The next week was a whirlwind of textbooks, notes, and late-night study sessions. Scarlet had a series of tests coming up, and stress was written all over her face. One evening, as we hung out at her place, she finally admitted, "Max, I'm freaking out. I'm not ready for these exams."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you let me help?"
She looked at me skeptically, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "You? Teach me?"
"Hey, I'm not just a pair of fists, you know," I shot back, feigning offense. "I actually pay attention in class. Sometimes."
Scarlet laughed, the tension easing off her shoulders. "Alright, genius. Let's see what you've got."
We spent the next few days going over her notes, breaking down concepts, and even coming up with ridiculous mnemonics to remember formulas. I couldn't help but notice how focused Scarlet was when she was determined, her brows furrowed in concentration. Occasionally, when she got something right, her face would light up, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride.
One night, after hours of problem-solving, Scarlet put her pen down and stretched. "You're surprisingly good at this," she admitted, giving me an appreciative look.
"Told you. I'm more than just a boxer," I teased.
She chuckled and threw a crumpled piece of paper at me. "Show-off."
The next day, Scarlet walked out of her test with a triumphant grin. She ran over to me, practically bouncing on her feet. "I did it! I knew all the answers!"
I couldn't help but grin back. "Told you you'd nail it."
Before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight. I stiffened, but only for a moment before I hugged her back. "Thanks, Max. You have no idea how much this means to me."
My heart pounded against my chest. As I pulled back, our faces were just inches apart, and for a second, I wondered if she could hear it. But she just smiled, oblivious to the storm she'd just stirred up in me.
"Anytime," I managed to say, trying to sound casual.
We spent the rest of the day celebrating her success. Scarlet even treated me to coffee as a thank-you. As we walked back, I couldn't help but feel that studying with her had brought us a little closer. Maybe it wasn't just about the tests after all.