April 2 – Tuesday Morning / St. Ivy High – Classroom 1-A
Locked In
Jay stared at the empty seat in front of him.
His desk was still messy from yesterday's study prep—a forgotten pen, a folded worksheet, a half-drawn mind map. Students around him whispered in pairs. Laughter, tension, excuses, sudden confessions—every kind of noise filled the air.
And yet his world felt quiet.
Because the clock was ticking.
Final partner selections were due before homeroom.
Jay leaned back, watching classmates make their final moves.
Sofia was already seated with Luna, tapping her fingers on the table like a queen waiting for court.
Amaya sat with Noah, their pairing quiet, reserved—Amaya focused on her notebook, Noah probably making peace with having to not perform the whole thing like a Shakespeare monologue.
Tyler and Miles had officially confirmed their unholy alliance.
Tyler looked five seconds away from challenging Miles to a duel with highlighters.
But Jay's attention wasn't on any of them.
It was on Emma.
She sat near the front, tapping her pencil softly. She hadn't looked his way once all morning. Not out of avoidance—just discipline. But Jay could feel it.
The nervousness. The wait.
And for once… he didn't want to make her wait anymore.
The Walk
He stood up.
And just like yesterday, conversations dimmed around him like someone turning down the volume in the room.
Sofia turned.
Amaya's pen stopped mid-line.
Even Tyler stopped fake-choking Miles long enough to raise an eyebrow.
Jay walked through the classroom calmly. Not rushed. Not dramatic. Just… certain.
He stopped beside Emma's desk.
She looked up slowly, her brown eyes meeting his.
"Partner?" he asked.
No smirk. No joke. Just a soft offer.
Emma blinked once.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah," she said quietly. "Let's do it."
He held out a hand.
She took it.
And the classroom exploded in whispers again.
Ripples
Sofia's smile tightened.
She said nothing. But her posture shifted—legs crossed, chin raised higher, like she was suddenly colder than the room allowed.
Amaya didn't look up.
Instead, she flipped to a new page in her notebook.
Started writing the title "Final Prep Notes"—but it took her three tries to get the letters even.
Yuki, seated near the back, didn't react.
But after a moment, she turned the page of her planner and wrote a single line:
"He's choosing what matters, not what's safe."
She underlined it twice.
The Confirmation
Mr. Brooks entered right as Jay and Emma returned to their seats.
He looked around, glanced at the pairs, and muttered, "Huh. No one died. Impressive."
Then he tossed a stack of folders onto the front table. "These are your project topics. I don't care what method you use. I don't care if one of you does all the work. Just know that if it's late, I will personally feed you to the Board of Education."
"Does the board accept bribes?" Noah asked.
"Only in extra homework," Brooks replied without looking up.
He began reading names from his clipboard.
"Tyler and Miles—Modern technology and society."
"Sofia and Luna—Media influence and public opinion."
"Noah and Amaya—Cultural identity in postmodern literature."
"Jay and Emma—Systems of trust: Building resilience in youth leadership."
Jay blinked.
Emma did too.
"Was that randomly assigned?" he whispered.
Emma gave a weak smile. "Maybe fate has a sense of humour."
Study Sparks
During break, they gathered near the vending machines.
Jay sipped lemon tea. Emma reviewed the topic sheet.
"Trust, huh?" she said.
Jay looked at her. "Kind of ironic, isn't it?"
Emma hesitated. "Do you?"
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Do I what?"
"Trust me."
He stared at her for a second longer than necessary.
Then nodded. "Yeah. I do."
She smiled faintly. "Even after everything?"
Jay looked out the window. "Especially after everything."
She didn't reply—but her posture relaxed.
And something unspoken passed between them.
Something that didn't need a folder or a grade to prove it mattered.
Scene Closer
As the bell rang for next period, students began trickling out of the classroom. Jay lingered for a second, stuffing papers into his folder.
Sofia walked past him slowly.
She didn't speak.
But she paused for just a second too long.
Jay turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Sofia gave him a crooked smile—not cruel, not flirty.
Then she walked on.
Jay turned back toward his desk.
Emma was already there, waiting.
He sat down beside her.
And for the first time in a long time—he felt like he wasn't walking through two lives anymore.
Just one.