Unexpected partners

At the library,opened books and pens were scattered all over the table, at which they sat, unattended, as the sun's rays boldly shined through the stained window in the library. They sat across each other, smiling sheepishly and chuckling silently to themselves when the librarian told them to lower their voices.

They were supposed to be working on their project, but the conversation had drifted. Steven was rather easy to talk to, when he wasn't being quiet and awkward, he was actually kind of funny.

"Okay, but seriously," he said, picking his pen up. "How did you even end up in this class if you hate computers?"

Jessica let out a slight smile, running a hand through her hair. "Long story. I needed an elective, and my counselor basically dumped me here."

Steven smirked. "So, you're suffering through this against your will?"

"Pretty much," she admitted. "But at least you're doing most of the work, so I think I'll survive."

Steven rolled his eyes but smiled. "Good to know I'm being used."

Jessica grinned, but then the conversation lulled, and for some reason, she felt an odd sense of comfort. Maybe it was the quietness of the library, or maybe it was the fact that Steven wasn't like her usual crowd, there was no pressure to act a certain way around him.

Before she could overthink it, she blurted out, "You know, I have a secret hobby."

Steven looked at her with curiosity. "Oh?"

She hesitated. "Promise you won't laugh?"

"Promise."

She sighed, glancing around as if making sure no one was listening. "I… love watching anime."

There was a beat of silence before Steven raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

Jessica frowned. "What do you mean, 'that's it?'"

"I mean, that's your big secret?" He looked genuinely confused.

"Yes! Do you know how much my friends would roast me if they found out? They'd never let me live it down."

Steven scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Anime's cool."

Jessica looked at him skeptically. "Says who?"

"Says me," he replied. "And, y'know, millions of other people."

She bit her lip. "You watch it too?"

"Of course." He leaned forward. "What do you watch?"

She hesitated before mumbling, "Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling... stuff like that."

Steven's face lit up. "No way! You've been hiding that you watch peak fiction?"

Jessica rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the small smile forming. "I don't know if I'd call it 'peak fiction.'"

Steven gasped dramatically. "Okay, first of all, Jujutsu Kaisen has some of the best fight choreography in anime. And Solo Leveling? You're telling me Jinwoo isn't the coldest MC ever?"

Jessica chuckled. "He is pretty badass."

Steven grinned. "See? And let me guess, your favorite JJK character is Gojo."

Jessica smirked. "Obviously. Who doesn't love a powerful, cocky white-haired guy?"

Steven sighed. "Fair. But Nanami is superior."

Jessica tilted her head. "You give off Nanami energy, actually."

Steven blinked. "...I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not."

She laughed, and for the first time, she realized how easy it was to just be herself around someone. There was no need to keep up appearances, no need to act like she didn't care about things she actually enjoyed. It felt… nice.

After a brief pause, Jessica picked her pen and tapped it against the desk. "You know, I had a crush on a nerdy guy once."

Steven raised an eyebrow. "You? Had a crush on a nerd?"

She rolled her eyes. "Don't act so shocked. It was back in kindergarten, anyway."

Steven leaned in, intrigued. "Okay, now I have to know. Who was it?"

Jessica hesitated. "His name was Ethan. Ethan Parker."

Steven's eyes widened, and then, out of nowhere, he burst out laughing.

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"No way," he said, still laughing. "You had a crush on Ethan Parker?"

She crossed her arms. "Yes, why is that funny?"

Steven shook his head, grinning. "Because I knew him! He was obsessed with dinosaurs and wore those light-up sneakers every day."

Jessica sighed dramatically. "I know. That's why I thought he was cute."

Steven chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe this. You, Miss 'Too Cool For Anime,' were out here crushing on a guy who used to cry whenever his T-Rex toy got lost."

Jessica groaned. "Ugh, stop! He transferred schools before first grade, so it doesn't even count."

"Oh no, it absolutely counts," Steven teased. "I'm never letting you live this down."

Jessica glared at him, but she couldn't help laughing. There was something strangely refreshing about the way Steven teased her, it wasn't mean-spirited, just lighthearted and fun.

They spent the next fifteen minutes debating anime and Ethan Parker's dinosaur obsession. Jessica had never had a conversation like this before, one where she wasn't holding back, afraid of being judged.

And as she sat there, laughing and arguing with Steven, she realized something.

She didn't have to be the person everyone expected her to be.

At least, not around him.