Science class. Otherwise known as "Ways to Accidentally Explode the School 101."
I sat at my lab station, mentally preparing for potential chemical warfare. Beside me: Damian, the transfer student with the smirk that could probably melt through a Bunsen burner. Across from us? Aeron. Arms crossed. Eyes narrowed. Soul practically growling.
"Ready, Art Girl?" Damian grinned, slipping on a pair of goggles like he was about to rob a museum instead of dissecting molecules.
"I—I guess?" I squeaked. Stupid. STUPID. Get it together, Lira.
He leaned in, his voice low and mischievous. "Careful. Don't drop anything. Especially your heart."
My face went full tomato. Somewhere behind me, someone definitely choked on their gum. And across the table, Aeron's pencil SNAPPED in half.
Oops.
We were supposed to mix magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Simple. Easy. Harmless. Except my hand brushed Damian's while reaching for the flask, and I jolted so hard I nearly sent the entire tray flying. Damian caught it in time, laughing.
"Spicy reflexes," he teased.
"I swear I'm not usually this... clumsy," I muttered.
"She is," Aeron muttered, louder.
My head snapped to him. "Rude."
"Accurate," he replied coolly. Then he met Damian's eyes and added, "Better keep an extinguisher nearby."
Damian's smile never faded, but his eyes flared. "I can handle a little heat."
Yeah. I was definitely the heat source now. My cheeks were on fire. And the beaker? Bubbling way too fast.
"Uh… should it be doing that?" I asked.
BOOM. Tiny fizz-pop. We all ducked.
"Congratulations," Aeron said dryly. "You made soda."
"Sweet," Damian grinned. "Now we just need popcorn."
Lunch. The Cafeteria of Conflicted Emotions™.
Mina scooted over as I dropped my tray beside her, my hands still shaking from chemistry trauma.
"So?" she whispered, eyes glittering. "Science sparks?"
"Literal ones," I mumbled. "Pretty sure I almost died."
Jayce leaned in from across the table. "Died from love?"
I stabbed my mashed potatoes like they were responsible for my emotional instability.
Before Mina could unleash more interrogation, he arrived. Aeron. Sitting diagonally, eating like nothing happened. Except he never sat near us.
And then—surprise guest number two: Damian. Tray in hand. Bright, charming grin. "Mind if I join?"
"No," Mina said.
"Yes," Aeron said.
"I—uh—" I said.
Damian sat anyway. Right next to me. Close. Too close. He looked smug.
"Wow, Art Girl's really popular today," Mina whispered in delight.
I elbowed her under the table.
Jayce blinked between the two boys. "Sooo… does Lira know she's the human version of Switzerland in a very attractive war?"
"I'm not!" I hissed.
"You kinda are," Mina whispered, sipping her juice like it was tea.
Aeron's fork scraped the tray. Damian casually leaned in, eyes on my lips.
"Want my extra brownie?" he offered.
Aeron shoved his tray back. "I'm done."
He stood and left.
The silence he left behind? Loud.
I stared at Damian. He just bit into his brownie like he hadn't just caused a minor cafeteria quake.
End of Chapter 4