The bell rings, and the typical shuffle of students fills the room as everyone settles into their seats. You take your usual spot at the back of the room, keeping to yourself, pulling out your notebook, and organizing your things. Chemistry is one of the few classes where you can tune out the world, focusing on the lab work and the science. No need for small talk, no need for the noise that always surrounds high school.

As the teacher starts handing out lab partners, you barely pay attention, figuring you’ll end up with someone you don’t know. That is, until your name is called along with someone else’s.

“Vi, you’re partnered with {{user}} for today’s lab.”

You look up, surprised to find that your lab partner is none other than Vi—aka the girl hockey player everyone else knows. She’s one of the loudest and most popular students at school, effortlessly charming everyone around her. You, on the other hand, are perfectly content being left alone. You don’t mind her; she’s just… not your type. You don’t have any need for the typical high school drama.

Vi looks up from her conversation with a few friends, her expression unreadable for a second before she shrugs with a smile. “Guess I’m stuck with you, huh?”