Chapter 4

Upping the Game

Aaron's Pov

Kai was tying his shoelaces when I stepped into the gym.

Liam (noticing the bottle in my hand): "You didn't give it back?"

Me (sipping from it casually): "She tried to stole it back. Broke into our locker room. Almost got caught by Coach."

Kai (eyes widening): "She what?! Damn. She's wild."

Me (smirking): "Yeah. She's fire."

They exchanged looks.

Liam: "...You're gonna do something stupid again, aren't you?"

Me: "Not stupid. Strategic."

Kai: "That's even worse."

I let them suffer in silence, turning toward the court, bottle still in hand.

.

.

Library, Later That Day

Aaron's pov

Aami was tucked into her favorite corner. Mira had gone off to grab snacks. Everything was peaceful...

Until I dropped into the seat across from her.

Uninvited. Completely too close. Smiling like I wasn't a walking red flag.

Aami (deadpan): "Lost again? This isn't the gym."

Me (resting my chin on my palm):

"Nope. Just following my schedule."

Aami (narrowing eyes): "I don't see Basketball Flirt 101 on the library board."

Me (grinning): "Really? Because I'm acing it."

She rolled her eyes and tried to get back to her notes.

Me (whispering, eyes glinting): "Nice try with the locker room, by the way. You left behind your pen."

I pulled it from my jacket pocket like a magician pulling out a rabbit.

Aami (mortified):"You—give it back."

Me: "Say please."

Aami: "I will throw this entire table at you."

Me (tossing it onto your notebook, still smug): "Worth it."

Aami stared at the pen like it betrayed her. I got up, winked, and walked away—completely satisfied.

Because this?

This was only the beginning.

Lecture Hall – Tuesday Afternoon

Aami's Pov

Professor Gallagher stood at the front, tapping the projector remote against his palm like a ticking time bomb.

Professor Gallagher: "For your final module project, you'll work in pairs. I've already assigned them randomly, and there will be no changes."

My stomach dropped. Randomized pairs never ended well. I glanced at Mira beside me, silently praying I'd get paired with her.

He started calling out names.

Professor Gallagher: "Ethan Smith and Noah Cartar. Sofia Manson and Daniel Bell. Liam Heiberg and—"

My ears tuned out for a second... until:

Professor Gallagher:

"Aami Das and... Aaron Blackwell ."

The world stopped. Mira's jaw dropped.

I blinked. Once. Twice.

Me (whispering): "No."

Mira (grinning like a devil): "YES."

My head slowly turned to the back of the lecture hall.

Aaron Blackwell.

Leaning back in his seat, arms folded, smug smirk full-on activated. He mouthed, "Hi partner."

I immediately looked away. Mira was vibrating with excitement next to me.

Mira (elbowing me): "Karma for that locker room stunt."

.

.

Library – The Forced Study Session

Authors pov

The study room was too small. Too quiet. And too full of tension for two people who'd rather murder each other with words than write an academic paper.

Aami sat on one side of the table, books and highlighters neatly arranged.

Aaron plopped into the chair opposite her, spinning it before leaning back like this was his turf.

Aaron (grinning): "So, what are we researching again? Plant hormones? Leaf gossips? Root tea parties?"

Aami (flat): "Environmental impacts of afforestation in urban ecosystems."

Aaron: "...Right. Leaf gossip."

She didn't even blink.

Aami: "Just shut up and type what I say."

He gave a low whistle and leaned forward.

Aaron: "You really don't like me, huh?"

Aami (without hesitation): "No."

Aaron (smirking): "Liar."

Her eyes snapped up, narrowing.

He smirked deeper, then—he pulled her water bottle from his bag and placed it next to him, like a petty trophy again.

Aami: "Why do you still have that?!"

Aaron: "Moral support. I write better when she's with me."

She tried to snatch the bottle away but again failed.

But then he did the most infuriating thing.

He started typing.

Properly.

Fast.

Focused.

Aami (suspicious): "You... actually know how to research?"

Aaron: "Shocking, right? I don't just bench press and flirt badly."

Aami bit back a smile. Almost.

Almost.

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