After school, Anna went to Mr. Kent's office. After a brief meeting, she walked out into the hallway, eager to meet Zack in the parking lot. As she walked, Evan pulled her into the library and pressed her against one of the shelves. His proximity and the intense look in his eyes, bringing back unwanted memories:
During the summer break, Anna went to a botany camp, inspired by her love of nature and the sciences. She was surprised to see Evan at the camp, not a usual place to find a delinquent jock. On the first day of camp, Evan smiled at Anna a few times. During one of the group activities, Anna and Evan were grouped together. The camp leader, a strict woman with black hair, gave them the names of three different plants which they were supposed to do research on. Anna began doing the task with a sharp focus. Evan just watched her, and then he asked casually, "So, where should we start?" Anna looked up from the thick botany textbook. She hadn't realized how engrossed she was until Evan spoke. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she realized she had been ignoring him. "Oh, um, sorry," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We can start with the first one on the list." She pointed to a photograph of a vibrant purple flower in the book. "This is a Monorda didyma, also known as a bee balm." Her voice gained confidence as she began to explain, "It's native to North America and is known for its medicinal properties. The leaves can be used to make tea that helps with colds and fevers." Anna paused, looking at Evan expectantly, hoping he was following along. She was eager to impress him with her knowledge.
"Cool," he said simply and jotted something down in his notebook. Anna watched as he wrote in his notebook, his large hand dwarfing the pen. A small smile played on her lips. He might not seem interested, but at least he was participating. "Next is the Echinacea purpurea," she continued, turning the page. "It's another medicinal plant. This one if often used to boost the immune system." She traced a finger over the spiky purple coneflower in the picture. "It's also gorgeous, don't you think?" She looked at Evan again, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "We could maybe draw a little sketch of each plant in our notes," she suggested timidly. "To help us remember them better." Anna bit her lip hoping he wouldn't think her idea was stupid. "I have seen prettier," he scoffed. "I am not much of an artist," he muttered. Anna's smile faltered slightly at Evan's dismissive tone. She felt a pang of disappointment, but quickly tried to hide it. Maybe he just wasn't into drawing. "That's okay, I can draw them if you want. Or we can just write detailed descriptions," she said, her voice a little too bright. She flipped to the last plant on the list, a tall green fern. "This is a Boston fern. It's great for purifying the air indoors." She looked at Evan, trying to gauge his interest. He seemed distracted, his gaze wandering around the room instead of focusing on the book. Anna felt a flutter of nervousness in her stomach. 'Is he bored? Did he think I was boring?' she thought to herself. She decided to try a different approach. "So, um, do you have any plants at home?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, a whole greenhouse full. You are prettier than that plant," he said seriously, and suddenly he was looking at her intensely. Anna's breath caught in her throat. Her heart began to race as she stared back into Evan's intense gaze. His words echoed in her mind, sending a warm flush through her entire body. He thought she was prettier than the plant? Her? "Oh," was all she could manage to say, her voice barely a whisper. She felt her cheeks burn with a deep blush. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. Evan's compliment made her feel beautiful and special in a way she never had before. She quickly looked down at the textbook, suddenly finding it fascinatingly interesting again. Her fingers traced the edge of the page, trying to calm her nerves. "Thank you," she murmured, unable to meet his eyes again. "That's... That's very sweet of you to say." A small, shy smile crept onto her lips.
"My pleasure. I will write the description, you can draw," he muttered and wrote something down on his notebook again. Anna nodded eagerly, relieved that Evan was still willing to work with her. His compliment had left her feeling warm and fuzzy inside, and she was determined to do her part well. She carefully tore a blank page from her notebook and laid it flat on the table. Taking a pencil, she began to sketch the Boston fern, trying to capture its delicate fronds and intricate details. Her hand trembled slightly at first, but as she focused on the drawing, she found herself relaxing. Evan wrote beside her, his large hand moving swiftly across the page. Anna snuck glances at him while he worked, admiring the strength in his jaw and the way his brow furrowed in concentration. She felt a strange sense of comfort working so close to him. After a few minutes, Anna held up her sketch for Evan to see. "What do you think? Does it look like the Boston fern?" she asked nervously.
"Yeah, very well done. You got some talent. How does this look?" he asked and showed her his description of the Boston fern. Anna leaned over to look at Evan's writing, her eyes widening in surprise. His description was incredibly detailed and accurate, covering everything from the plant's scientific classification to its habitat and care requirements. She had expected him to write something brief and unhelpful, but his work was thorough and impressive. "Wow, Evan, this is amazing," she said, genuinely impressed. "You really know a lot about plants." She looked up at him, a newfound respect in her eyes. Maybe there was more to him than just muscles and a tough exterior. She placed the page with her sketch next to his description. Together, they made a complete and informative report on the Boston fern.