Chapter Two

Jay’s POV

There are only three words I hate more than pop quiz.

Group project time.

Ms. Marie claps her hands like this is exciting news. “Pair up! You’ll be working on this assignment for the next two weeks.”

Cue the classroom exploding into chaos. Everyone’s rushing to claim their bestie or brainiac partner. Naturally, Amy turns to me.

Except before I can even say yes, Ms. Marie calls out: “Amy, you’ll be with Lisa. Jay, you’ll be with…”

I don’t like where this is going.

“…Lamia Robert.”

My pen slips out of my hand and clatters to the floor. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Amy is grinning like it’s Christmas morning. Traitor.

“Looks like fate wants you to have a boyfriend,” she whispers as she drags her bag over to Lisa.

I glare at her. She just blows me a kiss.

Great. Just great.

I glance back at Lamia, who’s already standing, hands in his pockets, strolling over like this is no big deal. Meanwhile, my stomach is staging a nervous breakdown.

He drops into the seat beside me, casual as anything. “Guess you’re stuck with me.”

I swallow hard. “Don’t sound too excited.”

He smirks, leaning back in his chair. “Who says I’m not?”

My brain short-circuits. Again. Someone please unplug me.

Lamia’s POV

So I got paired with Hazel Eyes. Jay.

Figures.

I slide into the seat next to him, amused at how stiff he gets. He’s gripping his pen like it’s a weapon, refusing to look at me. Cute.

“Relax,” I murmur, half-smile tugging at my lips. “I don’t bite.”

His head snaps toward me, cheeks blazing. “Who said I was worried?”

Oh, he’s fun.

Ms. Marie drones on about deadlines, but I’m not listening. I’m too busy watching Jay scribble notes like his life depends on it. He’s serious. Focused. Clumsy as hell, sure, but… serious.

I tilt my head, studying him. He notices, of course. He always notices.

“What?” he snaps, shoving his glasses back up.

“Nothing.” I smirk, because watching him squirm is my new favorite hobby. “Just wondering how you haven’t tripped over your own shoelaces yet.”

He glares. I laugh.

Yeah. This is going to be interesting.

Two weeks with him? This project might actually be the best thing about this stupid.

Jay’s POV

If there’s one thing worse than being paired with the most ridiculously good-looking guy alive… it’s having to bring him home.

Amy thinks it’s hilarious. “Ooooh, study date,” she teased all the way to the parking lot. I may or may not have threatened to bury her under the football field.

Now here we are — Lamia Robert, standing in my living room, looking like he belongs in a magazine instead of my nerd cave.

“Nice place,” he says casually, dropping his bag on the couch like he’s been here before.

I glare. “Don’t sound too surprised.”

Before he can answer, my mom appears from the kitchen, smiling like she just won the lottery. “Oh! You must be Lamia.”

Kill me now.

Lamia flashes her one of those effortless smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”

Ma’am. Did he just ma’am my mother? She’s glowing. Actually glowing.

“Jay never brings friends home,” she gushes, eyes darting between us like she’s mentally planning our wedding. “It’s so nice to finally meet one who is not Amy.”

“Moooom,” I groan, face heating up.

Lamia’s smirk is instant, and I know I’ll never live this down.

“Don’t embarrass him too much,” Lamia says smoothly, “he already tripped over his shoes outside.”

I choke on air. “That was ONE TIME.”

Mom laughs, actually laughs, before finally leaving us to “study.”

Great. Now I’m sitting at the table with Lamia, my ears still on fire.

He opens his notebook, glancing at me with that infuriating smirk. “Your mom’s nice.”

I mutter, “She likes you more than me already.”

He leans back, stretching his long arms, looking annoyingly perfect. “Can you blame her?”

I drop my pen. I hate him. I hate him so much.

…And maybe a little bit, I don’t.

Lamia’s POV

Meeting his mom? Unexpected. Watching her light up when she saw me? Entertaining. Watching him squirm the entire time? Priceless.

He’s flustered. Again. But behind all the eye rolls and muttering, I catch the way his lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile.

He’s funny. Unintentionally, sure. But funny.

We work in silence for a while — or at least he does. He’s scribbling notes at lightning speed while I just… watch him. Hazel eyes focused, glasses sliding down his nose, the tiniest crease in his brow when he’s concentrating.

It’s weird. I came here for homework, but I can’t stop noticing everything about him.

When he finally catches me staring, he groans. “Do you mind?”

“Not really.”

His face goes bright red. I grin.

Yeah. This was definitely worth the move.

For the first time since I got here… I don’t completely hate this place.

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