HEART STRINGS

The Start Of Something

"No way."

"Did Kelvin really choose Rose?"

"I thought he'd pick Maltilda."

"Same."

Rose stared at the teacher.

Unfortunately, the teacher had already written the names down.

She was officially Kelvin Reid's project partner.

Beside her, Jasmine looked seconds away from screaming.

"This is the greatest thing that's ever happened."

"It's just a project," Rose muttered.

"It's fate."

"It's chemistry."

"Romantic chemistry."

Rose buried her face in her hands.

Across the room, Kelvin remained completely calm. As if he hadn't just thrown the entire class into chaos.

Meanwhile, Maltilda Hart looked like she was fighting for her life.

Beside her, Brielle slowly turned.

"You okay?"

"No."

"Fair."

Naomi glanced between Rose and Kelvin.

Then at Maltilda.

Then back at Rose.

"Oh."

"What?" Maltilda snapped.

"Oh, you're definitely jealous."

"I'm not jealous."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm not."

"You look like you're planning a murder."

Maltilda sat up straighter.

"I am not planning a murder."

"Good."

"Because that would be illegal."

Brielle nodded seriously.

"Very illegal."

The teacher clapped her hands.

"Enough talking. Use the next fifteen minutes to discuss your projects."

Students immediately turned toward their partners.

Rose slowly looked at Kelvin.

Kelvin looked at Rose.

Neither spoke.

Five seconds passed.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Jasmine nearly exploded."Someone say something!"

Rose kicked her chair.

"Ow!"

A tiny smile appeared on Rose's face.

Only for a second.

But Kelvin noticed.

For some reason...

He couldn't stop noticing things about her.

"Should we meet tomorrow?" he asked.

Rose blinked.

"Sure."

"The library?

"Okay."

"Four o'clock."

"Fine."

The conversation lasted less than ten seconds.

Yet Jasmine looked ready to write a wedding invitation.

Across the room, Rowan watched everything.

He wasn't angry.

At least...

That's what he kept telling himself.

Rose had been his assigned partner first.

Then Kelvin changed everything.

Rowan glanced toward Kelvin.

The guy looked completely unaffected.

Which somehow made it worse.

"You look upset."

Rowan looked over.

Maltilda sat beside him with her arms folded.

"I'm fine."

"You're a terrible liar."

"So are you."

For the first time all day, Maltilda laughed.

"Fair."

The two exchanged a look.

A silent understanding.

Neither of them had gotten what they wanted.

The bell finally rang.

Students immediately began packing their bags.

Rose reached for her notebook.

Only to find someone standing in front of her.

Maltilda.

The room grew quiet.

Everyone loved drama.

And Maltilda Hart usually delivered.

"Congratulations," she said.

Rose blinked.

"For what?"

"Getting Kelvin as your partner."

"Oh."

The smile on Maltilda's face didn't reach her eyes.

"Try not to slow him down."

The classroom became even quieter.

Rose knew exactly what she meant.

Before she could answer, another voice interrupted.

"I think she'll be fine."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Every head turned.

Kelvin.

He had spoken.

And worse...

He was defending Rose.

Maltilda's smile cracked.

Just slightly.

But enough

Rose looked surprised.

Rowan looked annoyed.

Jasmine looked ready to faint.

And Brielle?

Brielle was enjoying every second.

"This is better than television," she whispered.

Naomi nodded.

"Way better."

After class ended, students poured into the hallway.

Maltilda stormed ahead.

Brielle and Naomi hurried after her.

"This is ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous?" Brielle asked.

"You know what's ridiculous." Naomi raised an eyebrow.

"The fact that Kelvin chose Rose?"

Maltilda stopped walking.

"Exactly,Maybe he likes her." Naomi said

The words hit maltilda like a truck.

"No."

"Maybe."

"No."

"Maybe."

"No."

Naomi shrugged.

"I'm just saying."

Maltilda pointed a finger at her.

"Don't."

Meanwhile, Rose and Jasmine headed toward their lockers.

Jasmine was still recovering.

"I cannot believe this."

"It isn't a big deal."

"It is a huge deal."

"It's a school project."

"It's Kelvin."

Rose sighed.

"There is no difference."

"There is a massive difference."

Rose rolled her eyes.

Unfortunately, Jasmine wasn't finished.

"Do you think he'll sit close to you in the library?"

"It's a library."

"Do you think he'll walk you home?"

"No."

"Do you think-"

"No."

"You didn't even let me finish."

"I know where this is going."

Jasmine laughed.

"You're no fun."

A few lockers away, Rowan watched them.

Specifically Rose.

He frowned.

Something felt strange.

Not because Kelvin chose her.

But because Rose seemed completely unaffected by it.

Most girls would have been excited.

Most girls would have bragged.

Rose simply treated it like another assignment.

Maybe that was why people liked her.

Maybe that was why Kelvin noticed her.

The thought annoyed him more than expected.

Later that afternoon, Kelvin sat beneath a tree near the sports field.

The school grounds were quieter now.

Most students had gone home.

For once, there was peace.

His phone buzzed.

A message from Celeste.

Still alive?

Kelvin rolled his eyes.

Unfortunately.

Almost instantly, another message arrived.

Rude.

Learned from you. He replied

Impossible. I'm perfect.

Kelvin laughed.

A few students walking past looked shocked.

Apparently nobody had ever seen him laugh before.

The next morning arrived quickly.

The moment Rose entered the classroom, Jasmine grabbed her arm.

"We have a problem."

"What now?"

Jasmine pointed dramatically.

Rose followed her finger.

Maltilda.

The queen bee sat at her desk.

Watching them.

Specifically...

Watching Rose.

"Why is she looking at me like that?"

"Because she wants to throw a chair at you."

Rose blinked.

"That's dramatic."

"It's Maltilda."

"Good point."

Across the room, Maltilda looked away the moment she realized she'd been caught.

Very subtle.

Extremely subtle.

Then Kelvin walked into the classroom.

Immediately, several girls sat straighter.

Maltilda fixed her hair.

Brielle fixed Maltilda's hair.

Naomi pretended not to know them.

Kelvin walked straight past.

Without noticing any of it.

And sat down.

Maltilda stared.

Brielle stared.

Naomi closed her book.

"Rejected before breakfast."

"I hate this school." Maltilda muttered

Brielle stared.

The bell rang before anyone could say anything else.

Students hurried to their seats while the teacher entered carrying several folders.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, ma'am."

The teacher placed the folders on her desk.

"I hope everyone has started planning their projects."

Immediately, several students lied.

"Yes, ma'am."

The teacher narrowed her eyes.

"No, you haven't."

The class laughed.

Rose pulled out her notebook.

A few desks away, Kelvin was already reviewing project materials.

Of course he was.

Jasmine peeked over Rose's shoulder.

"So..."

"No."

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

"Yes, I do."

"What was I going to say?"

Rose sighed.

"Something about Kelvin."

Jasmine pointed dramatically.

"Exactly."

Across the room, Rowan watched the exchange.

His gaze briefly drifted toward Rose before he looked away.

Unfortunately, Maltilda noticed.

"Oh no."

Rowan frowned.

"What?"

"You like her too."

Rowan nearly choked.

"What?"

"You like Rose."

"I don't."

"That wasn't convincing."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

Maltilda groaned.

"This is a nightmare."

Rowan looked amused.

"For you maybe."

"For everyone."

"You're being dramatic."

"I'm being realistic."

Naomi turned around.

"No. You're being dramatic."

The teacher suddenly clapped her hands.

"Partners."

The classroom immediately became nervous.

"Move your desks together."

The room exploded into movement.

Desks scraped across the floor.

Students grabbed their bags and chairs.

Rose looked up.

Kelvin was already standing beside her desk.

" You should move."

Straight to the point.

As usual.

Rose nodded.

Together they pushed their desks side by side.

The moment they sat down, Jasmine looked personally offended.

"Why can't I be in this group?"

"Because you're not my partner."

"Technicalities."

Kelvin ignored her.

Rose wished she could.

Meanwhile, Maltilda was forced to move beside Rowan.

The universe clearly hated her.

"Hi, partner."

"Don't."

Rowan laughed.

"You know, this project won't kill you."

"It might."

Across the room, Brielle was trying very hard not to laugh.

Naomi wasn't trying at all.

The teacher handed out project guidelines.

"Your presentations will be given in three weeks."

A collective groan filled the classroom.

"Three weeks?" someone groaned

"That's not enough time."

"It is if you actually work."

The groaning continued.

Rose opened the guideline sheet.

Kelvin leaned slightly closer to look at it.

Their shoulders almost touched.

Neither seemed to notice.

Unfortunately...

Jasmine noticed.

And so did Maltilda.

Maltilda's eye twitched.

Just a little.

Brielle immediately grabbed her arm.

"No."

"What?"

"Whatever you're thinking."

"I'm not thinking about anything."

"Liar."

Naomi nodded.

"Big liar."

Rose pointed at a section of the paper.

"I think we should divide the research."

Kelvin looked down.

"That makes sense."

"You take half."

"I'll take the other half."

Simple.

Efficient.

Easy.

The teacher walked around the room checking on each group.

When she reached Kelvin and Rose, she smiled.

"Good teamwork."

Rose smiled politely.

Kelvin nodded.

The teacher moved on.

Maltilda stared at her paper.

The words had completely stopped making sense.

Because every few seconds she found herself looking at Kelvin.

Then Rose.

Then Kelvin again.

This was t*****e.

Actual t*****e.

By lunchtime, she had officially had enough.

And for the first time since Kelvin arrived at Golden highschool

Maltilda Hart decided she wasn't going to sit back and watch anymore.

If Rose Carter was standing in her way...

Then things were about to get very interesting.