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Chapter Three
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“Hey.” Alec slides intothe seat to my right, in the middle of the classroom, and drops his bag on the floor next to him.
“Hey.” I force a smile, despite my sour mood.
“I didn’t know we had any classes together.” He pulls out a notebook and pencil and sets them on the shared desk. “How’s this teacher? I’ve had a couple today that have been real doozies.” He chuckles.
“Mr. Hadley is pretty cool. He’s one of my favorites,” I tell him. “We’re starting labs this week which I’m really looking forward to.”
“Are lab partners involved?”
“He hasn’t said, but I’m pretty sure he pairs us up once labs start.”
“Would you maybe want to be lab partners?” He gives me a smile that shows off his dimples and my mood instantly shifts.
“I’d like that,” I answer honestly. “As long as he lets us pick our own partners and doesn’t assign them for us.”
“Well here’s hoping.” He crosses his fingers, holding them up for me to see. “At least if I blow you up or burn you, you’ll be more likely to forgive me.”
“You think so?” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from smiling.
God, this guy is addicting. I swear, I could sit and look at him all day every day and never tire of it.
“I’m hoping so.” He knocks his elbow against mine and the butterflies I felt earlier return full force, flapping wildly in my stomach.
Seconds later, the bell rings and Mr. Hadley comes strolling in, his usual white lab coat draped over his lean torso. After running through attendance, he announces that wewillbe choosing lab partners today and to make sure we choose wisely because this person will be our partner for the remainder of the school year.
Alec gives me a sideways grin and winks. I swear it takes everything I have to hold myself upright in my seat.
On the inside I’m smiling like a lunatic but on the outside I try to act indifferent. Lab partners with Alec for the rest of the school year? This day might just turn around.
We spend half of the class period talking about egg white foams and what the purpose of the experiment we are about to do is. Then we spend the second half of class trying to create egg white foam.
Alec looks so good in his thick plastic goggles and tattered lab coat that I can barely concentrate on the experiment. And yet somehow by the end of class we manage to make the foam. I have so much fun working with Alec that I almost forget we’re in school and in a class I’m usually bored out of my mind in.
Even during the discussion part of the class I was enjoying myself. Mainly because I kept stealing glances at Alec sitting next to me. I couldn’t help but be amused by how thorough he was, taking notes of everything the teacher covered, even though Mr. Hadley had written the instructions on the white board.
“I don’t know about you, but I think we make a pretty good team.” Alec smiles down at me as we make our way out of class.
I hadn’t realized until now justhowmuch taller he is than me. Towering a good head and shoulders above me. Not that that’s really hard to do given my five-foot-two stature.
Since I share both sixth and seventh period with Alec now, we make our way to English Lit together. I don’t know why, but walking next to him, seeing how other girls respond when they catch a glimpse of him, makes me feel special in some weird way. Like they all want what I have, even though I don’t actually have him and likely never will. It’s still something I let myself relish in as we make our way to the west wing of the building.
Alec is like the shiny new toy that everyone can’t wait to get a peek at. Considering I haven’t been able to stop staring at him whenever he’s near me, I understand.
Alec follows me into the classroom and waits until I sit down at the back before sliding into the desk next to me. I look over and give him a funny look.
“What?” He grins.
“Careful. I might think you’re starting to like me.” I gesture to his desk.
“I do like you. You’re the first friend I’ve made here.”
And there it is. The bomb I was waiting for. Friend zoned. He could have saidI do like youand left it at that. Adding the friend part was purely intentional, even if he doesn’t realize it.
“So, Lulu seems pretty cool.”
