(Alex’s POV)

The day seemed like any other—except for the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about Christine. It wasn’t like I hadn’t noticed her before, but lately, everything about her felt… different. Special. She wasn’t just a friend anymore, and I wasn’t sure when that shift happened.

So when the teacher announced we’d be working in pairs for today’s chemistry experiment, and I got paired with her, I felt this weird mix of excitement and nervousness. Playing it cool, I walked over to her station with a grin.

“Hey, looks like we’re in this together,” I said, rolling up my sleeves. “Don’t blow anything up, Chris.”

She shot me a smile, her eyes crinkling in that way that always made my stomach do this stupid flip. "Please, I should be saying that to you. You're the one who's reckless!"

“Reckless?” I feigned offense. “I prefer the term ‘creative.’”

We started working on the experiment, and I was trying hard to focus on the chemicals and not the way she tucked her hair behind her ear or the sound of her laugh when I made some lame joke. Everything was fine until she accidentally poured too much of one of the reagents into the beaker.

I saw the foam bubbling up and tried to warn her, but it was too late.

“Uh, Chris, I think you might’ve—”

Before I could finish, the beaker started fizzing like crazy. Foam was rising fast, and soon it was spilling everywhere. Christine grabbed some paper towels, but in her panic, she knocked over another bottle. More foam. Great.

“Oh no!” she gasped, and her face was a mix of horror and helpless laughter.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. This whole situation was ridiculous, but seeing her like that, panicking over the foam, was just... cute. "Well, I guess you really took the 'experiment' part seriously!"

Christine groaned, but she was laughing too. "This is not funny! Help me!"

The foam was everywhere—on the table, the floor, and, of course, all over us. I tried to grab a cloth to clean it up but somehow ended up making it worse by smearing the foam all over her arm.

“Hey!” she yelped, laughing even more, and I couldn’t help myself—I playfully tapped her nose with foam. "You missed a spot."

She looked like she was about to retaliate, grabbing the cloth, but instead, she slipped on the foam and stumbled right into me. My arms shot out instinctively, catching her. This girl, why is she soo clumsy? Ready to fall anywhere and everywhere. Wouldn't I be the happiest person alive if she ever plans to fall for me ? I hope she does.. We were standing there, inches apart, her hands pressed against my chest. And just like that, everything went quiet.

I looked down at her, and for a second, all I could see were her eyes—wide, soft, beautiful. My heart was pounding in my chest, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what I was supposed to say. She didn’t pull away either, just staring back at me.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice lower than I intended.

She nodded, her cheeks pink, and it hit me how close we were. Her hair smelled like strawberries, and her skin was so soft against mine. I swallowed, trying to play it cool, but all I could think about was how badly I wanted to kiss her. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Yeah, I’m… fine,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. I wasn’t just her lab partner anymore. I wasn’t sure what I was, but I knew this was more than just friendship.

Before either of us could say anything, the teacher called out from the front of the room, “What’s going on over there? Clean up that mess!”

We both jumped apart, embarrassed, laughing nervously. I handed her a fresh towel, trying to act casual, but inside I was still reeling from that moment.

“I guess we make a pretty good team—mess and all,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

She smiled, still blushing, and that smile… man, it did things to me.

“Yeah… we do,” she replied softly.

After the lab session, I suddenly remembered something. I went to my class and took the box of cookies out of my bag which I brought from my home, obviously for her. I came out found Christine sitting alone, her mood still a bit subdued from earlier.

“Hey, Chris,” I said, sliding into the seat across from her. “I brought these for you. Thought they might brighten your day.”

She looked at the box with curiosity. “Cookies? You made these?”

“Yeah, my mom's recipe,” I said with a grin. “ I thought they’d be a nice treat.”

Christine took one and bit into it, her eyes lighting up. “These are really good! Thanks, Alex.”

“Glad you like them,” I said, feeling a bit shy but pleased with her reaction. “I thought a little sweetness might help after the chaos earlier.”

As we chatted and ate the cookies, I couldn’t help but notice how much more relaxed she seemed. The way she smiled and laughed—it made everything feel right.

Christine leaned in a bit closer. “You know, these cookies are a lot like you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”

“They’re unexpectedly sweet,” she said with a playful smile.

I felt my face flush, but I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, thanks. I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”

As we finished the cookies and talked about our favorite books and movies, I found myself wanting to be with her even more. I knew my feelings for her were growing stronger every day, and spending moments like these only made it clearer. I wanted to be close to her, to make her laugh, to share more of these moments.

By the time we left the canteen, I was more certain than ever that what I felt for her was real, and I was excited to see where it could lead.

________________________________

Christine was walking across the school grounds with a wide grin on her face thinking about her recent interaction with Alex. But her thoughts came to a halt when she saw Lara sitting alone on a bench under a tree, her shoulders slumped, and her face downcast. The sight tugged at Christine's heart.

She remembered the date: November 6th. Lara’s birthday was in two days. Despite their recent tension, Christine didn’t want Lara to spend her birthday feeling isolated. No matter what had happened between them, Lara was still her best friend.

Christine knew she couldn’t fix everything, but she could at least try to bring some happiness into Lara’s life. That’s when she decided—she would plan a surprise for Lara’s birthday.

Later, Christine sought out Bella, one of Lara’s classmates. Bella was always trying to get close to Lara, despite Lara’s habit of keeping most people at arm’s length. But Bella was persistent, and Christine needed someone who could get Lara to the park on her birthday.

“Bella, could you help me with something?” Christine asked with a hopeful smile.

Bella’s eyes lit up. “Of course! What do you need?”

Christine explained her plan for a small birthday surprise. “I just need you to bring Lara to the park. I’ll have everything else ready.”

Bella clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, this is going to be amazing! I’m sure Lara will love it!”

On the morning of Lara’s birthday, Christine picked up a cake from Lara’s favorite bakery. She spent time setting up a small table at the park, keeping things simple but heartfelt—just a cake, a few balloons, and a card. She wasn’t sure if this would heal everything between them, but she hoped it would show Lara how much she still cared.

Bella did her part perfectly. By early evening, she managed to get Lara to the park without raising suspicion. When they arrived, Lara’s eyes widened at the sight of the setup—Christine standing beside the table with a gentle smile on her face.

“Happy birthday, Lara,” Christine said warmly.

Lara stood frozen, clearly not expecting this. After a moment, her eyes softened, and she quickly walked over to Christine, pulling her into a tight hug.

“I knew you wouldn’t forget,” Lara whispered, her voice shaking slightly. “You do love me too, Kay. I know it. You wouldn’t do this for me if you didn’t.”

Christine smiled, hugging her back. “Of course I didn’t forget, Lara. You’re still my best friend.”

As they celebrated, cutting the cake and sharing a few laughs, Lara couldn’t help but think to herself, She does love me, just like I love her. Lara was convinced that Christine’s actions were a sign of something deeper, something beyond friendship. Kay just needs to realize it, Lara thought with a determined glint in her eyes. I’ll make sure she does soon. She belongs to me, after all.

Bella, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, smiled from the sidelines, oblivious to the hidden thoughts running through Lara’s mind.

Later, as they were getting ready to leave, Lara turned to Christine, her expression suddenly more serious. “I’m sorry, Kay. For everything. For being rude and shutting you out. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Christine smiled, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. “I missed you, Lara. I really did.”

Lara’s expression softened even more. “And about Alex… I don’t mind if you two are together. I just want you to be happy, Kay.”

Christine sighed with relief. “Thank you, Lara. That really means a lot.”

But while Lara’s words were sincere on the surface, her heart told a different story. I’ll make sure she realizes what her true feelings are soon. Alex isn’t what she really wants, Lara thought silently to herself.

They spent the rest of the evening chatting, laughing like old times. As Christine left the park, she felt hopeful that maybe things between them were finally healing. Little did she know, Lara’s plans for her were only just beginning.