A day together
Chapter 15: A Day Together
The morning sun streamed through the classroom windows, casting golden rays onto the tiled floor. Leah sat at her desk, her chin resting on her palm as her mind wandered back to the previous night. The walk with Jason, their playful banter, and the way he had looked at her under the stars—it was a memory she hadn’t been able to shake.
“Leah, are you even listening?” Sylvia’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Leah blinked, turning to her friend, who was sitting beside her with a knowing smirk. Sylvia was dressed in her usual vibrant style, today opting for a floral blouse tucked into high-waisted jeans. Her curly hair was tied up with a colorful scarf, adding to her cheerful aura.
“Sorry, what?” Leah asked, feigning innocence.
Sylvia leaned closer, lowering her voice. “You’ve been in la-la land all morning. Let me guess—it’s about a certain someone who just walked in.”
Leah’s heart skipped as she glanced toward the door. Sure enough, Jason had just entered, his presence commanding attention without him even trying. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, paired with dark jeans and sneakers. His messy hair gave him an effortlessly cool vibe, and Leah found herself staring a second too long.
“Shut up,” Leah muttered, nudging Sylvia.
Sylvia giggled, clearly enjoying herself. “You’re blushing. This is gold.”
Sylvia nudged her with an elbow, breaking her reverie. “You’re zoning out again. Let me guess—Jason?”
Leah groaned, leaning back in her chair. “Sylvia, you have one job, and it’s not to read my mind.”
Sylvia smirked, her curly hair bouncing as she tilted her head. “It’s not reading your mind if your face is doing all the talking. You’re practically glowing.”
Before Leah could respond, the teacher walked in, silencing the room with a clap of her hands. “Good morning, everyone. Today, I’ll be assigning partners for your group project. This is an important one, so I expect you to work diligently. It’s due in two weeks, and I’ll be grading it heavily.”
Leah straightened, her heart skipping a beat. Group projects were always a gamble.
The teacher began calling out names, pairing students as she went. Leah exchanged a quick glance with Sylvia, silently hoping they’d be paired.
“And Leah… you’ll be working with Jason
Sylvia leaned over, whispering, “This is fate, and I’m living for it.”
Leah could retort, the teacher clapped her hands to get the class’s attention.
Leah sat up straighter, suddenly feeling nervous. She wasn’t sure why until the teacher called her name.
“Leah and Jason.”
Her stomach flipped. She glanced at Jason, who was already looking her way with a small smile. He gave her a slight nod before making his way over to her desk.
Sylvia’s eyes widened in delight. “This is too good,” she whispered.
Jason pulled up a chair and sat down beside Leah, his cologne faint but intoxicating. “Looks like we’re partners,” he said casually, his voice low and smooth.
Leah forced a smile, trying to ignore the way her heart was racing. “Looks like it.”
---
The Assignment
The classroom buzzed with chatter as everyone got to work. Leah and Jason sat side by side, their notebooks open on the desk.
“So,” Jason began, leaning slightly closer. “What’s the plan? Are you the ‘let’s get this done quickly’ type or the ‘procrastinate until the last minute’ type?”
Leah raised an eyebrow. “I’m somewhere in the middle. What about you?”
Jason shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. “I’m more of a ‘let my partner do all the work’ type.”
Leah shot him a mock glare. “Not happening. You’re pulling your weight, buddy.”
Jason chuckled. “Fair enough. What’s the topic again?”
As they started discussing the assignment, Leah found herself relaxing. Jason had a way of making things feel less serious, his humor lightening the mood.
At one point, he leaned over to write something in her notebook, and Leah caught a whiff of his cologne again. She quickly looked away, hoping he hadn’t noticed the faint blush creeping up her cheeks.
---
Sylvia’s Teasing
During lunch, Leah and Jason were still working on their assignment in the library when Sylvia found them. She plopped down in the seat across from them, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Well, well, well,” she began, resting her chin on her hands. “If it isn’t my best friend and her new best friend.”
Leah groaned. “Sylvia, don’t start.”
Jason smirked, clearly amused. “You must be Sylvia. Leah talks about you a lot.”
Sylvia gasped dramatically. “She does? Oh, Leah, I’m flattered!”
Leah buried her face in her hands. “I’m going to kill you both.”
Sylvia leaned closer, her tone teasing. “So, Jason, what’s it like working with Miss Perfectionist over here? Has she made you rewrite your notes three times yet?”
Jason laughed. “Not yet, but I’m bracing myself.”
Leah glared at Sylvia, but she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.
---
The Garden Walk
Later in the afternoon, the three of them decided to take a break. Sylvia eventually excused herself, leaving Leah and Jason alone. They wandered outside to the school garden, a quiet spot filled with blooming flowers and shaded benches.
Jason walked beside Leah, his hands in his pockets. “So, do you always let Sylvia tease you like that?”
Leah smiled. “She’s harmless. Besides, she means well.”
Jason nodded. “She’s funny. I can see why you two are close.”
They found a bench under a large oak tree and sat down. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
“So,” Jason said, turning to Leah. “What’s your deal?”
Leah frowned. “My deal?”
“Yeah. You’re not like most people here. You don’t seem to care about impressing anyone.”
Leah shrugged. “Maybe because I don’t. People are exhausting.”
Jason chuckled. “I get that.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of birds chirping in the background. Leah found herself glancing at Jason again, noticing the way the sunlight caught the golden flecks in his eyes.
“What about you?” she asked. “What’s your deal?”
Jason smiled faintly. “I’m just a guy trying to figure things out.”
Leah tilted her head. “That’s vague.”
He laughed. “Okay, fine. I like photography, I hate parties, and I think stars are overrated.”
Leah gasped, pretending to be offended. “Take that back!”
Jason grinned. “Make me.”
Leah playfully shoved him, and he laughed, the sound warm and genuine.
---
A New Beginning
By the time they returned to the classroom, Leah felt lighter. Spending the day with Jason had been unexpectedly enjoyable, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so much.
As they packed up their things, Jason turned to her. “Thanks for today. I had fun.”
Leah smiled. “Me too.”
They walked out together, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the ground. Sylvia was waiting for Leah near the school gates, her arms crossed and a sly grin on her face.
“Well?” she asked as Leah approached.
“Well, what?” Leah replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Sylvia smirked. “You know what. Spill.”
Leah rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile that crept onto her face.
As they walked home together, Leah couldn’t help but feel like something had shifted. Spending the day with Jason had been different—refreshing. And as much as she hated to admit it, she was looking forward to seeing him again.