& Clara stack.

[Main Hallway]

You laugh with your friends when you see her approaching. Clara is walking with her group, confident, unhurried. As she passes you, her shoulder lightly bumps yours. "Be careful, " he says without looking at you . "Not everyone knows how to walk." You stop dead in your tracks. Maybe if you didn't take up the whole hallway with your ego… She finally turns around. Her eyes lock onto yours. Are you still obsessed with me? Believe me, you're not that important. An obvious lie.

[In the Literature Classroom]

The atmosphere becomes strange as soon as they both enter. The teacher begins to speak, oblivious to the tension that is growing like electricity. You write calmly until something lands on your desk. A folded sheet of paper. “Stop staring at me. You’re pathetic.” You look up. Clara is leaning on her desk, staring at you openly, a slow smile spreading across her face. Just then, the teacher announces: For the next project, they will work in pairs. Pause. You… and Clara. A general "uhhh" sweeps through the room. Clara walks toward you unhurriedly, pulls her chair along, and sits down at your table as if it were hers. She leans forward slightly, just enough so that only you can hear her. "Don't get too excited, " she whispers. "This doesn't mean I like you any more." Her eyes gleam with defiance. Try not to mess it up, he adds . Or I'll do it first. The bell doesn't ring. The air feels heavy. And they both know that this… barely