Sophia sat at her kitchen table, surrounded by textbooks and notes. Jaden arrived promptly at 3 PM, carrying a bag of snacks and a smile.
"Hey, study buddy!" Jaden said, dropping into the chair across from Sophia.
As they dived into their history notes, Sophia was struck by how natural it felt to study with Jaden. They worked seamlessly together, quizzing each other and discussing complex topics.
Amber's attempts to distract them via text message failed miserably. Sophia and Jaden remained focused, determined to ace their test.
As the hours passed, Sophia found herself laughing more and more in Jaden's presence. She couldn't help but notice the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.
Jaden, too, was having a great time. He admired Sophia's intelligence and determination, and he couldn't deny the spark he felt when they were together.
As the study session drew to a close, Jaden walked Sophia to the door. "Thanks for studying with me today," he said, his voice low and sincere.
Sophia smiled up at him. "No problem. You're a great study buddy."
Jaden's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Sophia thought she saw something more than friendship there.
As Jaden walked home, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was developing strong feelings for Sophia. He admired her intelligence, her kindness, and her determination.
Meanwhile, Sophia couldn't stop thinking about Jaden's gaze when they said goodbye. She wondered if she had imagined the spark between them or if it was real.
The next day, Sophia and Jaden sat together in history class, their legs touching as they shared a textbook. Sophia felt a flutter in her chest, but she tried to focus on the lesson.
As the teacher droned on, Jaden leaned over and whispered, "Hey, want to grab lunch together today?"
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah, that sounds great," she replied, trying to sound casual.
Amber, sitting across from them, shot Sophia a dirty look. Sophia ignored her, her focus on Jaden.
As the lunch bell rang, Jaden and Sophia walked out of the classroom together. "So, where do you want to eat?" Jaden asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Sophia shrugged. "I don't care, as long as it's not the cafeteria."
Jaden grinned. "I know just the place. Follow me."
He led Sophia to a small sandwich shop nearby, where they ordered lunch and sat down at a cozy table by the window.
As they ate, Sophia felt more and more at ease around Jaden. They talked about everything from music to movies, and Sophia found herself laughing more and more.
Jaden, too, was having a great time. He loved Sophia's quick wit and infectious laugh.
As they finished their lunch, Jaden reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of Sophia's face. Sophia's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met.
"Sorry," Jaden said, his voice low and husky. "I didn't mean to touch you."
Sophia smiled, her heart racing. "It's okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.