Chapter Two: Unspoken Things
1178 Words
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The rest of the week moved faster than Mia expected. Jake settled into their math class without much issue, and to her quiet relief, he wasn’t one of those overly talkative, attention-seeking new students. He kept to himself most of the time, only speaking up when a teacher asked a question or when he needed help. Mia didn’t mind sitting next to him. In fact, she was starting to find the routine of their quiet interactions strangely... calming.
By Friday morning, the classroom buzzed with weekend energy. Students whispered about the upcoming basketball tryouts and the school’s annual Valentine’s Dance—still two weeks away, but somehow already the center of every conversation.
“Are you going?” Chloe asked, sliding into her seat beside Mia.
“To what?”
“The dance, duh,” Chloe said, unwrapping a granola bar. “Please don’t tell me you forgot again.”
Mia tucked her hair behind her ear. “I didn’t forget. I just… don’t really care.”
Chloe gave her a look. “Mia. Come on. You’ve skipped every dance since middle school. You can’t keep dodging them forever.”
Mia shrugged, keeping her eyes on her notebook. “They’re loud, people step on your feet, and I hate sparkly decorations. What’s the appeal?”
“You’re such a grandma.”
Before Mia could defend herself, Mrs. Taylor walked in, signaling the start of class. Jake entered a few seconds later, his hoodie pulled low over his head and headphones hanging around his neck. He nodded at the teacher before heading to his seat.
“Morning,” he said to Mia as he dropped into the chair beside her.
“Hey,” she replied, and that was it.
It was their usual pattern. Short greetings. Quiet cooperation during lessons. He didn’t invade her space, and she didn’t feel the need to fill every silence. It worked.
Halfway through the period, Mrs. Taylor began assigning a group project. “You’ll work in pairs,” she said. “The topic is algebra in real life—how it applies to everyday situations. Presentations are due next Friday.”
As students groaned, Mia froze. Group projects weren’t her favorite.
“You’ll work with the person sitting next to you,” Mrs. Taylor added, moving on before anyone could object.
Mia blinked.
Jake turned toward her with a faint smirk. “Looks like we’re partners.”
She smiled weakly. “Guess so.”
Chloe glanced over with a huge grin. Mia knew she’d hear about this later.
After class, Jake slung his bag over his shoulder. “You free after school today? We could at least pick a topic.”
“Yeah. We could meet in the library?”
“Cool. Four?”
“See you then.”
The moment he walked off, Chloe was at her side.
“Library? After school? With Jake?” she sing-songed, clutching her heart like it was some dramatic rom-com.
“It’s for the project,” Mia muttered.
“Uh-huh. Just don’t fall in love.”
Mia snorted. “Please. You know I don’t do that.”
But Chloe only gave her a knowing look.
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The library after school was mostly empty—except for a few students scrolling on computers and the occasional shuffle of pages turning. Jake was already there, seated at a back table near the windows, a textbook open in front of him.
“You’re early,” Mia said, dropping her bag into the seat across from him.
“Didn’t feel like waiting around the cafeteria.”
She sat down and pulled out her notebook. “So, real-life algebra. Exciting stuff.”
Jake grinned. “I vote we don’t do the cliché examples like budgeting or building something.”
“Agreed.”
They tossed around a few ideas—something about sports statistics, traffic light timers, and even the math behind video game algorithms. Slowly, the awkwardness faded as they brainstormed. Jake was surprisingly funny in a dry, sarcastic way, and Mia found herself laughing more than she expected.
“You’re not as quiet as everyone thinks,” she said halfway through their session.
He looked up. “Is that what people think?”
“Well, you barely talk to anyone.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to say.”
“Fair.”
He tilted his head, studying her. “What about you? You’re not exactly shouting from the rooftops either.”
Mia smiled. “Touché.”
They worked for another hour before packing up.
As they left the library together, Jake glanced at her. “You really hate dances?”
Mia blinked. “Where did that come from?”
“Everyone in class was talking about that Valentine thing. Just wondering.”
She stuffed her hands into her hoodie pocket. “They’re not my thing.”
“Huh. That’s too bad.”
Mia raised a brow. “Why?”
Jake shrugged. “You seem like someone who might enjoy it... if you went with the right person.”
Her heart skipped—just slightly. “You don’t even know me.”
“Maybe not. But I’m a fast learner.”
With that, he grinned and walked off toward the parking lot, leaving her staring after him in silence.
---
By Monday, rumors were spreading—nothing serious, just whispers of “Did you see Mia and the new guy in the library?” and “They’re partners for the project. But they looked close.”
Mia ignored it.
Mostly.
Jake didn’t mention it either, which helped. They stuck to schoolwork, occasionally exchanging sarcastic remarks, but that was it. At least, that’s what she told herself.
The cafeteria on Tuesday was especially loud. Mia carried her tray and found her usual seat, Chloe already waiting.
“Guess who made the basketball team,” Chloe said, grinning.
“Let me guess—Jake?”
“Yup. Coach put him on varsity. First tryout.”
“Not surprised,” Mia said, sipping her juice.
“He’s good. Saw him dunk during warm-ups. It was kind of... hot.”
Mia rolled her eyes, but her face warmed. “You’re hopeless.”
Chloe leaned closer. “You like him.”
“I don’t,” Mia replied a little too fast.
“You totally do.”
Before Mia could argue, a crumpled napkin hit her tray. She looked up to see a group of guys laughing—Trent, mostly, and his crew. The usual bullies who found entertainment in being annoying.
Jake walked in seconds later. Mia saw Trent nudge one of the guys and say something under his breath. Laughter followed. Jake didn’t flinch. He simply made his way across the room, grabbed a tray, and walked past them like they didn’t exist.
Then he sat—right next to Mia.
Chloe blinked. “Well. This is new.”
“Mind if I join?” Jake asked casually.
“Nope,” Mia said, trying to sound normal.
They ate. Talked. Joked a little. And just like that, it felt... natural.
Comfortable.
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- Writer
