the morning sunlight spilled lazily across the school courtyard, casting long shadows over the neatly trimmed grass. sara walked alone, her bag swinging lightly at her side, still replaying yesterday's decathlon events in her mind. leo had been unusually attentive, more protective than teasing, and it left a flutter in her chest she couldn't ignore.
she paused briefly by the fountain, tracing the rim with her fingers absentmindedly. she tried to tell herself it was just nerves, that nothing had changed between them. but when leo appeared around the corner, leaning casually against the wall, that excuse evaporated instantly.
"morning," he said, eyes catching hers immediately. the familiar smirk tugged at his lips.
"morning," she replied, voice steady though her heart betrayed her.
"you're quiet today," he said, pushing off the wall and walking closer.
"i'm… thinking," she muttered, shifting her weight.
"about what?"
"school," she said quickly, though her mind screamed that it wasn't school at all.
leo raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, and fell into step beside her. silence stretched between them, comfortable yet charged with a tension neither wanted to name.
---
first period — literature class
sara settled into her seat, still catching glimpses of leo from the corner of her eye. today's class involved reading excerpts from classic novels and discussing character motivations. it should have been simple — just words and analysis — but with leo nearby, even ordinary tasks felt loaded with potential.
"why are you staring at me?" he whispered suddenly, leaning slightly forward across the aisle.
"i'm not," she said quickly, eyes darting down to her notebook.
"sure," he replied with that infuriating grin. "classic sara."
her cheeks warmed, and she scowled under her breath. he always had this uncanny ability to see through her defenses, to make her thoughts audible without saying a word.
the discussion continued, but sara found herself more absorbed in leo's reactions than the text. the way he tilted his head at the professor's comments, the small smile he gave when a classmate answered correctly, the subtle glance he shot her — all of it made her chest tighten in a way that was equal parts thrilling and terrifying.
---
break — hallway
as soon as the bell rang, sara grabbed her bag and started toward the lockers, hoping for a moment of solitude. no such luck. leo was already leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, smirking as she approached.
"so," he began, voice teasing but soft, "ready for the next challenge?"
"challenge?" she asked warily, raising an eyebrow.
"yes," he said, stepping closer. "mr. fernandez mentioned a paired project for art class. and guess who your partner is?"
sara groaned, feeling that familiar mix of dread and anticipation. "don't tell me it's you."
"it's me," he confirmed, eyes glinting. "we're stuck together again. lucky us."
she sighed dramatically. "terribly lucky."
"don't worry," he said, sliding an arm loosely near hers, careful not to touch. "i'll make it painless."
she wanted to roll her eyes, but she couldn't deny the small flutter in her stomach. he had this way of making everything feel like it mattered, like even mundane school tasks could hold weight if he was involved.
---
art class — paired project
the art classroom smelled of paint and clay, a heady mix that made sara's senses tingle. she set up her workspace, pretending to ignore leo as he unpacked his materials across from her.
"so, what's our theme?" he asked casually, leaning on the edge of the table.
"nature," she replied, flipping through the reference sheets. "trees, flowers, landscapes…"
"sounds… relaxing," he said, smirking slightly. "or exhausting, depending on how serious you get."
"i'm always serious," she said firmly, though her tone softened when she looked up and caught his glance.
as they began sketching, their arms brushed occasionally, sending jolts of awareness through both of them. every accidental touch, every shared glance, built tension that neither wanted to name, yet both felt deeply.
"careful with that stroke," leo whispered, leaning closer, voice low.
sara stiffened, aware of the heat radiating from him. "i'm fine," she said, though her heart raced.
"sure you are," he murmured, smirking. the closeness, the whisper, the brush of his arm near hers — all of it made the air between them heavy and impossible to ignore.
---
lunch break — quiet courtyard
sara sat alone under the same tree from previous days, pulling out her lunch. she was trying to enjoy the quiet when she sensed him approaching.
"mind if i join?" leo asked, tilting his head.
"i guess not," she muttered, shifting slightly to make room.
he sat down, careful to keep a respectful distance, but close enough that she could feel the warmth of his presence. silence stretched between them, punctuated only by distant chatter from other students.
"you're thinking again," he said finally, breaking the quiet.
"am not," she replied, though she knew it was a futile denial.
"sure," he said softly. "about what?"
"nothing," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"about me?" he asked, almost teasingly, though there was a seriousness in his eyes that made her swallow.
she glanced away, trying to focus on her sandwich. "maybe," she admitted quietly.
"good," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "because i've been thinking about you too."
her chest tightened. "thinking…?"
"yes," he said softly. "about us, about this… whatever this is."
sara's heart raced. she wanted to say something, to clarify, to deny, but she didn't. instead, she let the moment linger, letting the quiet closeness speak for both of them.
---
afternoon — hallway encounter
as the final bell rang, sara gathered her things. leo appeared beside her again, walking in step silently.
"today felt different," she admitted, glancing at him.
"yeah," he said, voice low. "closer. somehow… closer than yesterday."
"closer?" she echoed. "in what way?"
"in a way that matters," he said quietly, eyes catching hers. "we're not just surviving challenges anymore. we're… paying attention. noticing each other. figuring out what this means."
sara swallowed, feeling both panic and excitement. "figuring out…" she whispered, the words tasting like confession and fear at once.
he reached out, lightly brushing a hand against hers — a fleeting touch, but enough to make her pulse spike. "slowly," he murmured. "we'll figure it out slowly. together."
her lips parted, wanting to say yes, wanting to reach for him, wanting to run away all at once. but she stayed silent, letting the warmth of his presence fill the space between them.
they walked toward the gate, side by side, a quiet understanding forming without words. the world around them seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them, connected by something neither fully understood yet — and that made everything infinitely more dangerous and thrilling.