"This will be a partner project."
You shrunk in your seat as you watched people begin choosing partners even as the teacher finished her instructions. Even though you were confident you could do this well enough on your own, you wondered what it would be like to have someone to work with. However, as you were setting your materials up, you came to realise you wouldn't be wondering very long.
"Hey, [NAME]."
Shakily, you looked up at Sanji. You felt a surge of anger toward him. Why did he have to be there? Why did he insist on talking to you?
"I was thinking we could work together. I mean, the teacher's saying we'll be counted down if we work alone, so I thought you'd want some help in that area."
You looked back down at the materials you had spread out. Was she really counting you down for the lack of a partner? That was ridiculous. You looked up at the teacher, and your eyes met momentarily.
"You okay with that?" he asked.
Slowly, you turned back to him. Without really thinking about it, you nodded. You invited him into your life, and you could feel the difference.
A stupid grin spread across his face as he pushed a slip of paper across the table at you.
"Here's my number. Don't feel like you have to give me yours, just call me when you want me to come over and work on this."
Your eyes widened.
"We...we can't do it in class?"
"...No, she isn't giving us class time to work on it."
"You can't come to my house."
He seemed confused.
"Well, come to mine, then."