THE SEAT BESIDE HIM
600 Words
By the time we got to school, I had already regretted accepting Daniel’s ride at least five times.Not because of the ride itself.Because of him.
“You’re unusually quiet,” Tara said as we walked through the school gate.
“I’m tired.”
“You’re never quiet when you’re tired.”
“I can be.”
She stopped walking.
I stopped too.
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“Did something happen in the car?”
My eyes widened.
“No.”
“Did Daniel say something?”
“No.”
“Did you say something?”
“Tara!”
She laughed.
“Okay, okay. I’m just asking.”
I rolled my eyes and continued walking.
But the truth was, something had happened.
Nothing big.
Nothing I could explain.
It was just the way Daniel had looked at me when I got out of the car.Like he wanted to say something.Like he was waiting for me to notice.
I shook the thought away.He was Tara’s brother.That was enough reason to stay away.
⸻
Our first class was English.
I took my usual seat beside Tara and pulled out my notebook.Our teacher walked in a few minutes later.
“Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, ma.”
She placed some papers on the desk.
“Today, you’re going to work in pairs.”
A collective groan filled the classroom.
“Choose your partners.”
Tara immediately grabbed my arm.
“Obviously, you’re with me.”
I smiled.
“Obviously.”
Before we could even move our chairs together, someone dropped into the empty seat behind me.I didn’t need to turn around.I knew that voice.
“Looks like I’m your partner.”
I slowly turned.Daniel.
I stared at him.
“What are you doing here?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I attend this school.”
“You’re not even in this class.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then why are you here?”
He leaned back in his chair.
“My teacher sent me to this class.”
I looked toward Tara.She was staring at her brother like she wanted to throw her textbook at him.
“This is suspicious,” she whispered.
Daniel grinned.
“I heard that.”
“Good.”
Our teacher clapped her hands.
“Everyone settle down. Your assignment is to write a short story about love.”
My stomach dropped.
Love!!
Seriously?
I glanced at Daniel.He was already looking at me.Our eyes met.
For a second, neither of us looked away.Then he smiled.
“Looks like we’re perfect partners.”
I quickly looked down at my notebook.
“We’re not.”
“You don’t even know what the assignment is.”
“I know enough.”
He chuckled.
“You really don’t like me, do you?”
I looked at him.
“I don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re annoying.”
“That’s not a real reason.”
“It is to me.”
He smiled again.
“You’ll change your mind.”
I laughed.
“Never.”
He leaned closer—not too close, just enough that I could hear him over the noise of the classroom.
“Never is a long time, Amara.”
My heart skipped.
I hated that it did.I hated even more that he noticed.His smile widened.I immediately looked away.
“Let’s just do the assignment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Okay, ma’am.”
I kicked his chair.
He laughed.
And despite myself…I smiled.Just a little.
Maybe my rule was going to be harder to keep than I thought.
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