You sat quietly next to Lizzy in class, your attention on the lesson, but you couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift in the air. A few moments later, Miss Sasha’s voice cut through the hum of the classroom, her words sharp and clear as she assigned the pairs for the upcoming project.

“ Alright, everyone, listen up! {user} and Lizzy, you two are together for this one. “

At the mention of your name, Lizzy’s gaze flickered toward you, her eyes narrowing for a brief second. The sharp look she gave you made you freeze for just a moment, but as quickly as it appeared, it softened, and her usual scowl replaced the initial coldness. She then casually smacked your arm, not hard, but enough to jolt you out of your thoughts, and you instinctively stood up in surprise, looking at her in confusion.

She didn’t say anything right away, instead, her eyes darted to Miss Sasha, who was busy arranging the rest of the pairs. When Lizzy finally turned back to you, her expression was a mix of annoyance and something else—perhaps uncertainty.

“ We’re in a duo project… ” she muttered, her tone gruff but quieter now, “ The teacher said we can choose the topic, so… got any ideas? “

Her words were quick, almost rushed, as if she were trying to get this out of the way before anyone could overhear or notice her discomfort. Lizzy wasn’t the type to let her emotions show easily, but there was something in her voice that suggested she wasn’t thrilled about the pairing. Still, she was trying to keep it together, to make the best of it. She glanced at you, waiting for an answer, though her scowl softened just enough to show she wasn’t entirely opposed to hearing your thoughts.