The next morning, the school hallway buzzed with its usual early-morning chaos. Nia walked in quietly, her steps light but her mind cluttered with thoughts. Yesterday had been… new. Arin had talked to her more than anyone had in months. And somehow, it didn't feel overwhelming.
When Nia entered the classroom, Arin was already there — sitting cross-legged on top of her desk, tapping a pen rhythmically against her notebook. The second she saw Nia, her face brightened.
"There you are! I saved your seat. People kept dragging chairs around, and it annoyed me."
Nia paused. "You saved it… for me?"
"Obviously," Arin said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Nia sat down, unsure how to respond. No one usually noticed where she sat
"Want a cookie?" Arin asked, opening a small lunch box.
Nia shook her head gently. "I don't really like sweets… but thank you."
"Oh— I didn't know."
Arin didn't look offended, just thoughtful.
"Cool. Next time I'll bring something else."
Nia blinked. "You don't have to bring anything."
"I know." Arin shrugged. "I just like sharing stuff with friends."
Nia froze at the word friends.
Not because of feelings — but because friendship wasn't something she was used to.
Still, she didn't correct her.
She wondered silently —
What if I disappoint her? What if she realizes I'm too quiet, too boring?
Across the table, Arin wondered —
Is she comfortable around me? Am I being too much?
But neither spoke those thoughts aloud.
They worked quietly for a while —
Nia writing notes with her neat, precise handwriting,
Arin scribbling sketches and diagrams at top speed.
The silence between them wasn't awkward.
It was steady, peaceful — like two people who didn't need to fill the air just to feel okay.
For someone like Nia, that meant everything.
During the next period, Arin turned her chair toward Nia.
"So… project division. You take the research, right?"
Nia nodded. "I'm good with data and structure."
"And I'll do the design and visuals. Teamwork."
They tapped their pencils together like a quiet high-five.
While discussing the project outline, Arin leaned over Nia's shoulder to look at her notebook.
"Whoa," she said. "Your writing is so clean. It looks like you typed it."
Nia glanced at her messy sketches. "Yours looks… expressive."
Arin laughed. "Expressive is just a polite word for messy."
Nia shook her head. "No. It shows personality. It makes the page lively."
Arin paused, genuinely touched.
"Thanks. No one's called it that before."
It wasn't a romantic moment — just the kind of sincere compliment that strengthens friendship.
Arin lowered her voice.
"Okay, don't laugh, but… I'm terrible at presentations."
Nia looked at her with surprise. "You seem confident."
"Exactly. I seem confident." Arin sighed dramatically.
"The moment I stand in front of the class, my voice shakes like a dying robot."
Nia bit back a small smile. "Then… I'll help. We can rehearse together."
Arin's eyes lit up. "Seriously?"
"Yeah," Nia said simply. "That's what partners do."
At lunch, Arin nudged her gently.
"Come sit with us today. You don't have to talk much. Just… be there."
Nia hesitated — crowded tables weren't her thing.
But she followed.
Arin's friends were loud, cheerful, and welcoming in a casual way.
"Guys," Arin announced proudly, "this is Nia. She's my project partner and she's great with research. Don't scare her."
Nia sat quietly, listening more than speaking, but she didn't feel out of place.
Whenever the conversation got too fast, Arin slowed it down for her.
Whenever someone asked Nia a question, Arin jumped in to help her answer without making her feel embarrassed.
It wasn't special treatment —
it was simple, thoughtful friendship.
And Nia appreciated it more than she could say.
Later, walking home, Nia replayed the day.
Not with butterflies or confusion —
but with a steady, warm sense of belonging.
Maybe friendship isn't as exhausting as I thought, she told herself.
Meanwhile, Arin's group asked her later,
"She's quiet… but she seems nice. You two get along well."
Arin grinned.
"Yeah. She's easy to be around."
No spark, no romantic tension —
just two girls slowly building a safe, genuine friendship.
Something simple, honest, and real.