A PLAN

I watched as Luna's face grew hotter, her eyes darting between Alexander and Gabriel as they flirted with her. I could feel my jaw tensing, my instincts telling me to step in.

I didn't know why I felt so protective of her. Maybe it was because she was new here, or maybe it was because she seemed so... innocent. But whatever the reason, I knew I had to intervene.

"No," I said, my voice firm, as Alexander asked for her number. "She's not giving you her number."

I could feel the eyes of the others on me, sense their surprise at my words. But I didn't care. I was used to getting my way, and I wasn't about to let anyone get in my way now.

"We are here for the project," I added, my eyes narrowing slightly as I looked at Alexander and Gabriel. "Let's focus on that."

The others nodded, seeming to sense that I wasn't in the mood for any more flirting. As we began to discuss the project, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Luna.

She was... different. Not like the other girls at this school, who were all about drama and attention. Luna seemed quieter, more reserved. And yet, there was something about her that drew me in.

I shook my head, focusing on the project. I couldn't let myself get distracted. Not now, when there was so much at stake.

As we worked on the project, I found myself growing more and more aware of Luna's presence. The way she smiled to herself as she typed on her laptop, the way her hair fell in loose waves down her back.

I forced myself to focus on the project, but my eyes kept drifting back to her. I couldn't explain why, but there was something about her that drew me in.

As the hours passed, the others began to pack up their things, preparing to leave. But I lingered, finding excuses to stay behind.

Finally, it was just Luna and I left at the table. She looked up at me, a question in her eyes.

"Thanks for sticking up for me earlier," she said, her voice soft.

I shrugged, feeling a sense of awkwardness. "No problem," I said, trying to sound casual.

But as I looked into her eyes, I felt a spark of something more. Something that went beyond just protecting her.

I looked away, trying to shake off the feeling. But as we packed up our things and left the library, I couldn't shake the sense that something had just shifted between us.

As we walked out of the library, Luna fell into step beside me. We walked in silence for a moment, the only sound being the rustling of leaves beneath our feet.

I couldn't help but steal glances at her, noticing the way the fading light of day danced across her features. She seemed lost in thought, her eyes fixed on some point ahead.

Suddenly, she spoke up, her voice breaking the silence. "Xavier?"

I turned to her, my heart skipping a beat at the sound of my name on her lips. "Yeah?"

She hesitated, as if unsure of how to phrase her question. "Why did you stick up for me back there?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Like I said, no big deal."

But Luna's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "It was a big deal," she said, her voice firm. "You didn't have to do that."

I felt a surge of discomfort, unsure of how to respond. No one had ever called me out on my actions before, at least not like this.

But as I looked into Luna's eyes, I saw something there that gave me pause. Something that looked almost like... understanding.

And in that moment, I knew that I couldn't just brush her off. I had to tell her the truth.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I did it because..." I started, but then I stopped. I realized that I didn't need to explain myself to anyone. I had done what I felt was right, and that was all that mattered.

I turned to walk away, but as I did, I heard Alexander's voice behind me. "Yo, Xavier, what's up with you and the new girl?"

I kept walking, not bothering to respond. But I could hear Gabriel's laughter echoing behind me. "Dude, you're really getting worked up over her, aren't you?"

I quickened my pace, trying to get away from their teasing. But I could feel their eyes on me, sense their curiosity. They knew something was up, and they were determined to figure out what it was.

Meanwhile, Luna had walked over to meet Olivia, who was waiting for her by the lockers. "Hey, girl, how's it going?" Olivia asked, eyeing Luna's expression.

Luna smiled, trying to shake off the strange feeling she had gotten from Xavier. "It's going," she said. "I just had a weird conversation with Xavier."

Olivia's eyes widened with interest. "Oh, yeah? What happened?".

Luna leaned in, lowering her voice. "I was walking with him, and he just stopped and said 'I did it because...' But then he just stopped and walked away."

Olivia's eyebrows shot up. "That's weird. What do you think he was going to say?"

Luna shook her head. "I have no idea. But it felt like he was going to say something important."

Olivia nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe he was going to confess his undying love for you or something."

Luna laughed. "I don't think so. He's not really the romantic type."

Olivia grinned mischievously. "You never know. Maybe he's just hiding his true feelings beneath that tough exterior."

Luna rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "You're just trying to stir up drama, aren't you?"

Olivia winked. "Maybe a little. But seriously, Luna, I think there's something going on with Xavier. And I'm determined to figure out what it is."

Olivia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to Luna. "I've been thinking, and I have the perfect solution to your problem," she said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Luna raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

"We need to get you a part-time job, pronto!" Olivia exclaimed. "That way, you can earn the money to pay for the competition yourself."

Luna's face lit up with determination. "That's a great idea, Olivia! I can start looking for a job this weekend."

Olivia nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! And I'm happy to help you search. We can check online job postings, ask around school, and even put up flyers in local businesses."

Luna's eyes shone with gratitude. "Thanks, Olivia. You're the best!"

With a plan in place, Luna felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was one step closer to achieving her goal, and she was determined to make it happen.

As the two friends parted ways, Luna couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the weekend ahead. She was ready to take on the challenge of finding a part-time job and earning the money to pay for the competition. Bring it on!