The final project was a hands-on task, something that required actual effort rather than just writing a report. It was paired with a folio—proof that they had done the work themselves. The project was meant to be done in teams of two, and since Monica had already decided to partner up with Lynx, they were stuck with each other until the deadline.
The problem was, they couldn't meet after school to work on it together.
So, naturally, Monica ended up doing most of the hands-on work herself.
Not that she minded—she actually enjoyed building and creating things. But since it wouldn't be fair for her to handle everything, she made sure Lynx contributed in his own way. His job? Buying the materials. He never complained, so their system worked out—she did the project, and he made sure she had everything she needed.
As for the folio, Lynx turned out to be a much bigger help than she expected.
Since Monica didn't have a printer, Lynx took over that part. He typed out most of the necessary sections, formatted everything neatly, and printed out copies for both of them. It surprised her—she thought she'd end up doing it all, but he actually pulled through.
While filling out the folio details, she also discovered something new.
Lynx's parents' names. His email address.
It wasn't like she had gone out of her way to ask—those were just standard details required in the report. But still, something about seeing them written out made her pause.
She made a mental note to keep that information in the back of her mind. For future use, maybe. Who knew?
By the time they finished, the project wasn't perfect, but it was done. And it actually worked, which was more than they could ask for.
When they submitted it, Monica felt a mix of relief and satisfaction. But beneath it all, there was something else—anxiety.
The semester was almost over. Soon, everything would change.
They would be separated into different classes based on their grades. Some friendships would last, others would fade. Even the classmates she found annoying—the ones who could be jerks—were still a part of her daily life. And she was going to miss them.
She glanced at Lynx. He looked as calm as ever, completely unbothered by what was coming next.
Watching him like that, Monica felt a strange sense of relief.
Maybe it was the thought that someone she loved could be so at ease that made her feel at ease too. Maybe, just for a little while, she could let go of her worries.
Even if she didn't know what the future held, at least for now, she had this moment.