Trigger Warnings: One brief mention of murder, miming shooting a gun to a head

After gym, I make my way down to the cellar for everyone's favorite class, AP Chemistry. And don't forget everyone's favorite teacher; Snape.

A pit forms in my stomach as I enter his classroom. It always gives off bad vibes. Like someone was murdered here and the body was stashed under the extra lab coats.

Honestly? Knowing Snape, I kinda believe it.

I take a seat near the front of the room. It doesn't matter. Snape always assigns seats at the beginning of the term anyway. And lab partners. God forbid his students have any fun or enjoyment in his class...

A few seconds later Enzo enters the class. He spots me and strides over to the next seat. "Hey Annie," he greets, pulling out his binder and planner.

I don't miss a beat. "Guess what happened in gym last period!" It's not even a question, it's more of a demand.

"What?"

"So, after we changed and were waiting for attendance, Draco, Theo, and Blaise came up to me on their own and apologized to me!"

Enzo takes a moment to ponder this. "Do you think they've been possessed?"

"No! Even weirder!"

"What do you mean?"

I open my mouth to answer when I see Mattheo enter the class and walk towards us from the corner of my eye. "Never mind, I'll tell you later," I rush out.

Enzo tilts his head. "Wh-"

"Hey guys," Mattheo greets as he grabs a seat at our table. "What are we talking about?"

"There's a train show out on Long Island this weekend that Annie's gonna go with me to."

Sorry? The fuck I am! I shoot a glare at Enzo, but he's conveniently too busy studying the inside of his pencil case to notice.

Mattheo's smile twitches. "Oh, I was going to ask her if she wanted to come with me to the-"

"SILENCE" Snape demands as he saunters into the classroom.

Great, I guess now I'll never find out what Matthew was gonna ask me to do with him. I'll admit, I'm curious. Matthew and I don't have much in common, so it really could be anything. Instead, I get to listen to Snape sneer and degrade us all. Lucky me...

If he hates teaching so much he should just quit. Nobody is holding a gun to his head!

"...Because this is an honors level class I expect perfection and nothing less than perfection. Now, with the pleasantries out of the way, I will assign you your seats and lab partners for the term."

I smirk. Nailed it. Snape's too predictable for his own good.

"Anabelle, you will be sitting in this seat."

I grab my bag and walk over to the corner of the room. I have to admit I'm thankful my seat isn't close to the front. I'd rather not get up close and personal with Snape like last term.

"Sitting next to you and your lab partner for the term will be..." Snape ruffles through his papers searching for the name. "Mattheo Riddle."

I inwardly cringe. I guess the universe hasn't gotten the memo that I'm trying to avoid Mattheo at all costs due to the sucking-on-his-face fiasco from a few days ago.

He sits down next to me and the scent of his cologne immediately hits me. And I hate the fact that I instinctively lean a little closer to him to get a deeper sniff. "Hey," Mattheo greets while pulling out his textbook.

"Hey,"

Mattheo looks at my planner, "I'm pretty happy with this pairing. At least I know you'll actually help me with the labs, unlike Theo last year."

"Yea me too, you're great at chem," I respond without thinking. I'm too lost in my thoughts to hold a conversation with him. I'm racking my brain trying to figure out what Mattheo was possibly going to ask me to do with him on Saturday. And why was he only asking me to do it? What does he want to do just the two of us? And since when does he even ask me to do things alone with him? Before I can stop myself I just blurt out, "By the way, what were you gonna ask me to come to before?"

"Oh...um. The library. I wanted to know if you need help in pre-calc yet."

Oh. Disappointment floods through my chest and I don't know why. "No, not yet. I've only had the class once so far, and I passed out in it."

"Well let me know when you need my help. I like tutoring you, you're a good student."

"You just like tutoring me because you think it makes you smarter than me" I shoot back.

"No, that's where you're wrong. I don't think I'm smarter than you at all. I know I'm smarter than you."

I can't help but snort. "Yea, as if," I respond while nudging him in the arm. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest. This, the teasing and bickering is normal Mattheo and I. Not the weird, awkward shit that's been happening between us lately. It's a change I welcome. Familiarity is my best friend, I love it actually.

The rest of the period is taken up by Snape making us all feel bad about ourselves, per usual. I'm just glad Neville isn't in this period, because I don't think my psyche could take one more lesson of Snape verbally abusing him, like the past 5 years.

After class, Enzo catches up to Mattheo and me. "Fucking shoot me. Lavender Brown is my lab partner," he grumbles. Mattheo mimes taking a gun out of his backpack and handing it to him. I chuckle. "Guys, c'mon. She's notthatbad." I interject.

"No, you're right Anna" Mattheo nods. "She's not bad...she's horrendous!"

I can't help but laugh. "Okay, so she's kinda a pick-me," I admit. "But at least she's smart. I've been in group projects with her before. Her work is good." I'm not sure why I feel the need to defend Lavender. I don't particularly like her. But as someone whose grades are important to them, I can always appreciate a student who's competent and does the work they say they will.

Mattheo rolls his eyes at me. "You're too nice for your own good Anna." Nice isn't an adjective I would use for myself personally, but alright. "What class do you guys have next?"

"We've both got French" Enzo says. "What about you?"

"Computer Science with my bestie McGonagall."

I snort. "Key word; your bestie."

Mattheo waves goodbye to us as he turns a corner towards the computer lab. Now that he's gone I can speak freely with Enz.

I slap him as hard as I can on the arm. "What the hell are you talking about? A train show? I'm not going to that!"

He grins ear to ear like the fucking Cheshire Cat. "Well since we're keeping secrets from Mattheo, I figured it was the perfect time to fuck with you."

I fight the urge to slap him again. "By the way, why are we keeping things from Mattheo?" Enzo asks.

Enzo being annoying has made me not want to tell him. I sigh and roll my eyes at him.

"Oh, relax! You know you're going to tell me. You're too much of a gossip to keep it in."

I hate that he's right, but I'll admit, it does feel good to have someone who knows me, inside and out, so wholly.

"Fine" I huff. I recount what happened in gym class to him.

The only response I get is a slight "hmm."

"Hmm? That's all you have to say when I just gave you the most confusing tea of the century?"

"No, I just...do you think Mattheo has a thing for you?" Enzo asks me as we enter our French classroom.

This stops me dead in my tracks. "I..." I rack my brain trying to find an appropriate response to this question. But I mean, what exactly do you say when your best friend asks you if one of the hottest boys in school likes you? No seriously, I'm willing to take pointers here!

Enzo shrugs glumly. "It would make sense why he made the guys apologize for making you feel bad."

We grab two seats next to each other as I continue to struggle with the whole forming-words-to-speak thing. "I- I guess it would..." are the words that I pathetically end up finding.

"Bonjour Classe! Bienvenue à la classe de française AP!" Mademoiselle Delacour greets as the bell rings. I welcome the start of class because it means I don't have to continue this crazy conversation with Enzo.

Because there's no way the Mattheo Riddle likes me. It's just not possible. Right? RIGHT?