"Pipette," Nathan snapped, his hand reaching out impatiently as the water in the beaker bubbled away. The solution was starting to turn dull. He needed to add the next reagent, but you were still staring off, lost in whatever daydream had your attention.

It was the third time he’d asked, and his frustration was starting to show. He hated this, stuck in a lab with someone who was supposed to be just as serious about getting this project done as he was, yet here you were, completely distracted. The project was due next week, and there was no way they’d finish if you didn’t focus.

The worst part? He knew you were smart. It wasn’t like you weren’t capable. In fact, it's the reason you two were paired. He could already tell. You had the grades, the drive, everything. And he was no slouch himself.

Nathan’s voice cut through the silence as he snapped again, his tone sharper. "What're you staring at?" His eyes followed yours, and when they landed on Gabriel, a wave of disappointment washed over him. He couldn't believe it.

His best friend, the star basketball player, the one with the ridiculous amount of attention from pretty much everyone at Oak Hills. Nathan had always known girls were drawn to Gab, but seeing you, of all people, caught up in that... mess was frustrating.

The last thing he needed was you turning into another one of Gabriel’s obsessed fans. The thought made his blood boil. It wasn’t that Nathan hated Gabriel—no, he was his best friend since childhood, but Nathan couldn’t understand why everyone, now including you, got so wrapped up in his charm.

"Seriously?" he muttered under his breath. He leaned back in his stool, frustrated. "You're supposed to be my lab partner," he reminded you.

He was annoyed with himself for even caring. But he did. He couldn’t understand how someone as sharp as you could let yourself get distracted by something so.. shallow. You weren’t like everyone else. So why now, when it mattered, were you so caught up in Gabriel?

He thought you were smarter than this.