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Chapter 19: On Display
The Presentation
The final behavioral psychology project was more than a grade—it was a public moment. Students from across departments would attend. Faculty. Even families.
Daisy hated the spotlight. Calvin thrived under it. And now they had to stand side by side, as partners... and something more.
They practiced in Calvin's dorm, index cards scattered, nerves rising.
"You're better at this than me," Daisy murmured, fidgeting.
He took her hands. "Only when I'm not scared of what people think. But with you? I care more than I ever have."
She met his gaze. "Then we protect each other."
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Lina's Fire
Meanwhile, Lina was nominated for an award in her creative writing class—but it meant reading one of her private essays aloud.
One Marcus hadn't even seen.
She panicked. "What if they don't get it? What if it's too raw?"
Marcus said, "Then you'll show them it's okay to be raw."
Lina stared at him. "You make it sound simple."
"It's not," he said. "But you're braver than you think."
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The Day Of
The room was packed. Daisy stood backstage, breathing in through her nose, out through her mouth.
Calvin turned to her. "Still want to do this?"
"No," she said honestly. "But I need to."
As they walked out, hand in hand, whispers swirled. Some people stared a little too long. Others smiled.
They stood side by side and began.
They didn't just present their findings—they shared their process. Their emotional shifts. Their fears. Their bond.
Daisy's voice only trembled once—but Calvin squeezed her hand and she didn't break.
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The Aftermath
Backstage, they both exhaled.
"You killed it," Calvin whispered.
"I didn't die," Daisy whispered back. "So... yeah, progress."
Just then, her mother texted:
> *"You made me proud. Not for what you said—but how you stood