Alright 🌸 let's continue with Part Three.
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Part Three: A New Friendship
The days that followed their first meeting in the library were filled with small, almost unnoticed encounters. Nick often found himself watching Annarosé from a distance—during class, in the cafeteria, or when she walked alone through the school garden. She wasn't like anyone he had met before.
Unlike other students who tried to impress him, Annarosé never forced a conversation. She didn't care about the expensive watch on his wrist or the way others whispered about his father's company. That quiet indifference only pulled Nick closer.
One afternoon, their English teacher announced a new project.
"You'll be working in pairs," the teacher said, scanning the class. "I've already assigned the partners."
As the names were read aloud, Nick leaned back in his chair, waiting. When the teacher finally said, "Nick Carter and Annarosé," half the class turned their heads with interest.
Whispers broke out immediately.
"She's lucky."
"He'll probably do all the work."
"Or maybe he won't even bother."
Annarosé felt every pair of eyes on her, but she stayed composed, writing the assignment down. Nick, however, smirked at the whispers. For once, he didn't mind being paired with someone.
After class, he walked up to her desk.
"Looks like we're partners," he said lightly.
She looked up, her calm eyes meeting his. "Yes. Let's meet in the library after school. We can plan then."
No hesitation, no nervousness—just straight to the point. Nick wasn't used to that. People usually tried to please him, but Annarosé treated him like an ordinary classmate.
That afternoon, they met again in the library. The table where they first spoke became their table. They spread out their notes, discussed ideas, and shared thoughts about the project.
And somewhere between pages of books and hurried notes, a friendship began to grow—soft, unspoken, yet stronger with every passing day.
Nick found himself smiling more often when she was around. Annarosé, though cautious, slowly began to open up too. She didn't realize it yet, but Nick's presence was starting to leave a quiet mark on her heart.
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