He didn't think it would stick.
It was supposed to be simple.
A name.
A face.
A challenge he'd finish and forget.
That was how it always worked.
But this
This was different.
"Tara."
He exhaled sharply under his breath, shaking his head slightly as he walked down the hallway.
Wrong name.
Wrong reaction.
Everything about that interaction had gone… off.
Most girls would've reacted.
Laughed. Corrected him. Tried to keep the conversation going.
She didn't.
Didn't smile.
Didn't try.
Didn't even seem like she cared.
And somehow
That made it worse.
"Bro."
Jace's voice pulled him out of it.
"You look like you're thinking too hard already."
Adrian glanced at him briefly. "I'm not."
"Yeah?" Jace smirked. "Because you've been staring in the same direction for like two minutes."
Adrian didn't respond.
Didn't need to.
Across the hallway
She was there again.
With her friend.
Lily.
He didn't know her like that, but everyone knew of her.
Popular. Loud. The type that noticed everything.
Which meant
This wouldn't be as easy as it sounded.
"Don't tell me you're already backing out," Jace added.
That got a reaction.
Adrian scoffed lightly. "I said I'd do it."
"Then do it."
He didn't move immediately.
Just watched.
The way she stood slightly turned in, like she didn't want attention.
The way Lily filled the space around her without even trying.
Opposites.
Interesting.
"Alright," Adrian muttered.
Then he pushed himself off the wall.
He didn't rush it this time.
Didn't approach like before.
He waited.
Watched for the moment Lily stepped away
Which didn't take long.
Perfect.
"Teresa."
This time
He said it right.
She turned, clearly not expecting it.
That same pause.
That same quiet surprise.
And there it was again
That look.
Like she didn't know what to do with him standing there.
"Yeah?" she said, softer this time.
Better.
"I need help with something," Adrian said.
Straightforward.
No games.
She blinked. "Help?"
"Yeah."
A slight pause.
Then
"Tutoring."
Now she looked confused.
"Me?"
He almost smiled.
"Yeah. You."
A moment passed.
She hesitated.
And he could already tell
She was the type to say no.
Not out of attitude.
Just… uncertainty.
"I.....I don't know…"
There it was.
"It's just school stuff," he added, like it wasn't a big deal. "You're good at it, right?"
That made her pause again.
Because it was true.
"I guess…"
"Then it's easy."
Another silence.
Then
"…Okay."
That was faster than he expected.
"Good," Adrian said, already stepping back. "I'll text you."
She frowned slightly. "You don't have my number."
Now he smiled.
Just a little.
"I'll get it."
And just like that
He walked away.
From a distance
Lily watched the entire thing.
And she didn't like it.
Not one bit.