It started after school. Most people had already left.
Tyler had soccer practice. Amaya went home early to help at the bakery. Noah got kidnapped by the Drama Club again.
Which left me… and Emma.
Alone.
In an empty classroom.
With the golden hour sun streaming through the windows and casting everything in soft, suspiciously romantic light.
I glanced over. Emma sat across the rep desk from me, legs crossed, arms folded, eyes scanning a stack of paperwork like it owed her money.
"Remind me again," I asked, twirling a pen, "why the vice rep is the one barking order at the actual rep?"
"Because the rep is a lazy flirt with a god complex and an allergy to responsibilities."
I smirked. "You forgot handsome."
She looked up. "That's included in god complex."
I leaned back in my chair, arms behind my head. "You know, if you just wanted to spend time with me, you could've asked."
Emma stood up, walked over, and—without warning—placed both hands on either side of my chair, leaning in until we were face to face.
"Jay," she said softly, her breath warm against my cheek, "I spend time with you because if I don't, you'd forget to file our activity report, burn the club roster, and somehow start a school-wide scandal by smiling too hard."
My brain short-circuited.
The distance between us was criminal. Her perfume was subtle—mint and cinnamon—and her lips were close enough I could count her heartbeats if I really focused.
"…You good?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.
"I'm processing," I muttered. "Give me five to seven business days."
She smirked. "Flustered?"
"No. Just distracted. You're really close."
"I know."
I leaned in slightly. Just to test her.
She didn't move.
Neither did I.
Then her gaze flicked down to my lips for half a second.
And that… was dangerous.
Because that was enough to turn harmless banter into a spark with a very short fuse.
"Emma," I said quietly, "if you keep looking at me like that, I might do something stupid."
"Like what?"
"Like—"
The classroom door slammed open.
We both jumped.
It was Sofia.
She blinked once. Then slowly smirked.
"Well, well well," she said, phone already in hand. "What don't I walk in on?"
"Nothing happened," Emma snapped, stepping back way too fast.
"That's not what your blush says." Click. "Also, lighting was perfect. This one's going on the class chat."
"Sofia," I warned, "I will destroy that phone."
"Too late." She twirled and walked out, humming.
Emma muttered something that sounded very un-vice-rep-like.
I rubbed the back of my neck, still warm. "Well… that was almost something."
Emma exhaled. "We need better timing."
"Or no interruptions."
She paused, glanced at me over her shoulder. "Careful, Jay. One of these days, I might let you kiss me."
I blinked.
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
She didn't answer.
Just walked out, hips swaying slightly more than necessary.
And left me sitting in the sunlight, heart doing laps, wondering exactly what kind of game we'd started.
Fifteen minutes after Emma walked out, I was still sitting there.
Half in a daze. Half reliving that almost-moment.
And 100% very aware that Sofia Hart had taken a photo.
Sofia. Gossip Queen. Class Chat Ruler. Eternal Chaos.
Which meant if I didn't do something fast, I'd be memes before dinner.
I found her at the vending machines just outside the courtyard. Headphones in. Phone out. Grinning at her screen like she was already typing a scandalous caption.
"Hey," I said casually, walking up beside her.
She didn't even glance up. "You here to beg me not to post it?"
"No. I'm here to distract you."
That made her look up.
One eyebrow rose. "That so?"
"I thought I'd bribe you with vending machine snacks."
Sofia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "That's oddly charming."
"I'm full of surprises."
I leaned closer—just a bit. Close enough that she noticed. Her grin faltered for half a beat.
"Jay," she said, a little more carefully now, "you're not gonna try to sweet-talk me out of leaking this, are you?"
"Not at all," I said, slipping two coins into the machine. "I'm going to outplay you."
She blinked. "How?"
The machine clanked, and a bottle of iced tea dropped. I handed it to her.
Then I stepped behind her, lowered my voice just above her shoulder.
"You forgot rule number one, Sofia."
"Which is?"
"You shouldn't look away from me when your phone's unlocked."
Her head snapped toward her hand—too late.
I'd already slipped her phone out of it.
"What the—Jay!"
I held it up, scroll already in motion.
There it was. The photo of me and Emma. Framed way too perfectly. Caption:
"Rep Power Couple?? "
"Your absolute menace!" Sofia lunged forward.
I stepped back, easily avoiding her grab. "You shouldn't use pictures for blackmail, Hart."
"That wasn't blackmail, it was content!"
"Mm-hmm." I hovered my thumb over the delete button.
She froze. "You wouldn't."
I gave her a slow grin. "I would."
And I tapped.
Deleted.
And then, for good measure, I emptied the trash folder too.
Sofia stood in stunned silence. Mouth open. Genuinely speechless for once.
"I… I curated that angle."
"You'll live."
She huffed. "You're evil."
"I prefer charming."
"I prefer blocking you."
"You'd miss me."
I took a step closer. She backed into the vending machine. Her eyes flicked up to mine—just a little too wide.
"I should be mad," she said, voice lower now.
"But you're not," I murmured. "Because you love when someone beats you at your own game."
She swallowed. "You're playing a dangerous one."
"Only if you lose."
A pause.
She blinked, and I saw it—that flicker of red at the tips of her ears. The tiniest hint of a flustered blush creeping into her cheeks.
She looked away, fast.
"Whatever," she muttered. "You're lucky you're pretty."
"I hear that a lot."
I stepped back, finally giving her space. She adjusted her ponytail like she hadn't just been cornered like a schoolgirl in a shoujo anime.
"You delete that from memory too?" she asked, trying to regain composure.
"Already burned into it," I said, tapping my temple. "Front row seat."
Sofia groaned. "Ugh. You are dangerous."
I winked. "Only in small doses."
Then I turned and walked off, leaving her standing there—arms crossed, cheeks red, and lips caught between a scowl and a smile.
The chaos had finally ended for the day.
Class 1-A had emptied out. Emma had vanished into some mysterious "council prep," Tyler was still at practice, and Sofia—still red-faced from our vending machine incident—stormed off muttering about "backing up to the cloud next time."
That left me with Amaya. Like always.
We walked side by side down the tree-lined street that led back toward midtown. The sun was low, glowing soft and golden between the buildings.
"You were quieter today," I said after a while.
She glanced up. "You were louder."
"Hey, I was multitasking. Helping clubs. Defusing flirty landmines. Deleting scandals."
She smiled gently. "I noticed."
We passed a small café. A couple sat outside, sipping tea. Amaya watched them for a second longer than necessary.
I nudged her. "Thinking about joining the Tea Club?"
"I'd rather just drink it in peace," she said softly. "With people I trust."
"Like me?"
She didn't answer right away. But she smiled again.
"I like walking home with you," she said.
It wasn't a big statement. But it lingered in the air like the fading sun.
And I didn't need to say anything back. I just kept walking beside her, our steps syncing up without thinking.
By the time we reached our block, the sky was streaked with orange.
"Same time Monday?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
She nodded. "Unless you're too busy charming the whole school."
I grinned. "Don't worry. You're still my favorite."
She blushed, and this time she didn't hide it.