His little secret

Assigned seats..

The bell for first period rang like a warning shot.

Jessica slid into Chemistry with 30 seconds to spare, clutching her notebook to her chest like armor. She picked the same seat as yesterday. Back row. Window. As far from Zach Sterling as physically possible in a room that was barely bigger than a walk-in closet.

She exhaled. Safe.

Then the door opened.

And in walked Zach. Blazer sleeves rolled up. Hair still damp from whatever he did this morning. Gray eyes scanning the room like he owned it.

Because he did. His last name was on the new science wing.

He didn’t look at her. Not once. He just walked down the aisle, stopped at the empty desk beside hers, and sat.

The chair scraped. Loud.

Jessica froze. "You’re kidding."

Zach finally turned to her. That half-smile. The one that said he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Morning, target."

"Don’t call me that." She whispered, eyes darting to Mrs. Hale at the front. "Switch seats."

"Can’t." He dropped his bag. Pulled out a pen. Clicked it once. "Assigned seats. New policy. Sterling donation, new rules."

He said Sterling like it tasted good.

Jessica’s jaw clenched. "Of course it is."

For the first 20 minutes, she ignored him. Took notes. Stared at the periodic table. Pretended the boy radiating heat next to her wasn’t there.

Then he leaned over.

His voice was low. Calm. Like they were talking about the weather.

"You missed a spot on your lab report from yesterday."

Jessica didn’t look up. "I wasn’t here yesterday."

"I know." A pause. "I read it anyway. From the system."

Her pen stopped. "You hacked the system?"

"I prefer ‘accessed’." He shrugged. "Your hypothesis was wrong. Sodium doesn’t react like that in cold water."

"It does if you add the catalyst I used."

"It doesn’t."

"Yes it—"

"Miss Cole. Mr. Sterling." Mrs. Hale didn’t even look up from the board. "Problem?"

Zach sat back, innocent. "No, ma’am. Just... peer tutoring."

Jessica wanted to throw her beaker at him.

The rest of class was torture.

He kept talking. Not loud. Just enough.

"Your hair’s in your face."

"You tap your pen when you’re lying."

"Are you always this stubborn or is it just me?"

"I’m not talking to you."

"You are now."

"Stop."

"Make me."

That’s when she snapped. "You’re insufferable, you know that?"

The room went quiet.

30 heads turned.

Mrs. Hale put her marker down. Slowly. "My office. Now. Both of you."

---

The walk to the principal’s office was silent. Except for Zach humming under his breath.

Principal Vance didn’t look up when they entered. "Let me guess. Chemistry."

"She started it." Zach said immediately.

"I did NOT—"

"You called me insufferable in front of the whole class."

"Because you are!"

Vance finally looked at them over his glasses. "Sterling. Conwood. I’m tired. You two are giving me a migraine."

He sighed. "Detention is full. So here’s your punishment. Basketball court. After school. You’re cleaning the bleachers. Together. Until you learn to act like seniors."

Jessica opened her mouth. "Sir, I—"

"Unless you’d prefer suspension?"

She closed it.

---

3:15 PM. The basketball court was empty and echoing. The sun was still brutal.

Two buckets. Two brushes. One court.

Zach picked up a brush. "Ladies first."

"I hate you." Jessica grabbed the other bucket.

"I know." He started scrubbing. "That’s why I sat next to you."

She stopped. "What?"

"Nothing." Too casual.

They worked in silence for 10 minutes. The only sound was brushes on wood and their breathing.

Then: "You were right about the catalyst."

Jessica blinked. "What?"

"Yesterday. In your lab report. You were right. I checked." He didn’t look at her. "Don’t let it go to your head."

Jessica stared at him..a tiny chuckle escaping her lips "Was that... an apology?"

"Was that you laughing?" He shot back. "Because I heard it."

"I don’t laugh at you."

"Liar." He flicked water at her. It hit her skirt.

She gasped. "Zach!"

"What? You started it." But he was already smirking.

She threw water back...it soaked his pants...

"Oooh...you peed"

Zach didn't waste time...he took the entire bucket and drenched her with it...his cold annoying facade cracking for a second

10 minutes later they were both soaked, bickering, and had barely cleaned 3 rows.

Coach walked in. Saw them. "You two done fighting?"

Zach straightened up...leaving that childish behaviour behind instantly.

"No." Jessica said at the same time.

Coach rubbed his face. "Another hour."

When he left, Jessica dropped her brush. "This is your fault."

"This is our fault." Zach corrected. He sat down on the bleacher, legs stretched out. "Come here."

"Why?"

"Because I’m tired of yelling across the court." He patted the spot beside him.

Jessica hesitated. Then sat. Far away. Like, 3 feet away.

They didn’t talk. For a while.

Then Zach, still looking at the court: " you transfered here two years ago...Why’d you transfer here?"

Jessica tensed. "Doesn’t matter."

"It does to me."

"Why?"

He turned then. Gray eyes, serious. No smirk. "Listen...i schooled somewhere else even though my family practically kinda owns this place...i had to transfer cause of some business issue...i didnt have much a choice...but im sure you did...so whyd you transfer?...i can tell you dont really like it...tell me Jessica"

Her name in his voice did something to her stomach.

She looked away first. "My mom got a job here. End of story."

He nodded. Then after a beat: "You’re terrible at lying."

She punched his arm. He caught her wrist.

And for 2 seconds, neither of them moved.

The bell for end of detention rang.

They both jumped apart like they’d been burned.

---

As they walked out, Jessica was quiet. Zach was quiet.

At the doors he stopped. "Same seat tomorrow?"

She smirked

"No...Id rather get hit by a bus."

And walked away before he could see her smile.

But he stood there a second longer and his phone rang...he picked it up and the person at the other side didn't seem too thrilled..

But Zach looked around nervously..

"Just a few more days..."

---