chapter three: STUCK TOGETHER
1191 Words
Lilly spent the rest of the day pretending to listen in class, but her mind was stuck on one thing.
Group project. With Adrian Blackwood.
She had never believed in fate before, but this felt too intentional to be a coincidence.
When the final bell rang, the teacher added, “You have two weeks to complete the project. Make sure you exchange contact details with your partners.”
Lilly slowly turned in her seat.
Adrian was already looking at her.
“So,” he said, “I guess we should talk.”
Her heart skipped. “Yeah. I mean— yes.”
They stood up and moved to the side of the classroom while other students whispered and stared.
Adrian pulled out his phone. “Give me your number.”
She did, trying not to overthink how casual he sounded about it.
“I’m usually busy after school,” he said. “So we’ll work during free periods.”
“Okay,” Lilly replied. “That works for me.”
There was a pause.
Then she asked, “Why do you never talk to anyone?”
He looked at her, slightly surprised by the question.
“Because most people don’t talk to me,” he said. “They talk to my last name.”
Lilly frowned. “And that bothers you?”
His lips curved into a small, bitter smile. “Wouldn’t it bother you?”
She thought about it. About being judged for being poor, for being different, for not belonging.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “It would.”
For the first time, Adrian didn’t look cold.
He looked… human.
They sat together in the library during free period. Books open. Laptops out. Silence between them — but not an awkward one.
More like a quiet understanding.
“You’re really smart,” Adrian said suddenly.
Lilly blinked. “You barely know me.”
“I can tell,” he replied. “You actually read the instructions.”
She laughed before she could stop herself.
He looked at her again like he wasn’t used to hearing that sound.
Later, as they packed up, he said, “You’re different from everyone here.”
Lilly looked at him. “Different how?”
“You don’t want anything from me.”
She hesitated. Except maybe your attention, she thought.
But she didn’t say it.
Instead she said, “Maybe I just want to know you.”
Adrian held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary.
And in that moment, something shifted.
Not just attraction.
Trust.
The walk home felt different for Lilly that day.
The world seemed quieter, softer, like everything around her had slowed down just enough for her to breathe. She replayed Adrian’s words in her head over and over.
You’re different from everyone here.
She smiled to herself. No one had ever said that to her before in a way that felt… meaningful.
That evening, her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Adrian: This is Adrian. About the project — do you want to meet in the library tomorrow during lunch?
Lilly stared at the screen for a full ten seconds before replying.
Lilly: Yeah. That works.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Adrian: Good.
That was it. Just one word. But it made her heart race anyway.
The next day at lunch, Lilly arrived early. She chose a table near the window, spreading out her notes even though she couldn’t focus.
Adrian walked in a few minutes later. He wore his usual calm expression, but when he saw her, something in his eyes softened — just slightly.
“You’re early,” he said.
“So are you,” she replied.
They sat down and started working. At first, it was quiet — the sound of pages flipping, pens tapping, the low noise of other students around them.
Then Adrian spoke.
“So… tell me about you.”
Lilly looked up, surprised. “Me?”
“Yeah. You know everything about me already. Apparently I’m famous,” he said dryly.
She smiled. “You really are.”
“I hate that.”
“I figured.”
There was a pause.
“I live with my mom,” Lilly said. “It’s just us. She works a lot. We’re not rich or anything, but we manage.”
Adrian listened without interrupting.
“My dad died when I was little,” she added quietly.
He looked at her, expression changing.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I don’t really remember him. But sometimes I wonder what life would’ve been like.”
Adrian leaned back slightly. “My dad is alive. But he’s never really… there.”
Lilly frowned. “What do you mean?”
“He’s always working. Meetings, trips, business calls. I see him on TV more than I see him at home.”
“That sounds lonely.”
He looked away. “It is.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Two different lives.
Two different worlds.
But the same kind of emptiness.
That’s when Lilly realized something important.
Behind the money.
Behind the cold attitude.
Behind the last name.
Adrian was just as alone as she was.
And somehow, that made her like him even more.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
Neither of them moved immediately.
“We should probably go,” Lilly said softly.
“Yeah,” Adrian replied, closing his notebook. “But… this was nice.”
She looked at him, surprised. “Nice?”
“Talking without pretending,” he said. “It doesn’t happen often.”
Lilly smiled. “It does for me. You just have to let it.”
He studied her for a moment, like he was trying to understand something new.
As they walked out of the library together, students stared. Some whispered. Some smiled. Some looked confused.
Maya appeared out of nowhere, eyes wide.
“Okay, I leave you alone for one lunch and you’re already walking with him?”
Lilly blushed. “It’s just the project.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Is that your friend?”
Maya grinned. “Best one.”
“Nice to meet you,” Adrian said politely.
Maya blinked. Once. Twice.
“Did Adrian Blackwood just speak to me like a normal human being?”
He smirked slightly. “Don’t get used to it.”
Lilly laughed, and Maya stared at her like she had just discovered a secret.
Later that day, Lilly found a message on her phone.
Adrian: Thanks for today. I didn’t know I needed that conversation.
She typed back slowly.
Lilly: Me neither. But I’m glad it happened.
There was a long pause.
Then:
Adrian: Are you free this weekend? We could work on the project at the cafe near the park.
Lilly’s heart skipped.
Lilly: Yeah. I am.
She placed her phone on her chest and stared at the ceiling.
This was no longer just about a school project.
This was about two people slowly opening doors they had kept closed for a long time.
And without realizing it, both of them were already stepping inside each other’s worlds.
- Writer
