After School – Hallway by the Lockers
Naya slammed her locker shut with a little more force than necessary. The hallway had mostly emptied, but of course, fate wasn't done with her yet.
Lucien was leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed, like he had time and intentions.
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you stalking me now?"
He shrugged. "No. Just waiting for my moment."
"To what? Drop another vague bomb and vanish?"
Lucien tilted his head, amused. "Didn't vanish. I walked dramatically. There's a difference."
"Well, congrats. You nailed the drama part."
He pushed off the wall and approached, stopping just out of arm's reach. "Look. I messed up. Not the 'no' part—that was honest. But I should've pulled you aside, not embarrassed you in front of half the school."
"You think that's what I'm mad about?" Naya said, folding her arms. "Try the part where I trusted you. Where I thought maybe, for once, I wouldn't end up the punchline."
Lucien's jaw flexed. "You weren't the punchline."
"Tell that to the comments."
"I did."
That made her pause. "What?"
"I reported the video. Told everyone to knock it off. Got my account flagged for 'harassment' or whatever, but I don't care. I didn't want that for you."
Naya blinked, the fight in her faltering.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me," he said, quieter now. "I just wanted you to know I do care. I always did."
She hated how part of her believed him. Hated even more how the other part wanted to.
"You're still the worst lab partner," she said finally.
Lucien smiled. "Give it time. I'm great with Bunsen burners."
Naya rolled her eyes, but didn't walk away.
And that felt like something.
---
Evening – Naya's Room
Naya lay sprawled on her bed, textbook open but thoroughly ignored. Her phone buzzed with a new notification—another message from someone reposting the infamous video with some dumb caption like "Queen takes the L".
She turned the phone face down.
She hated how much space Lucien was taking up in her head. And she hated that his words from earlier kept echoing like a song stuck on loop.
"I didn't say no because I didn't like you."
Then why say no?
She flipped onto her stomach and groaned into her pillow.
---
Next Day – Chemistry Class
Lucien was already at their lab table when Naya walked in. He had two beakers in front of him, already halfway through prepping their experiment like some sort of overachieving chem nerd.
She dropped her bag in the chair. "We get extra credit if the table's set before I show up?"
Lucien smirked. "Just thought I'd save you from touching the goggles no one ever cleans."
Naya blinked. "That's… actually kind of thoughtful."
He handed her the cleaner pair, not looking her in the eye. "Don't get used to it."
They worked mostly in silence. Occasionally, their hands bumped reaching for the same beaker, or their eyes met over the burner flame for a half-second too long.
"Careful," Lucien said as she adjusted the flame. "Too high and you'll start a fire."
She arched a brow. "And here I thought that was your only excuse to talk to me."
Lucien flushed just enough to make her pause.
It was the first crack in his usual sarcasm—barely there, but visible.
"You're not wrong," he mumbled, eyes focused on the graduated cylinder like it held the secrets of the universe.
Naya didn't answer. Not out loud.
But something about the way her lips curled at the corners said noted.
---
Later – Boys' Locker Room
Lucien slammed his locker shut, jaw tight. Matteo, his best friend since middle school, gave him a sidelong look.
"You good?"
"Fine," Lucien muttered.
"Sure. Totally the vibe of someone who's not in denial about liking Naya."
Lucien stiffened. "I'm not in denial."
"You're deep in denial. Like, scuba-level. Maybe even submarine."
Lucien glared. "It's complicated."
"It's not. You like her. She liked you. You freaked out. And now you're acting like it's normal to memorize her Starbucks order and still pretend you're 'just lab partners.'"
Lucien didn't answer.
Matteo just shook his head. "You're a whole sitcom, man."