"Micheal and...Nicole " Mrs Taylor said as our laughter died down.
Clueless about what was going happening I asked Josh what was going on, "We're being paired up for the new project" he said as he left with Liv as they were paired together.
I took a breath and forced my legs to move over to where she was sitting. It's not like I didn't want to talk to her, I just genuinely didn't know what to say to her, which is pathetic.
Taking a seat on the chair next ro her. "Guess we're stuck together." I said hoping it didn't sound weird but friendly when I heard it in my head.
"Looks like it" she said, giving me that perfect smile of hers.
And I swear that smile was magic because I wasn't as nervous as before and by some miracle- it was not awkward.
"Just want to say, that I'm not reading this." Pointing to the script in my hand.
She squinted her forehead, clearly confused.
"A line from one of my guy's part of the script, like I would literally die cringing because like he says the most cheesiest stuff."
That earned me a little laugh and an eye roll from Nicole.
"You're just exaggerating " she said clearly not believing me, so I read out one of my lines in a serious tone.
"If I were a tear rolling down your cheek, I'd pray you'd never blink, just so I could live forever in the warmth of your gaze." I immediately cringed but didn't die, thankfully.
She snorted, covering her mouth. "Oh my God, it's actually in there?"
I nodded
"Like word for word. Come on, who says this stuff?" She said astonished.
"I don't know but there can't be worse lines than this." After those words left my mouth, I immediately new I jinxed myself because the next line was in a whole league of its own.
Slumping, as if resigning to my fate by the embarrassment I was going get after reading this.
"I jinxed myself" I said to her.
Nicole, eyeing me cautiously but smiling despite herself asked "What do you mean?"
I stood up, script still in hand and faced her, looking all serious like I was going to war. And then said:
"Were I but a humble pebble upon the ground you tread, I would thank the heavens each day for the honor of being crushed beneath the weight of your divine footsteps."
Silence.
For half a heartbeat, the room actually froze. My ears burned, my stomach sank, and I was already bracing for the laughter aimed at me- mocking, sharp, the kind you don't shake off.
But then- Nicole.
She burst out laughing. Not just a chuckle, not a polite giggle. A full-on cackle, head thrown back, shoulders shaking, as if what I'd said was the funniest thing she'd ever heard in her life. The sound filled the space and drowned out everyone else, and suddenly it wasn't me who was embarrassed- it was me standing there, stunned, staring at her, a smile tugging at my mouth before I could stop it.
I'd embarrassed myself, sure. I'd sounded ridiculous. But I'd made her laugh like that. Me.
And in that moment, with her wiping her eyes and grinning at me like I'd just made her entire day, I forgot about Joey, forgot about being the new guy, forgot about the silence I'd been keeping.
All I knew was that I was happy. Happy to be paired with her. Happy just to have been the reason behind that kind of laughter.
"You were right Micheal, I would have literally died from cringing but your expression was-" she paused as she gasped for air, "You're expression was so on point, laughter just took over." Nicole said wiping the non-existent tears on her face.
"And here I thought I couldn't act, when I just gave you an Oscar-level performance." I smirked.
"Don't kid yourself, I just meant it was funny not Chris Evans level acting." She said.
"Well, thanks for the compliment or at least I think it is." I said, mock bowing, which made her laugh again.
The lunch bell rang, and a tight knot formed in my chest because I genuinely enjoyed my time with her.
"Class, when we have drama next, we'll run through the lines for the last time" Mrs Taylor's voice rang across the room.
"Next class I expect an Oscar-level performance." She said smiling as she left.
"Next time, huh" I muttered, smiling sheepishly.