paired with Xavier

..... .... LUNA.......

I watched as Xavier walked away, his broad back retreating into the distance. I felt a pang of surprise and gratitude, and before I knew it, I was hurrying after him.

"Thank you," I called out, my voice barely above a whisper.

He stopped, his shoulders stiffening, and for a moment, I thought he would turn around and acknowledge me. But instead, he replied in a cold, detached tone, "You don't have to thank me."

I felt a sting from his words, and I slowed to a stop, watching as he continued walking away. I couldn't help but feel a little confused and hurt. Why had he helped me if he didn't want my gratitude?

I stood there for a moment, feeling a little lost and unsure of what to do next. But as I watched Xavier disappear into the crowd, I felt a spark of determination ignite within me. I was going to find out more about this enigmatic boy, and what made him tick.

I shoved the thought away, focusing on the present moment. I didn't have time to worry about Xavier's motives or try to decipher his mysterious behavior. I had classes to attend, and I needed to keep my head down and avoid any more trouble.

I took a deep breath and headed in the opposite direction, trying to blend in with the crowd. But as I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I glanced over my shoulder, but there was no one there.

I quickened my pace, my heart beating just a little bit faster. I told myself I was being paranoid, that no one was paying attention to me. But the feeling persisted, and I couldn't help but wonder if Xavier was still watching me, even from afar.

I pushed the thought aside and continued on to my next class, trying to focus on the lesson and take notes. But my mind kept wandering back to Xavier and our strange encounter.

As the day went on, I found myself glancing around the hallways, half-expecting to see him standing there, watching me. But he was nowhere to be found.

It wasn't until lunchtime that I saw him again. He was sitting at a table with his friends, but he wasn't laughing or smiling. He was just sitting there, his eyes fixed on some point across the room, his expression unreadable.

I watched him for a moment, feeling a shiver run down my spine. There was something about him that seemed so... intense. So focused.

I looked away, feeling a little uneasy. I didn't know what to make of Xavier, or why he seemed to be watching me all the time. But I knew one thing - I needed to be careful around him.

The teacher, Mrs. Johnson, walked into the room, a stack of papers in her hand. "Good afternoon, class," she said, smiling. "I'm here to share the group assignments for our upcoming project. As you know, we'll be working in groups of four to practice our presentation music competition '

She began to hand out the papers, and I felt a flutter of anticipation in my stomach. Who would I be paired with?

Mrs. Johnson continued, "Each group will consist of three boys and one girl. I've tried to mix and match you all to create diverse and well-rounded groups."

Mrs. Johnson cleared her throat and began to read out the group assignments. "For the upcoming competition, the group assignments are as follows:

Group 1: Xavier, Alexander, Gabriel, and Luna

Group 2: Olivia, Noah, Caleb, and Ava

Group 3: Sonia, Julian, Lucas, and Emily

Group 4: Logan, noah josh, and Sophia"

As Mrs. Johnson finished reading out the assignments, I noticed Sonia's face fall, her eyes narrowing in disappointment. She looked like she had been expecting to be in a different group, and I wondered why.

Sonia's face turned even redder with rage as she spluttered, "This is ridiculous! You've paired Luna with Xavier, Alexander, and Gabriel? That's the strongest group possible! It's completely unfair!"

I felt a surge of surprise and embarrassment at being the center of attention. I hadn't asked to be paired with Xavier and his friends, and I didn't want to be seen as receiving special treatment.

Xavier, however, seemed completely unbothered by the commotion. He was sitting calmly, his eyes fixed on some point across the room, his expression unreadable.

Mrs. Johnson held up her hands, trying to calm Sonia down. "Sonia, I understand your concerns, but the groups were assigned randomly. I assure you, it was fair."

But Sonia was beyond reason. "This is cheating!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room. "Luna doesn't even deserve to be in this class, and now she's been given the best group possible. It's not fair to the rest of us!"

I felt my face growing hot with embarrassment and anger. I didn't know what Sonia's problem was, but I knew I didn't deserve to be attacked like this.

Xavier finally spoke up, his voice low and even. "Sonia, shut up. It's done. Deal with it."

The room fell silent, with all eyes on Xavier. Sonia's face was red with rage, but she seemed to be struggling to come up with a response.

The tension in the room was palpable as Sonia's eyes locked onto Xavier's, a fierce glare burning in their depths. But Xavier just stared back at her, his expression unyielding.

Mrs. Johnson intervened, her voice firm but calm. "That's enough, Sonia. Xavier is right. The groups have been assigned, and we need to move forward. Let's focus on the project, shall we?"

Sonia's glare lingered on Xavier for a moment before she turned away, her shoulders stiff with anger. The rest of the class seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief as the tension began to dissipate.

I, on the other hand, couldn't help but sneak a glance at Xavier, wondering what had just happened. Why had he defended me like that? And what was the history between him and Sonia?

As the class continued, I found myself stealing glances at Xavier, trying to read his expression. But his face was a mask, revealing nothing.

At one point, our eyes met, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. But Xavier just looked away, his expression unchanging.

I was starting to feel like I was imagining things. Had he really defended me against Sonia, or was it just my imagination playing tricks on me?

As the class drew to a close, Mrs. Johnson handed out the project guidelines and reminded us that we would be presenting in front of the whole school.

I felt a surge of anxiety at the thought, but as I glanced over at Xavier, I saw that he was watching me, his eyes narrowed slightly.

For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes, something that looked almost like... protection. But then it was gone, and he looked away, leaving me wondering if I had just imagined it.