UNEXPECTED MATCH

It was a Tuesday and classes was about to start, Mia as usual sat close to Rachel. Each student were keeping themselves busy either by discussing, writing, reading or simply sleeping. Alex and Lyra sat on Mia's and Rachel's table while Sofia stood next to them awaiting the arrival of the teacher.

"Did you guys hear?" Lyra asked folding her arms dramatically.

Mia rolled her eyes. Lyra was always the one to fill them on recent developments or happening, she was literally the first to hear every happening news.

"What have we not heard, Lyra?" Sofia was the one who asked.

Lyra smiled mischievously before saying. "The detectives in charge of the mysterious deaths case lost one of their colleagues to the same doom."

"What?" They exclaimed.

"So, they went to investigate by the lake side. When they couldn't get any clue, they left. But one of their colleagues returned without the knowledge of the others and he was found dead this morning, his corpse was abandoned by the lake side." Lyra narrated.

"Is there something about the lake that everyone is missing?" Alex asked waving his hands in the air stylishly.

"I'm getting creeped out guys. I can't even sit by my window at night to read like I always do. I'm just becoming scared by the day." Sofia related shivering slightly. Fear written in her eyes.

Rachel laughed. "Sofia, you have always been scared. You have always been scared of everything."

Sofia laughed sarcastically. "Haha..funny."

"But Alex is right. Is there something about the lake that we are missing out? Three deaths in the same location is too coincidental." Mia said looking from one face to another.

"Something weird is going on. Something beyond our imagination, I'm just scared because it seems like our doom." Alex spoke with a spooky tone.

Everyone stared at him seriously.

"What?" He raised his hands in surrender.

"You don't have to be so dramatic about it." Lyra spoke and eyed him.

"I'm not being dramatic here, I am being extremely serious. Am I the only one that senses darkness in the shadows?" Alex asked.

"Okay..students take your seat." The teacher spoke as he walked in. Everyone took their seats and the class became silent.

The image of the figure Mia had seen in her dorm flashed through her mind. She could still remember the red eyes she had seen...or thought she had seen, she didn't want to think much about it but she couldn't help herself. It was an engraving image, whether it was real or her imagination.

Mia shivered from fear as she tried to convince herself that whatever she had seen was just her imagination.

It was not real!

It was not real!!

It was not real!!!

She breathed in and out slowly as she tried to calm herself. She wouldn't let whatever she had seen distract her, she wouldn't let it bother her or interrupt her day.

She hadn't seen anything and it stays that way.

"...As we all know, it almost that time for our school to do what we do best, it is almost time for the school festival. We get to display our talents through our project.... The school festival is a once in a semester celebration and we must make the most of it....." The teacher was making an announcement and everyone was listening attentively. Mia glanced behind her to catch sight of Karl, he looked extremely serious as usual, there was no smile or emotion on his face. Today, Ember had sat next to him, she placed her hands on his and squeezed on it.

PDA. So annoying.

Mia rolled her eyes before shifting her attention back to the teacher who went on about the school festival. "...According to the rules, you all will be grouped into two to deliver a unique project. Before I state the rules, I will call out each individuals in the group. So please corporate. Take your sits beside your partner when your name is called." He said and breathed in before calling. "Lyra Jenkins and John Reed."

What?

Lyra's eyes shone, she had an unbelievable expression on. She hadn't expected to work with the school's nerd.

Seriously....

Lyra exclaimed inwardly as she slowly picked up her backpack and walked to John's seat. When he smiled at her, she groaned at him upset, his smile disappeared.

"...Jake Martin and Rachel Jones."

Rachel blushed, slowly she picked her backpack and walked to Jake's seat, she tried to hide her nervous smile.

"Hey.." Jake whispered at her and smiled cutely at her.

Rachel blushed slightly but she was so good at composure. "Hi..." she replied. One would think she was not interested in him.

"...Ember Rose and Zarek Bloodstone."

Ember was taken aback, her eyes widened from shock, she had hoped to be grouped with Karl. She stood up immediately.

"..excuse me sir...I think you made a mistake." Ember spoke up and everyone's attention turned to her immediately.

The teacher raised an eyebrow at her and asked. "What could that mistake be, Ember?" He asked seriously.

"I am supposed to be grouped with Karl, just like last festival." She protested.

"So sorry Ember but we have to separate you this time around. We don't want weird projects anymore. I literally couldn't sleep for days. Now, sit down." He ordered and Ember grumpily took her backpack and walked to Zarek's seat.

"...Mia Petrov and Karl Valois."

As the teacher announced the pairing, Mia's eyes widened in shock, her heart skipping a beat. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, her breath catching in her throat. She turned around, her gaze locking onto Karl's, who was staring back at her with an unreadable expression.

Mia's mind went blank, her thoughts racing with the implications of being paired with Karl. She couldn't believe it. Out of all the people in the class, she had to be paired with him? The same Karl who seemed to embody an aura of mystery and danger, the same Karl who made her feel like she was walking on thin ice whenever he was around.

As she slowly got up from her seat, Mia's eyes never left Karl's face. She felt like she was trapped in a dream, like this was some kind of cruel joke. But as she made her way to Karl's desk, she saw something flicker in his eyes, something that looked almost like... interest.

Mia's heart skipped another beat as she sat down beside Karl, the air between them charged with an electric tension. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of project they would work on together.

When she glanced at Ember who was sitting on the same row, she could see her rage. Ember's face was a picture of indignation, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity as she glared at Mia with a mixture of anger and resentment. Her lips were pursed, her jaw clenched in a tight, angry line. She looked like she was seething, her entire body radiating a palpable sense of fury.

As she sat beside Zarek, Ember's eyes never left Mia's face, her gaze burning with a fierce competitiveness. She looked like she was plotting something, her mind racing with schemes and strategies to reclaim her initial position, beside Karl.

Ember's hands were clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms as she struggled to contain her anger. Her face was pale, her skin drawn taut over her cheekbones, giving her a sharp, angular look.

The teacher continued grouping everyone in the class until everyone was sorted. And then he started listing, the rules and submission deadline.

Sitting beside Karl, Mia couldn't help but feel a wave of awkwardness wash over her. She fidgeted with her hands, unsure of where to place them, and avoided eye contact with Karl, who seemed completely unfazed by the situation. Her heart was racing, her mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions. She couldn't believe she was paired with Karl, of all people. The same Karl who always seemed so aloof and distant, who made her feel like she was walking on eggshells around him. She still found it hard to believe.

Mia tried to calm her nerves, she couldn't help but steal glances at Karl. He was sitting with his usual stoic expression, his eyes fixed on the teacher as he droned on about the project while she was a bundle of nerves. She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, waiting for Karl to say or do something that would break the awkward silence between them.

But Karl didn't seem bothered by the situation at all. He didn't even glance at Mia, his attention fixed on the teacher as he took notes with a look of intense concentration.

When the class ended, the teacher walked out of the class and Mia's nervousness grew. She didn't know what to do or say, she should probably pack her bags and quickly escape to meet Rachel who was sitting next to Jake.

"Hey..you." Mia raised her head to see who stood in front of her. It was Ember, Mia rolled her eyes dramatically. This was what she was trying to avoid.

Before Mia could say anything, Karl interrupted. "Ember, don't do this here." He said, his voice low but yet authorising.

Ember turned her angry gaze at him. "I shouldn't do this here? Look at the expression on her face, she looks pleased and you....you...you look satisfied with this arrangements." Shs yelled upset.

Ophelia walked to her from her sit and patted her shoulders. "Calm down, it's not her fault." She tried to pacify her but she was still upset.

"Ofcourse I know it's not her fault but you know this girl..." she sneered. "...She is the bitch that wouldn't take her eyes off my man."

Mia swallowed hard, her palms became sweaty, all of a sudden she became nervous, her breath etched, she had never suspected that Ember had noticed her glancing at Karl from time to time. Not as if she had intentionally wanted to stare at him from time to time, it was just her impulse. Although, she was guilty.

By now, students attention were on them.

"Ember..you are causing a 'scene'." Karl said, he stressed the last word like a warning.

Mia turned to look at him slowly, somehow she felt he was defending her, he wasn't making it obvious but something in her kept whispering to her that, Karl was defending her, he was indirectly trying to warn Ember to not pest her.

It was nice of him to say something at least.

Ember stamped her feet on the floor upset. "Karl....the car....now." She ordered with gritted teeth and walked away with Ophelia who kept trying to pacify her.

Ember was really upset. Mia guessed she was upset because she was paired with Karl against her wishes. Mia wished she could be paired with any other person in the class except Karl.

Karl packed his books in his backpack, stood up and walked away, he didn't glance back. His indifferent attitude always left her bewildered. She watched him leave, wondering why she felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her as she watched him walk away. She didn't understand why he was always so serious and indifferent. It was as if he didn't care about anything, including their project.

Was he avoiding her?

He hadn't said a word to her, he didn't even talk about the bookstore encounter. She wondered if she was just imagining things, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that Karl was avoiding her.

She packed her books in her bag, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She didn't know what to expect from Karl, or how they were going to work together on their project. She sighed inwardly, wondering why she had been paired with him in the first place.

Mia stood up and slung her backpack over her shoulder, scanning the room for Rachel. She spotted her friend walking towards her, a concerned look on her face.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rachel asked, falling into step beside Mia. "This was not really what we expected. Was Ember hard on you?."

Mia rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Rach. Just a little...frustrated."

Rachel nodded, she was also shocked when she heard the teacher called Mia to be paired with Karl. "I know. I am even more shocked. When I heard your name and Karl's, I was both happy and frightened for you."

Mia raised a curious eyebrow at her. "Happy and frightened?" She almost laughed. "Why?"

"I was happy because I know you like Karl and it's great you were paired together..." Rachel was saying but Mia cut her short.

"I don't like Karl." She said immediately.

"Whatever." Rachel waved her hands.

"This is going to be more difficult than I thought." Mia said frustrated.

"You think?" Rachel raised a teasing eyebrow.

"It's just Karl," Mia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know why I got paired with him, but...ugh. He's just so...serious and indifferent all the time. It's like he doesn't care about anything. How do I do this with him?and...that his girlfriend, I really don't want to talk about her."

Rachel burst into a prolonged laughter. "This is honestly a lot to deal with." She laughed. "Now, I see why you are frustrated. But I know you Mia, you can do this. You have always been the one to be in charge. I'm sure you can do this."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, I do. You came all the way from LA for a different high-school experience, my bestfriend is a go-getter. I believe you can handle Karl and his crew. And about Karl's seriousness and indifference, he has always been like that. Maybe you should try to get to know him a little better. I'm sure he will loosen up a bit."

Mia's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't thought of that. Maybe Rachel was right. Maybe Karl wasn't as bad as she thought he was. And maybe, just maybe, they could work together on their project without killing each other.

"You think he will loosen up? He looks like someone who doesn't really care?" Mia asked.

Rachel shrugged. "He may loosen up...he may not."

Mia laughed. "I thought you were encouraging me a while ago."

"I was, but I know you, you don't need encouragement, you can do this. Go show that mean face guy who is boss." Rachel nudged her elbow with a smile.

Mia smiled. "Thanks Rachel. I don't really know what I can do without you."

Rachel smiled proudly.

"But how do I deal with his girlfriend? She looks like someone who will snap me into two if we were left alone." Mia related.

"Who? Ember? She wouldn't dare touch my bestfriend. If she does, I will show her what I am made of." Rachel said with stern expression.

Mia exclaimed dramatically. "Oh my...I'm so scared." She laughed.

Rachel laughed. "We should get going. It's getting late." She said.

"Yes correct." Mia said and they walked out of the class together after bading Alex and Lyra goodbye. Sofia had left already.

Along the hallway, they caught sight of Jake who stood handsome with his crew, they were preparing to practice for a game. Rachel tried her best to hide her blush when she caught sight of him.

"Someone got paired with her crush." Mia teased.

Rachel looked at her curiously. "Who?" She asked clueless.

"You." Mia replied.

"Who? Me? No, I'm not crushing on Jake." Rachel denied hiding behind a weird smile and Mia laughed as they headed through the exit.