The next day, Mia was shocked. Aiden Scott was sitting in chemistry class. On time, with a notebook and a pen. She stopped in the doorway and stared at him. Aiden noticed immediately.
"What?"
Mia narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you?"
Aiden laughed.
"Very funny."
"No, seriously. Where's Aiden?"
"You're looking at him."
"I don't believe you."
He placed a hand over his heart.
"That hurts."
Mia sat down beside him.
"You never bring supplies."
"How do you know?"
"You borrowed three pencils from me yesterday."
"Details."
Mia glanced at the notebook on his desk.
Then at him.
Then back at the notebook.
"You actually plan on taking notes?"
"Maybe."
"Wow."
"Can you stop acting surprised?"
"No."
Aiden rolled his eyes. Before he could say anything else, the chemistry teacher entered. The lesson began. For the first ten minutes, Aiden genuinely tried to pay attention. He really did. Unfortunately, chemistry was still chemistry. Five minutes later, his head was resting on his desk. Ten minutes later, he was doodling random things in his notebook. Fifteen minutes later, he was drawing a cartoon version of the chemistry teacher. Mia looked over and nearly laughed.
"What is that?"
"A masterpiece."
"It looks nothing like him."
"It captures his spirit."
"His spirit?"
"The disappointment."
Mia covered her mouth to hide a smile. The teacher suddenly turned around.
"Aiden."
Aiden immediately sat up.
"Yes, sir?"
"Would you like to share what you're drawing with the class?"
The room burst into laughter. Aiden looked down at his notebook. Then back at the teacher.
"No, sir."
"I didn't think so."
Even Mia was laughing now. Aiden couldn't help smiling. At least he had made her laugh. After class, they walked through the hallways together.
"That was embarrassing."
"You deserved it."
"I was trying."
"You were drawing."
"I was trying to draw."
Mia laughed again. For some reason, hearing her laugh felt like an accomplishment. As they reached their next classroom, Mia stopped.
"You know..."
Aiden looked at her.
"You actually paid attention longer than I expected."
His eyes widened dramatically.
"Was that a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it."
"It was a compliment."
"It wasn't."
"It definitely was."
Mia shook her head and walked inside. Aiden followed her with a grin. For the first time all week, things felt normal again. Until lunch. Aiden was sitting with his friends when Mia entered the cafeteria. Almost immediately, Noah noticed where his attention went.
"There she is."
Aiden kicked his chair.
"Shut up."
"I'm just saying."
"Don't."
"You like her."
"I don't."
"You do."
Across the cafeteria, Mia was sitting with a few girls from her classes. She was laughing about something. Aiden found himself smiling without realizing it. Unfortunately, Noah saw that too.
"Oh my God."
"What now?"
"You smiled."
"So?"
"You never smile like that."
Aiden threw a napkin at him. His friends burst out laughing. At another table, Mia glanced over. Their eyes met for a brief second. She smiled. Aiden smiled back. Then immediately looked away. His friends exploded.
"AIDEN IS BLUSHING!"
"I AM NOT!"
The entire table was laughing now. For the first time in years, Aiden Scott felt completely out of control. And the worst part? He didn't hate it. Not one bit.
That afternoon, as school ended and students began leaving, Mia caught up to him near the gates.
"Aiden."
He turned around.
"Yeah?"
She hesitated.
"I need help with something."
His eyebrows shot up.
"You need my help?"
"Don't make it weird."
"I'm trying not to."
Mia sighed.
"We have a presentation next week."
"Oh."
"And the teacher wants partners."
Aiden's heart nearly stopped.
"So..."
She shifted awkwardly.
"Do you want to be partners?"
For a moment, Aiden forgot how to speak. His brain completely shut down. Mia frowned.
"Was that a difficult question?"
"No."
"Then why do you look like that?"
Aiden cleared his throat.
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I'll do it."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Good."
Then she started walking away. Aiden stood there watching her. His friends were going to lose their minds when they heard about this. But somehow... The thing he was most excited about wasn't the project. It was spending more time with Mia. And that realization was becoming harder and harder to ignore.