BETWEEN TWO HEARTS.

CHAPTER EIGHT; Unexpected partners

"Life has a funny way of changing your plans when you least expect it."

The Tuesday morning air was cool as Davi and Aya made their way through the school gates.

Aya let out a dramatic sigh.

"I almost didn't come today."

Davi looked at her.

"Why?"

"I had a dream."

"...That's your reason?"

"It was a sign."

"What happened?"

"I was eating a huge chocolate cake."

Davi nodded.

"Okay..."

"And then I woke up."

"..."

"I've never been so heartbroken."

Davi laughed.

"You really need help."

"I need sleep."

"You got eight hours."

"I needed ten."

"You'd still complain."

"I absolutely would."

As they reached the school building, Henry came jogging over with Ethan beside him.

"There you are!"

Davi smiled.

"You say that every morning."

"And I'll keep saying it."

Aya folded her arms.

"Does he ever enter a place quietly?"

Ethan answered before Henry could.

"No."

Henry looked offended.

"I can be quiet."

The four of them stared at him.

"...What?"

"You shouted from the parking lot," Davi said.

"I was enthusiastic."

"You scared a pigeon."

"It survived."

Aya burst into laughter.

"You actually noticed the pigeon?"

"It flew into my face!"

Henry defended himself.

"It was trying to attack me."

"The pigeon?"

"Yes."

"I think you imagined it."

"I did not."

Ethan shook his head.

"You definitely did."

Henry sighed dramatically.

"I don't get enough support around here."

"You have plenty," Davi replied.

"We just refuse to encourage your nonsense."

The first bell echoed through the hallway.

Students hurried toward their classrooms while conversations slowly faded.

Inside English class, Mrs. Lawson placed a stack of folders on her desk before turning to face everyone.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Mrs. Lawson," the class replied.

She smiled.

"Since your midterm presentations are next month, you'll be working on a research project."

A few students groaned.

"I know," Mrs. Lawson said. "But it's worth twenty percent of your grade."

The groaning immediately stopped.

Henry leaned toward Ethan.

"We're obviously partners."

Ethan smiled.

"You sound very confident."

"I am."

Mrs. Lawson picked up her attendance sheet.

"And before anyone asks..."

Half the class looked up hopefully.

"...No, you will not be choosing your own partners."

The room erupted.

"Oh, come on!"

"That's not fair!"

"My best friend already promised we'd work together!"

Mrs. Lawson raised one eyebrow.

"The louder you complain, the longer my lecture becomes."

Silence.

"Much better."

She adjusted her glasses and began reading the list.

"Emily Carter with Noah Bennett."

Noah groaned.

Emily laughed.

"I promise I'm easy to work with."

"We'll see."

A few students chuckled.

"Sophia Reed with Jason Miller."

Jason gave Sophia a thumbs-up.

"Looks like we're stuck together."

"Could be worse."

The class laughed again.

Mrs. Lawson continued.

"Henry Morgan..."

Henry sat up straighter.

"...with Liam Foster."

Henry froze.

"...Excuse me?"

Liam raised a hand from the back of the room.

"I'll try not to disappoint you."

"It's not you."

Henry sighed.

"It's the principle."

"The principle?" Liam repeated.

"Ethan and I have a system."

"You copy each other's homework," someone called from the back.

"I do not!"

"You copied my Biology notes yesterday," Ethan said calmly.

The class burst into laughter.

Henry placed a hand over his chest.

"I feel betrayed."

Mrs. Lawson cleared her throat to hide a smile.

"Moving on."

She glanced at the next name.

"Davi Morgan..."

Davi looked up.

"...with Ethan Carter."

For a second, the room became unusually quiet.

Then someone whispered,

"I thought Ethan always worked with Henry."

"Guess not this time."

Aya looked toward Davi, then toward Ethan.

She didn't smile or tease.

She simply noticed how neither of them looked uncomfortable.

Ethan turned slightly toward Davi.

"Looks like we're partners."

She gave a small smile.

"Looks like it."

Mrs. Lawson continued calling names until every student had a partner.

"Now," she said, "you'll have thirty minutes to discuss your topics before class ends."

Desks scraped against the floor as everyone moved.

Henry dragged his chair beside Liam with all the enthusiasm of someone going to detention.

"I want everyone to know this wasn't my choice."

Liam laughed.

"I'll try not to take it personally."

Across the room, Ethan pulled out a notebook.

"So..."

"So..." Davi replied.

They both stopped.

Then laughed at the same time.

"I think we've done this before," Ethan said.

"I was just thinking that."

He opened the project outline.

"What topic are you interested in?"

She scanned the list.

"'The Impact of Technology on Teenagers' sounds interesting."

"I was looking at that one too."

She looked at him.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"I guess we agree on something."

"I think we've always agreed on more things than we realized."

The words slipped out before either of them thought about them.

For a brief second, they simply looked at each other.

Not awkwardly.

Comfortably.

As though picking up a conversation they'd only paused yesterday.

Across the room, Aya glanced over while discussing her own project.

She frowned thoughtfully.

It wasn't what they were talking about that caught her attention.

It was how naturally they were talking.

Most pairs were stumbling through awkward introductions or arguing over who would do more work.

But Davi and Ethan...

Already seemed to understand each other's rhythm.

Interesting...

Aya thought before turning back to her own partner.

The bell rang before anyone realized how quickly the lesson had passed.

Students packed their bags, filling the classroom with chatter once again.

As Davi slipped her notebook into her backpack, Mrs. Lawson spoke one last time.

"Oh, and one more thing."

Everyone looked up.

"Your project isn't limited to classroom discussions."

A few students groaned.

"I expect you to meet after school when necessary. Visit the library, each other's homes if your parents allow it, or anywhere appropriate to complete your research."

Henry's head snapped toward Ethan.

Ethan looked at Davi.

Davi blinked.

Neither of them said a word.

Mrs. Lawson smiled.

"You have three weeks."

The bell rang again.

And somehow...

Walking out of the classroom suddenly felt a little different than walking in.