Amara groaned when she saw the project assignment posted on the classroom board.
Of course… Liam Hart is my partner, she thought, staring at his name beside hers.
Maya elbowed her. "Lucky you!" she teased. "At least you'll get to spend more time with him."
Amara rolled her eyes. Lucky? Hardly.
When she approached Liam, he was already gathering books and notes. "Looks like we're stuck together," he said, expression unreadable.
Amara crossed her arms. "Yeah… looks like it."
The project forced them to spend the afternoon in the library. At first, they argued over ideas, schedules, and methods.
"You're overcomplicating it," Amara said sharply.
"You're underestimating it," Liam shot back.
Hours passed, and slowly, the tension shifted. Liam actually listened to her ideas, and she began to see that he wasn't just cold—he was precise, thoughtful, and… capable.
Maybe he's not as bad as I thought, Amara admitted to herself, even if she wouldn't say it out loud.
By the end of the day, they had completed most of the project. Liam looked at her and gave a small nod. "Good work, Collins."
Amara's cheeks warmed. Did he just… compliment me?
The library door closed behind them, and Amara realized something: this was the first time she had felt less irritated by him and more… intrigued.