Monday afternoon had a strange, almost electric feel. Sara walked down the hallway, backpack slung over one shoulder, and tried her best to ignore the fluttering in her chest every time she thought of Leo's words from Friday. He likes me… he likes me, her mind whispered repeatedly.
Of course, she wasn't going to admit it. Not to herself, not to anyone.
As she rounded the corner to her next class, she nearly collided with him. Leo was leaning against the lockers, smirking like he had been waiting for her.
"Well, well, Miss Ignoring-Me," he said casually. "You look… distracted today. Busy thinking about someone?"
Sara rolled her eyes. "Busy thinking about myself. Unlike you, I have actual things to do."
Leo tilted his head, grin widening. "Uh-huh. Sure. Busy. And yet… here you are, staring at me anyway."
Sara huffed, but she couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at her lips. Why does he always know exactly how to get under my skin?
---
The school bell rang, dragging them both to their next class. Today's math class involved group exercises, and of course, the teacher paired them together.
Sara groaned inwardly. Fate had a cruel sense of humor.
"Looks like we're doomed to suffer together again," Leo whispered as they settled at their desk.
"Or lucky," Sara shot back, though her voice was softer than intended.
Leo's smirk widened. "Lucky, huh? I like the sound of that."
They worked in silence at first, calculating numbers, scribbling notes. But every so often, their arms brushed, fingers accidentally touching, and Sara felt her heart skip.
Leo noticed her reactions, of course. He leaned closer under the guise of helping her with a problem. "Check this step," he whispered, his warm breath grazing her ear.
Sara froze. "I… I got it," she said, fumbling with her pen.
"Uh-huh," he said softly. "Sure you do. But it's… nicer when I help you."
Sara groaned but secretly didn't mind.
---
After class, Leo suggested they walk to the cafeteria together. Sara hesitated. She wanted to say no—but she also kind of wanted to spend time with him.
"Fine," she muttered, grabbing her bag. "But don't get any ideas."
"No ideas," he said smoothly, but the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.
In the cafeteria, the chaos of lunchtime surrounded them. Students shouted, laughed, and shoved trays around. Leo grabbed a table and motioned for her to sit.
"You know," he said casually, leaning back, "we could make this more interesting. A little game. Loser buys lunch for the winner."
Sara raised an eyebrow. "A game?"
"Simple," he said. "Math challenge. Whoever answers fastest wins. You in?"
Sara smirked. "Fine. But don't cry when you lose."
Leo laughed. "Uh-huh. Sure. I'll keep my tears to a minimum."
---
The game began, and sparks flew—not just from their competition, but from every brush of their hands, every shared glance. Sara's stomach twisted every time Leo's fingers brushed hers.
"Too slow," he teased when she miscalculated an answer.
"I was not slow!" she shot back, cheeks heating.
"Sure," he said, grinning. "Keep telling yourself that. But I think you secretly like losing to me."
Sara wanted to argue—but a small part of her did like it.
---
After lunch, they walked to their next class. The sky had cleared, sunlight spilling across the schoolyard. Leo nudged her playfully with his shoulder.
"You know," he said softly, voice low, "I like seeing you smile like that. Don't think I don't notice."
Sara froze. "I… don't smile like that for you," she said quickly.
"Oh, really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Then why is your face glowing right now?"
Sara felt heat rush to her cheeks. "You're impossible."
"And yet… irresistible," he added, voice teasing, eyes glinting.
Sara wanted to hide her face but didn't. A part of her didn't want to hide it at all.
---
Later in the day, they ended up assigned to clean up the art room together, another punishment from a minor mischief earlier in the week. Leo leaned against the counter while Sara organized supplies.
"You're really… focused today," he said softly.
"I have a job," she said tersely.
"Focused on me?" he teased, stepping closer.
Sara rolled her eyes, trying to mask her fluttering heart. "Stop teasing me."
"Not teasing," he said, smirking. "Observing. And maybe… enjoying it a little."
Sara's cheeks burned. She couldn't argue, couldn't even deny it. She felt a strange thrill in his presence—one she wasn't ready to admit.
---
As the day ended, Sara and Leo walked out together again. Their hands brushed accidentally as they reached the school gate, and neither pulled away immediately.
"See you tomorrow?" he asked casually, though his gaze was intense.
"Maybe," she said softly, unsure if she meant it for school… or for him.
Leo smirked, clearly pleased. "Good. I like the uncertainty."
Sara shook her head, laughing softly despite herself. "You're impossible."
"And yet… you're smiling," he said. "I knew it."
---
That night, Sara lay in bed, replaying every touch, every teasing comment, every glance. She hated how much she thought about him, hated how he could make her heart race with just a smirk.
But deep down… she loved it.
The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers journey was getting more complicated, more thrilling, and Sara knew that she couldn't escape the pull of Leo Carmichael—no matter how hard she tried.
And that realization both terrified and excited her.