness and silence.

“Great,” Ethan sighed. “Perfect timing.”

Liam turned on his phone flashlight, the small beam casting soft light across Ethan’s face. “We wait,” he said simply, sitting back down.

Ethan huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned against the wall, watching Liam’s calm expression in the dim light.

“You know,” Ethan said quietly after a moment, “I used to think I hated you.”

Liam looked up. “Used to?”

Ethan met his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Now I’m not so sure.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sound of rain began to tap softly against the windows.

Liam didn’t look away, but he didn’t reply either. Something in his chest ached a quiet, unfamiliar pull that made him feel unsteady.

The silence wasn’t awkward this time. It was… peaceful. Warm.

When the lights finally flickered back on, neither of them moved right away. They just sat there, pretending they weren’t both thinking the same thing:

Something between them had changed.

They didn’t know what it was yet.

But it was no longer hate.

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