Experiments after hours
653 Words
By Wednesday, the entire school seemed to know that Ava Moreno and Ethan Blake were lab partners — and everyone was enjoying it far too much.
“Can’t believe you two haven’t killed each other yet,” Lila said, sliding her tray onto the lunch table beside Ava’s. “The whole school’s taking bets on who snaps first.”
Ava stabbed a fork into her salad. “Funny.”
“I’m just saying,” Lila grinned, “you argue like an old married couple.”
Ava glared. “We argue like two people who can’t stand each other.”
But even as she said it, she could feel Ethan across the cafeteria — laughing loudly with his friends, that same easy grin on his face. And annoyingly, her eyes kept drifting toward him.
She quickly looked away.
Nope. Not happening.
Later that evening, Ava was back in the chemistry lab, staying after class to finish the experiment data. The school was quiet — only the sound of the rain tapping the tall windows.
She had just finished adjusting the Bunsen burner when the door opened.
“Moreno,” Ethan’s voice echoed. “You’re here late.”
Ava groaned without turning around. “What are you doing here?”
He walked in, setting his backpack on the next table. “Finishing my part of the report. What does it look like?”
“Like you’re here to bother me.”
He smirked. “That too.”
She exhaled sharply and returned to her experiment. The blue flame reflected in the glass as she measured the liquid carefully. Ethan stood beside her, watching with folded arms.
“Relax,” he said. “You’re holding that like it’s a bomb.”
“It will be if you keep distracting me.”
He laughed — that low, easy sound that always managed to get under her skin.
They worked in silence for a while, the hum of the gas flame filling the space. Every so often, their hands brushed when they reached for the same flask, and every time, Ava felt that tiny spark she couldn’t explain.
When they finally finished, she leaned against the counter, rubbing her forehead. “Okay. Data’s done. I’ll type it up tonight.”
Ethan hesitated before replying. “You know, you don’t have to do it all yourself.”
Ava looked up. “Since when do you volunteer for extra work?”
“Since I got tired of you thinking I don’t care.”
That caught her off guard. His voice was softer this time, serious in a way she wasn’t used to.
“I don’t think—” she started, but he cut her off gently.
“Yes, you do. You’ve decided I’m just the spoiled guy who coasts through everything.” He shrugged. “Maybe that’s fair. But it’s not the whole picture.”
Ava studied him for a moment — the faint tiredness behind his smile, the way he avoided her eyes.
“What is the whole picture then?” she asked quietly.
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Their eyes met — steady, unguarded — and for a second, neither of them looked away. The air between them felt… different.
Then the clock struck six, and the spell broke.
Ava grabbed her bag, her voice sharp again. “We should lock up. Mr. Carter doesn’t like students here late.”
Ethan smiled faintly. “Sure thing, boss.”
As they left the lab, rain still fell outside, drumming softly on the windows. For reasons she didn’t want to name, Ava’s heartbeat didn’t settle until long after she got back to her dorm.
That night, she dreamed of firelight and laughter — of a boy with a careless smile standing just a little too close.
When she woke up, her heart was racing, and she told herself it didn’t mean anything.
She didn’t believe it
- Writer
