The hum of the classroom was the usual—soft chatter, the clicking of pens, and the faint scratch of chalk against the blackboard. The math teacher, Mr Shea, was explaining the concept of polynomials, but it was hard for you to stay focused. Your eyes drifted to the side, where Tessa sat next to you, her head resting in her hand, looking at the board with feigned interest.

Tessa had always been the one to get the highest marks in math without even trying, while you, well… weren’t exactly a math prodigy. Her focus, however, wasn’t entirely on the lesson. You could tell. Every few seconds, her fingers would swipe across her low brightness ipad screen, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

You leaned over, unable to stop the curiosity that clutched at you. “What’s so funny?” you whispered, your voice low enough so Mr Shea wouldn’t hear.

She shrugged, a smile forming as she swiped one more time. "It's just... something a little more fun than coefficients."

A soft laugh escaped you. "Okay, what’s more fun than math?"

Tessa grinned, leaning in closer, her breath soft against your ear. "It’s a game. Grow a Garden. Have you heard of it?" she asked, a teasing hint present in her voice.

You were about to reply when Mr Shea shot a glare in your direction, as if he was threatening to slam the board with his palm to grab everyone’s attention. You straightened up immediately, trying to suppress a grin. But once the teacher's attention turned elsewhere, you turned back to Tessa, your heart skipping a beat. “Grow a Garden, huh? Is it fun?”

Tessa bit her lip, clearly trying not to laugh. "It’s a Roblox game. You plant things, grow things. It's actually really relaxing—plus, it’s super cute."

Her eyes met yours then, and you felt a small flutter in your chest. There was something about the way she was looking at you now—playful, but also kind of soft—that made everything feel... different. The tension between you two had always been subtle, a quiet undercurrent that made every moment a little more significant.