"Hello, my name is Ivan," he said.
"I'm Violet. It's nice to meet you," she replied, extending her arm. With a warm smile, Violet waited for Ivan to shake her hand.
"Hello, Violet," he said, returning the gesture with a gentle shake.
The teacher looked up from her desk, his tone brisk. "Well, you two can leave my classroom now. I have children to take care of. You have three weeks to finish your assignments, so get to it."
As they exited the room, Ivan leaned against the wall, glancing back to give Violet a moment to gather her things. Just then, Sophia appeared, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. Noticing the smirk, Violet shot Sophia a warning glare, her expression firm.
Sophia caught Violeteye, mouthing an apologetic "okay" as she noticed the intensity of her glare. After a moment of hesitation, she decided it was time to break the silence.
"So, Ivan, what's up?" she asked, her voice steady but light.
Ivan looked up, confusion furrowing his brow. He hadn't expected Sophia to address him.
"Uh, I'm just waiting for Violet to pack her stuff so we can head to the library," he replied, his gaze drifting back to the ground.
Sophia took long strides toward him, her arms swinging lightly behind her. There was an air of determination about her, as if she were ready to change the course of their conversation.
Violet gathered all her books and walked back to her friends, her arms straining under the weight. She extended her arm and playfully pinched Sophia, a silent warning not to say anything that might make Ivan uncomfortable.
"Okay, Ivan, let's go," she said, her tone light yet determined. Ivan looked up, straightening his posture as he noticed the stack of books in her hands.
"Sophia, see you later," she replied, but Violet, focused on sophia didn't notice Ivan's fleeting glance at the books.
"Hey, do you need help with those? They look pretty heavy," Ivan offered, his voice tinged with concern.
Violet looked up then, finally realizing just how tall he was.
"Yeah, they are pretty heavy. Want to help?" she asked.
With a nod, Ivan stepped forward. Violet extended her arm, and he took several books from her grip, relieving some of the strain.
"Thank you so much! That was a lot of weight on my arm," she said, offering him a warm smile that brightened her face, grateful for his assistance.
Ivan's heart raced at the sight of her smile, a warmth spreading through him that he could barely contain. Yet, externally, he remained composed, his expression a mask of calm. "You're welcome," he replied, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him.
"Let's head to the library to start our research. We can't waste any more time!"
As they entered, all eyes landed on Ivan. Confused, he wondered if there was something on his face or if a pimple had decided to make a grand appearance on his forehead. The stares felt heavy, leaving him anxious and uncertain.
He finally decides to speak up to violet.
"Hey, why is everyone staring at me? Is something wrong?"
he asked, confusion lacing his voice.
Violet glanced up from her book, pausing for a moment.
"Uh, probably because no one's seen you around—or maybe they just find you attractive. It's one of those two."
She thought it was odd that he didn't realize the attention he was getting. He was undeniably good-looking, but she kept that to herself, knowing attraction was subjective and often based on others' opinions.
Violet stood on her tiptoes, stretching her fingers toward the book perched tantalizingly on the top shelf. It seemed just out of reach. Frustration flickered across her face as she glanced back at the shelves, wondering how she might retrieve it.
Just then, Ivan stepped forward, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. pressing his chest against her back to keep her steady. "Let me help," he said.
He reached up and grabbed the book, holding it aloft like a trophy. "Here you go," he announced, handing it to her. Violet couldn't help but smile, the moment lightening her mood as she accepted the book, feeling grateful.
People weren't kind to her unless she asked for it. Home felt like hell, and the only person she truly had was Sophia. Ever since they became friends in their freshman year of high school, Sophia had been her anchor. She felt grateful for that friendship. But instead, Sophia remained a source of genuine support in a world that often felt cold and unwelcoming.
For the next few hours, they immersed themselves in research, trying to shape their story to align with the principles of the Geek Partnership Society.
Ivan pulled his phone from his pocket, glancing at the time. "Uh, Violet, can you hang tight for about 20 minutes? I'll be right back."
Violet leaned back in her seat, shaking her head. "Yeah, no problem."
As Ivan stepped out of the library, twenty minutes passed quickly. When he returned, he balanced a large mocha iced coffee in one hand and a large cloudy chai latte in the other, along with a hefty bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. He handed her the latte and the Cheetos with a grin, clearly pleased with himself.
Violet looked up, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "How did you know I liked these?" Genuine astonishment colored her voice. How could he, after knowing her for only six hours, have guessed her preferences so perfectly? She barely counted their chance meeting at the café, where she had thought of him as just another stranger. Now, the fact that they were working on a project together.
"Well, I saw you at the café the other day when you ordered a cloudy chai latte," Ivan replied casually. "And in class, I noticed you and Sophia with a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos."
The surprise in Violet's expression softened into a warm smile, and for the first time, she felt a flicker of connection.