Chapter 4

Jacqueline

“You’ve watched too many movies.”

Claire folded her arms. “And you’ve read too many romance novels.”

Before I could argue, the warning bell echoed through the hallway.

Students immediately began moving toward their classrooms.

Claire grabbed my wrist. “Come on. Mrs. Bennett won’t care that your crush finally acknowledged your existence.”

“My what?”

“Your crush.”

“I don’t have a crush.”

She gave me a look.

“…Okay, I have a tiny crush.”

“Tiny?” She burst out laughing. “If that’s tiny, I’m the Queen of England.”

I nudged her shoulder. “Be quiet.”

We entered our classroom just as the teacher walked in.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Bennett.”

She placed her books on the desk. “Take your seats.”

The room settled into silence.

I had barely opened my notebook when the classroom door opened again.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

My heart skipped.

That voice…

I looked up.

Ethan stood at the doorway.

Mrs. Bennett glanced at him.

“You’re cutting it close, Mr. Walker.”

“My apologies.”

She nodded toward the empty desks. “Take your seat.”

He scanned the classroom.

My stomach dropped.

The only empty seat…was beside mine.

No, no, no. I won’t be able to concentrate…pleaseeee

He walked straight toward me. Every step felt louder than the last.

Claire slowly turned in her seat, her eyes growing wider with every second.

Ethan stopped beside my desk. “Is this seat taken?”

My brain completely shut down. “…N-No.”

“Thanks.” He pulled out the chair and sat beside me. Close enough that I caught the faint scent of cedar-wood and fresh laundry.

Claire looked at me. Then at Ethan. Then back at me. She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

I shook my head almost invisibly. Then immediately lowered my eyes to my desk, pretending to be fascinated by my notebook.

Don’t look at him. Don’t look.

Mrs. Bennett began the lesson. “Open your textbooks to page sixty-three.”

Around me, pages flipped.

I reached into my bag—Chemistry textbook. Notebook. Calculator. Pen case.

My smile slowly disappeared. “…No.”

I searched again. Nothing. No physics textbook.

Right. I still hadn’t found it.

I slowly closed my eyes. “Why me?” I whispered

Mrs. Bennett looked around the classroom. “Everyone has their books?”

I swallowed.

She noticed. “Miss Carter?”

Every head turned toward me. “I…” I searched my bag one last hopeless time. “I think I left mine at home.”

A few students chuckled.

Mrs. Bennett sighed “You’ll have to share with your partner today.”

Partner.

I slowly turned my head.

Ethan was already sliding his textbook to the middle of the desk. “You can use mine.”

I stared at him. “…huh?”

He smiled. “Unless you can memorize the chapter from the board.”

A nervous laugh escaped me.

“We’ll share.” He moved the book slightly closer so both of us could read comfortably.

Our shoulders were only inches apart.

I could barely focus on the words.

Instead…I was painfully aware of every tiny movement.

Every time he turned a page. Every time our arms almost brushed. Every time he leaned in to write a note.

Halfway through the lesson, Mrs. Bennett looked up from the textbook. “Let’s see who’s been paying attention.”

Her eyes swept across the classroom. “Can anyone explain the difference between inertial and non-inertial reference frames.”

Several students avoided eye contact.

Mrs. Bennett looked around the room. “Miss Alma?”

Alma Wilson—the most popular girl in our class—rose gracefully from her seat. She tossed her perfectly curled blonde hair over one shoulder before smoothing down her expensive blazer.

A few girls smiled knowingly.

Alma loved attention, especially when Ethan Walker was in the room.

With a confident smile, she walked to the board as though she were stepping onto a fashion runway.

She answered the question flawlessly before placing the chalk down with a satisfied smile.

Mrs. Bennett nodded. “Excellent.”

Alma smiled even wider. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Alma sat down, making sure to glance at Ethan.

He looked up briefly and gave her a polite smile before returning to his notes.

The smile on Alma’s face faltered for only a second before she faced the front again.

Mrs. Bennett nodded approvingly.

“Good. Now let’s apply that.”

She picked up a piece of chalk and began writing a simple problem on the board.

When she finished, she turned back to the class.

“Miss Carter.”

My heart stopped.

“Would you come and solve this for us?”

Every eye in the classroom turned toward me.

I slowly stood.

Behind me, Claire silently pressed her palms together as if praying for me.

I walked to the board.

Please don’t embarrass yourself. Please…not in front of him.

Jacqueline

I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose and reached for the chalk.

The question… I knew it. I’d solved questions like this dozens of times before.

So why…why couldn’t I remember the first step?

I stared at the numbers.

My mind had gone completely blank.

Think, Jacqueline. Come on…

I slowly wrote the first step. Then paused.

No. That didn’t look right.

A few quiet whispers drifted through the room.

I erased it. Tried again.

My hand tightened around the chalk. “Still wrong.”

Heat crept into my cheeks.

Mrs. Bennett watched patiently.

Behind me, the classroom was silent.

I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Especially him

My palms grew damp around the chalk.

Mrs. Bennett frowned ever so slightly.

That wasn’t like me. I was one of her best Physics students.

Normally, I’d have solved the question before she’d even finished writing it.

Today…my brain had chosen the worst possible moment to betray me.

I took a slow breath and tried again.

Nothing. Not a single formula came to mind.

Mrs. Bennett softened her voice. “Miss Carter… are you feeling alright?”

I blinked. “…Yes, ma’am.”