As the break bell rang, a wave of energy pulsed through the school halls. Students poured out of classrooms like water bursting through a dam head
Hazel, calm and composed, walked to her locker, weaving through the crowd. She twisted the lock and opened it with practiced ease.
Behind her, footsteps..
Ethan, cheerful as ever, appeared with a smile plastered on his face. "Hey! So... How was class? "
Hazel didn't answer at first she placed her books carefully into the Locker, clearly not in a rush to engage.
But Ethan, persistent as usual, kept going. "I mean, Mr. Langston's class was kinda boring today, right? Or is it just me?. "
She sighed, closed her locker with a click, and finally glanced at him.
Hazel: "you talk too much."
Ethan grinned: "That's the closest thing to a conversation we've had. Progress!"
Hazel rolled her eyes but didn't walk away this time. Surprisingly… she stayed. And as they walked slowly down the corridor, she replied with a low, "Maybe."
Just like that, for the first time, she let a little of her wall down—just a crack. Enough to talk. Nothing more.
They walked into the buzzing cafeteria, the clatter of trays and hum of chatter filling the air. Students were scattered around tables, catching up, laughing, eating—some yelling across the room as if it were a stadium, not a lunch break.
Hazel walked with her usual calm, unbothered by the noise, straight to the counter. She ordered a coffee—black, no sugar—while Ethan grabbed a juice bottle from the cooler nearby.
Ethan, still keeping pace beside her, continued talking like it was a one-man show.
Ethan: "You know, I read somewhere caffeine stunts growth. Not saying you're short or anything! I mean, you're average height—actually, above average for juniors. Okay, I'll stop talking now."
Hazel took her coffee, raised an eyebrow, and said nothing. Just a sip. A long one.
Ethan chuckled awkwardly. "Cool. I'll… uh… drink my juice now."
They walked to an empty table, Ethan still chatting lightly while Hazel sat down, expression unreadable but not entirely uninterested. Maybe, just maybe, she was starting to tolerate him. Just a little.
As they sat down, Ethan took a sip of his juice and glanced over at Hazel with curiosity.
Ethan: "So… your parents? They live here too or...?"
Hazel didn't even blink. She stirred her coffee slowly, then replied in her usual calm tone.
Hazel: "They're in Italy. Business stuff."
Ethan nodded, a little surprised but trying not to show it.
Ethan: "Oh, that's cool. Like… long-term?"
Hazel: "Mm-hmm."
She didn't elaborate, and Ethan, sensing she wasn't interested in diving deeper, just smiled and nodded.
Ethan: "Right. Italy. Fancy."
She took another sip,
Hazel narrowed her eyes slightly, watching Ethan as he kept rambling about some random cafeteria gossip. Her stare lingered, calm but unreadable.
Ethan suddenly noticed.
Ethan (grinning): "Okay, why are you looking at me like that? Should I be flattered or worried?"
Hazel (raising an eyebrow): "You're really something…"
She paused, sipping her coffee again.
Ethan leaned in, mock serious: "Something…?"
Hazel glanced at him sideways, a tiny smirk tugging her lips: "Something stupid."
Ethan: "Wow. Okay. That was uncalled for, but weirdly fair."
Hazel just rolled her eyes, hiding a faint smile behind her coffee cup.
Then the bell rang everyone walkin, running towards the class..
As Hazel and Ethan walked through the ground, chatting casually and heading back to their class, Levi—who was lying on the grass with the rest of the gang—tilted his head and squinted.
Levi: "Oi, look who's walking like besties now."
The rest of the boys turned their heads.
Ben (grinning): "Isn't that Ethan? Mr. Smile-for-no-reason?"
Lucas: "Man's really trying his luck."
Caleb chuckled, pretending to swoon dramatically: "Hazel, my queen, shall I hold your coffee?"
Drake didn't say a word, just watched for a second before looking away again, jaw a little tight.
Levi (laughing): "He's probably telling her he's in a band or something. That guy gives mixtape energy."
They all laughed quietly among themselves as Hazel and Ethan walked by—completely unaware of the comments or the eyes on them.
Meanwhile hazel reached her classroom
Hazel sat in her seat, lazily scribbling in her notebook, her mind half-lost in thought.
Beside her, Ethan leaned back, pretending to read something—but his fingers absentmindedly reached out and started gently twirling a loose strand of Hazel's hair between them.
At first, Hazel didn't notice… until the motion caught her attention. She blinked, turned her head slowly, and caught him red-handed mid-twirl.
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
Ethan froze, his eyes wide—then quickly gave her a sheepish, nervous smile like a kid caught stealing cookies.
Hazel squinted, unimpressed.
Ethan (grinning nervously): "Uh… your hair's really soft?"
Hazel stared for a moment longer, then sighed, looked away with a faint smirk, and shook her head like "this idiot". But she didn't pull her hair away.
And Ethan? He sat back like he just survived a wild mission.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head like he owned the place, still grinning from that silent victory.
Hazel glanced at him sideways, then focused back on her notebook, pretending she wasn't the least bit amused.
A few minutes later, the door creaked open.
Their sir entered the classroom with a thick book in one hand and an annoyed expression already on his face.
Sir: "Alright, settle down. We're starting a new lesson today, so try not to let your brains sleep halfway through."
The class groaned in unison.
Ethan leaned forward quickly, whispering to Hazel, "Here we go…"
Hazel just sighed and flipped open her book, ready to survive another boring hour.
Sir narrowed his eyes, having noticed the silent exchange. He suddenly called out,
Sir: "Hazel! Since you're so busy, why don't you answer this question—what's the formula I just wrote?"
Hazel blinked, caught off guard, quickly sat up straight and replied,
Hazel: "I… I don't know, sir."
The entire class chuckled softly.
Sir (sarcastically): "Wonderful. Our class leader doesn't know the formula. Very impressive."
Ethan's eyes widened.
Ethan (thinking): Wait—class leader? Her?!
Then the sir turned to him.
Sir: "Ethan! What about you? Can you answer it?"
Ethan froze, completely blank.
Ethan: "Uh… no, sir…"
Sir sighed loudly, shaking his head.
Sir: "Both of you. Out. Now."
Hazel and Ethan gathered their books in silence, trying not to laugh as they stood up and walked out, leaving the rest of the class howling in amusement.
As they stepped out and the classroom door shut behind them, Ethan turned to Hazel, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.
Ethan: "Wait… so you're actually the class leader? Seriously??"
Hazel gave him a dramatic sigh, crossing her arms.
Hazel: "Unfortunately, yes."
Ethan laughed, shaking his head.
Ethan: "Wow. Class leader caught cheating in class. What a role model."
Hazel: "Shut up."
They both burst into quiet laughter, standing in the empty hallway like two rebellious kids kicked out for being a little too alive during a boring lecture.