Aiden hated group projects. He hated presentations, posters, and every other activity teachers claimed was "fun." Unfortunately for him, the first thing his teacher announced that morning was a three-week group project. The entire class groaned in unison while the teacher smiled like she hadn't just ruined everyone's day. Aiden rested his head on his desk and immediately began hoping he'd be paired with Mia. Not because he liked her. Obviously. He just preferred working with someone who actually knew what they were doing.
"What's with that look?" Noah asked.
"What look?"
"The 'please put me with Mia' look."
"I don't have a look."
"You definitely have a look."
"I definitely don't."
Noah laughed.
The teacher began reading out the groups. Students sat nervously, waiting to hear their names. Aiden tried not to care. He failed almost immediately.
"Mia Anderson, Ethan Carter, Sophie Williams, and Ava Collins."
Aiden sat up. Wait. What?
Across the room, Mia looked surprised before turning toward her group members. Sophie was already talking excitedly while Ethan smiled and introduced himself.
Then the teacher continued.
"Aiden Scott, Noah Reed, Lucas Walker, and Emma Green."
Aiden stared blankly ahead. Different groups. Completely different groups. Fantastic. Noah looked over.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"You look disappointed."
"I'm not disappointed."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You wanted Mia."
"No comment."
"Exactly."
The rest of the lesson was supposed to be spent discussing project ideas. Unfortunately, Aiden found it very difficult to focus when Mia's group was sitting only a few tables away. Every time he looked up, Ethan seemed to be talking to her. The guy was annoyingly perfect too. Good grades. Good at sports. Friendly. The type of student teachers loved. The type of student Aiden suddenly couldn't stand.
"Aiden."
No response.
"Aiden."
Nothing.
"AIDEN."
"What?"
Noah pointed toward their group notes.
"You've contributed exactly zero ideas."
"I've been thinking."
"No, you've been staring."
"I have not."
Noah followed Aiden's line of sight toward Mia's table.
"Oh my God."
"Shut up."
Meanwhile, Sophie had noticed everything. Sophie noticed everything. She leaned toward Mia with a grin.
"Aiden keeps looking over here."
Mia nearly dropped her pen.
"What?"
"He does."
"No, he doesn't."
"He literally does."
Mia glanced across the room. The exact second she looked over, Aiden looked away. Far too quickly. A smile tugged at her lips. Interesting.
By lunch, Aiden's mood had somehow gotten worse. Every time he saw Ethan, the guy was standing next to Mia. Every time Mia laughed, Ethan happened to be nearby. Rationally, Aiden knew they were only working on a project together.
Emotionally?
That was an entirely different story.
"You know," Noah said while opening a bag of chips, "normal people would just admit they're jealous."
"I'm not jealous."
"You've said that six times today."
"Because it's true."
"You looked ready to fight Ethan for borrowing a pencil."
Aiden looked away.
Noah started laughing.
"OH MY GOD YOU DID."
"I hate you."
Things got even worse after lunch when students were given free time to work with their groups. Aiden was heading toward the library when he spotted Mia and Ethan walking there together while discussing their project. There was absolutely nothing suspicious about it. They were literally talking about schoolwork.
Yet somehow Aiden stopped walking. His eye twitched. Just slightly.
Noah appeared beside him. Like a curse.
"Oh."
Aiden didn't answer.
"Ohhhhh."
"Don't."
"You're jealous."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Aiden crossed his arms.
Noah grinned.
"This is hilarious."
The afternoon dragged on forever. Every class felt twice as long as usual. By the final period, Aiden had convinced himself he was being ridiculous. Ethan was just a classmate. Mia could talk to whoever she wanted. Everything was completely normal.
Which was exactly why he nearly dropped his book when Mia sat beside him after class.
"Hey."
His bad mood immediately disappeared. Which was embarrassing.
"Hey."
Mia studied him carefully.
"You've been weird today."
"I'm always weird."
"Fair point."
Aiden looked offended. Mia laughed. The sound instantly made him forget why he'd been annoyed all day.
For a moment, they sat together in comfortable silence while students packed their bags around them. Then Mia tilted her head slightly.
"Aiden."
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Depends."
"Depends?"
"Depends on the question."
Mia rolled her eyes.
"Are you upset with me?"
Aiden blinked.
"What?"
"You've been acting strange all day."
"I'm not upset with you."
"Then what's wrong?"
For a second, Aiden considered telling her. Not everything. Just enough. Maybe. Possibly. Before he could answer, a familiar voice interrupted. Again. Of course.
"Hey, Mia."
Aiden looked up.
Ethan. Naturally. Because apparently the universe had perfect timing.
"Hey," Mia replied.
"Our group meeting tomorrow after school, still good?"
"Oh, right."
She nodded.
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Awesome. See you tomorrow."
"See you."
Ethan waved and left. Completely unaware of the emotional damage he'd caused. Mia slowly turned back toward Aiden. And suddenly everything clicked. The staring. The mood. The awkwardness. The timing. Oh.
A small smile appeared on her face. A very dangerous smile. The kind that meant she'd figured something out. Aiden noticed immediately.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Mia."
"Nothing."
"Mia."
She tried, and failed, not to laugh.
Aiden narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Whatever she was thinking, she wasn't telling him. At least not yet. But as Mia walked home later that evening, one thought kept replaying in her head. Aiden Scott was jealous. And somehow... That made her happier than it probably should have.