Dean knew three things about Ezekiel.
First, he was annoying.
Second, he enjoyed being annoying.
And third, he was currently staring at her like she was the most interesting thing in the room.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Dean asked without looking up from her notebook.
"Like what?" Ezekiel said.
"Like you're about to say something stupid."
He leaned back in his chair, balancing it on two legs. "Wow. You know me so well."
"That's because I've been stuck with you since the first day of school."
"You make it sound like a tragedy."
"It is."
Ezekiel grinned.
Dean tried to ignore him and continue writing, but she could still feel his eyes on her.
"What?" she said again.
"Nothing," he replied.
"Then stop staring."
"I'm not staring."
"You absolutely are."
"Maybe I'm just appreciating my best friend."
Dean looked up.
For a second—just one second—they held eye contact.
Ezekiel's grin softened into something quieter, something almost thoughtful.
Then he ruined it.
"You look weird when you concentrate."
Dean immediately kicked his chair.
"You're the worst."
"I'm your favorite person," he corrected.
Before Dean could respond, the classroom door opened and their teacher walked in.
"Alright everyone, settle down," she said.
The class slowly quieted as students returned to their seats.
The teacher glanced around the room before her eyes landed on Dean and Ezekiel.
"Ezekiel," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you done distracting Dean?"
The class laughed.
Dean groaned.
"He started it," she muttered.
Ezekiel raised his hands innocently. "I was just supporting her academically."
"Oh really?" the teacher said. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks more like flirting."
The entire class immediately reacted.
"OHHHHH—"
Dean dropped her face into her hands.
"We are not flirting," she said quickly.
Ezekiel nodded. "Yeah. Definitely not."
"You two are always together," someone from the back of the class said.
"Literally every day," another student added.
"You might as well just date already."
Dean sat up straight.
"No," she said immediately.
"Relax," Ezekiel said with a laugh. "We're just friends."
"Exactly," Dean said.
The class groaned in disappointment.
"Boring."
"Called it," someone muttered.
The teacher shook her head, amused. "Alright, Romeo and Juliet. Pay attention."
Dean rolled her eyes.
Ezekiel leaned closer again.
"Romeo and Juliet?" he whispered.
"You wish," Dean replied.
He smiled.
And for a moment, neither of them looked away.
Then Ezekiel leaned back in his chair like nothing had happened.
"Best friends," he said casually.
Dean looked back at her notebook.
"Best friends," she repeated.
But for some reason, her heart was beating a little faster than usual. The moment the bell rang, the classroom exploded with noise.
Chairs scraped the floor, students laughed, and conversations filled the room as everyone rushed out for recess.
Dean stretched her arms above her head.
"Finally," she muttered. "If I had to listen to one more lecture, I was going to fall asleep."
Ezekiel stood up from his chair beside her.
"You? Fall asleep in class?" he said. "Impossible. You love learning."
Dean gave him a flat look.
"I will throw this notebook at you."
He laughed.
"Violence. Classic Dean."
They walked out of the classroom together like they always did, weaving through groups of students in the hallway.
But halfway down the corridor, Dean slowed down.
Something felt… off.
At first it was small. Just a slight warmth in her face.
Then the warmth turned into heat.
She blinked.
The hallway lights suddenly felt too bright.
"You're unusually quiet," Ezekiel said beside her. "Did someone replace you with a clone?"
Dean tried to respond, but the words didn't come out right.
"I'm… fine," she said.
But she wasn't.
Her head started spinning.
The hallway seemed to tilt slightly, like the floor wasn't steady anymore.
Dean reached for the wall.
"Whoa," she muttered.
Ezekiel immediately noticed.
"Hey," he said, his tone changing. "Dean?"
Her vision blurred.
Voices around her became distant, like they were underwater.
"I think…" she whispered.
Her legs suddenly felt weak.
The world spun harder.
And then everything tilted forward.
Dean barely felt herself falling before strong arms caught her.
"Dean!"
Ezekiel's voice sounded close. Too close.
Her head rested against his chest, and she could faintly hear his heartbeat.
The hallway noise faded as dizziness rushed through her again.
"Hey, hey—look at me," Ezekiel said.
Dean tried to open her eyes properly, but everything was dark and blurry.
She only managed to see his face leaning over her.
For once, he wasn't smiling like an idiot.
He actually looked… worried.
"You're burning up," he muttered.
Dean wanted to say something sarcastic.
Something like wow, congratulations for noticing.
But she was too tired.
Her eyelids were getting heavier.
And just before everything went completely dark, she heard Ezekiel sigh softly.
Then his usual teasing tone returned.
"Such a cute little princess," he murmured with a quiet chuckle.
Dean would have insulted him for that.
If she hadn't blacked out the next second. "Dean!"
Ezekiel tightened his hold on her before she could slip from his arms.
Students in the hallway immediately stopped walking.
"What happened?"
"Did she faint?"
"Is she okay?"
Ezekiel ignored the noise around them and adjusted his grip, lifting Dean more securely. Her head rested against his shoulder, her hair brushing against his cheek.
She was burning up.
"Move," he said quickly, pushing through the small crowd. "Give us space."
By the time he carried her back into the classroom, the teacher had already noticed the commotion.
"What happened?" she asked, walking toward them.
"She fainted," Ezekiel said. "I think she has a fever."
The teacher gently touched Dean's forehead and immediately frowned.
"Oh dear… she's definitely warm."
Dean stirred slightly but didn't wake.
The class watched the scene with wide eyes.
Ezekiel stood there awkwardly, still holding her like he hadn't even realized he was doing it.
"Well," the teacher said after a moment, "she shouldn't stay at school like this."
Ezekiel nodded. "I can take her home."
The teacher raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You can?"
"I mean—someone should," he said quickly. "She shouldn't walk alone."
The teacher's lips slowly curved into a teasing smile.
"Of course," she said. "Her very devoted best friend will take responsibility."
The classroom immediately erupted with laughter.
"OHHHHHH!"
Dean would have absolutely died from embarrassment if she were awake.
Ezekiel sighed. "We're just friends."
"That's what they all say," the teacher replied, amused.
From the back of the room, two voices suddenly spoke at the same time.
"Looks like we heard the wedding bells."
Ezekiel turned his head.
CJ leaned casually against a desk with a smug grin on his face, while Cy stood beside him with her arms crossed, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Very funny," Ezekiel muttered.
Cy tilted her head. "You're literally carrying her like a princess."
CJ added, "Bro even ran like a knight saving his girl."
"She's not my girl," Ezekiel said.
"Sure," CJ said.
"Definitely not," Cy agreed.
Ezekiel rolled his eyes.
The teacher laughed softly before waving a hand toward the door.
"Alright, alright. Take her home before her condition gets worse."
He nodded.
As Ezekiel turned to leave, Dean shifted slightly in his arms, her hand weakly grabbing the front of his shirt.
For a brief second, Ezekiel looked down at her.
His teasing expression softened again.
Then CJ called out loudly from behind them.
"Take good care of your wife!"
The class burst into laughter.
Ezekiel didn't even turn around this time.
"Shut up, CJ."
Cy's voice followed right after.
"Don't forget to invite us to the wedding!"
Ezekiel shook his head as he walked down the hallway with Dean still in his arms.
"Just friends," he muttered to himself.
But strangely enough…
He didn't put her down.