Amelia POV
The soft hum of the ceiling fan blended with the quiet clicks of our keyboards as I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms above my head.
My shoulders ached, and my eyes felt like sandpaper, but there was a strange warmth in my chest- a quiet thrill. We had finally done it. The presentation slides sparkled with just the right touch of effort and style.
"It's done", I breathed, half to myself, half to the boy sitting across from me.
Justin didn't look up immediately. He tapped a few more keys, then swiveled his chair toward me. "Took us long enough."
"I'm gonna miss this", I said quietly, picking at the edge of a sticky note. "Working with you like this."
Justin POV
She said it so simply—like it wasn't a big deal. Like she didn't realize she'd just hit something in me I didn't even know was still sore.
"I'm gonna miss this. Working with you like this."
I should've just nodded. Said "same" and moved on, maybe cracked another joke. But for some reason, I froze.
Because the truth was... I was going to miss it.
I stared at her-at the way her fingers toyed with the edge of a sticky note, the faint smile still tugging at her lips-and something twisted in my chest. Not in a bad way. Just... intense.
And it startled me.
What the hell are you doing, Justin? I thought. Don't read into it. Don't go there.
But it was too late. My brain was already spiraling, already pulling me back to the beginning of all this-to the first day she introduced herself to our group.
I remembered how I barely glanced at her. How I brushed her off when she was trying to initiate a conversation with me. How I hated how cheerful she was, how genuine. I thought she was like other girls. Like everyone else.
And now... I couldn't imagine this project-hell, this year–without her.
She changed you, a voice in me whispered. And you let her.
I wanted to trust her. I really did. She'd earned it, in every late-night brainstorming session, every time she called me out with that fire in her eyes, every time she surprised me by being tougher, smarter, and more patient than I gave her credit for.
But there was still a part of me holding back. The part that had learned, too early, that trusting people always came with a price. That being vulnerable meant leaving the door open for disappointment.
I clenched my jaw, forcing the thoughts back down where they belonged. Not tonight. Not with her sitting across from me, finally smiling, finally relaxed.
She didn't need to carry all that weight I'd locked inside me.
So I leaned forward instead, meeting her gaze. I smirked lightly–safer than honesty. "Yeah... me too."
Because if I said more, I wouldn't be able to stop. And I wasn't ready to break my own walls just yet. Not even for her.
Next day,
Justin POV
"In conclusion, the advancement of electric propulsion stands to revolutionize the aerospace industry. As we continue to push the boundaries of technology, it's clear that sustainable innovation will play a critical role in shaping the skies of tomorrow. Thank you for your time and attention. We welcome any questions or discussions you may have. Once again, thank you."
A big round of applause erupted the silent classroom. A small but rare hint of smile adorned my face. I could see Amelia, standing at a few distance, holding her black Bexley Corona pen.
I could sense a huge grin plastered on her bright, cheerful self. She turned to her left and looked at me with a 'we made it!' look.
And her smile, ever so contagious; made me forget our surroundings, the class, the presentation, the professor, the students; everything. It was just her smile that took over all the things going in my mind.
Thankfully, I came back to my senses quickly and passed a small genuine smile. Together, we slightly bowed down in gratitude toward our professor and the class.
Two hours later,
Justin POV
The bell rang, echoing through the corridor like a warning. Break time.
I stepped out, clutching my notebook tighter than necessary, not because I needed it–just something to hold onto.
The hallway buzzed with students, laughter bouncing off the walls, sneakers squeaking, lockers slamming. Normal chaos. But I felt the shift in the air before I even saw them.
Joshua.
Leaning against the lockers like he owned the place, flanked by his gang of smirking hyenas. The so-called bad boys-loud, arrogant, untouchable. He caught sight of me instantly. That smug grin crawled up his face like a slow disease.
I could've turned back. I should've. But my pride was too loud.
"Yo, look who decided to crawl out of his hole," Joshua called out, his voice slicing through the corridor noise like a blade. "Mr. Perfect Boyfriend."
I kept walking. Eyes ahead. Don't react. That's what they want.
"Hey, Justin," one of them chimed in, "Your girl looked real satisfied the other night. Guess someone finally gave her what you couldn't."
Laughter exploded around him. My jaw clenched. I could feel the heat rush to my ears, that burning shame and anger knotting in my chest.
"You know, bro," Joshua added, stepping in front of me, forcing me to stop, "Maybe she got tired of waiting. Maybe all she needed was a man, not some soft little boy with pretty eyes and zero game."
His breath reeked of cheap cologne and arrogance. I stared at him, silent, fists curling at my sides.
"She used to look so bored with you," another voice said from behind me. "Now she glows. Guess we know why."
My heart was hammering. I wanted to hit him. I wanted to scream. But I didn't. That would just feed them. That would mean they won.
Joshua leaned in, his whisper venomous. "Face it, Justin. You were never enough for her. And now? You're just... nothing."
The laughter hit harder than a punch. I pushed past him, eyes on the exit, every step feeling heavier than the last. But I didn't stop. I wouldn't give them that.
Not today.
I couldn't breathe.
The corridor's fluorescent lights blurred into streaks as I bolted past them, my footsteps echoing against the linoleum floor. The laughter, the jeers-they clung to me, suffocating.
I didn't know where I was going. My legs moved on their own, driven by a desperate need to escape. I ran past the football field, the bleachers, the old oak tree where we used to sit-where she used to sit with me.
My lungs burned, but I didn't stop. Not until my legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed onto the grass behind the gymnasium, hidden from view. I curled into myself, fists clenched, nails digging into my palms.
"Justin?"
The voice was soft, hesitant.
I looked up, blinking away tears.
"I saw you run... Are you okay?"
I wanted to lie, to nod and say I was fine. But the dam had broken.
"No," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'm not okay."
Amelia POV
From Justin's sudden outburst of emotions, I sensed it way before where this is gonna head to.
The day when I was bandaging his arm flashed into my mind. The memories still fresh in my mind. The way he expressed all his emotions that night; about the betrayal he had went through. The Justin in front of me right now is no different than the Justin I saw that night.
The only difference this time is that he is sober. And he still trusted me with his emotions. I realized how much he believes in me; for god knows what did I do to gain that trust of him.
But now, I knew that I have to listen to him and console him like Liam does. Later he might regret opening up to me, but I can't let him regret that right now, not in this moment.
I approached slowly, kneeling beside him. "Do you want to talk about it?"
He hesitated, then nodded.
Haasshhhh, the project is finally completed! And guess what, it worked so well in bringing Amelia and Justin close to each other; yeah, not drastically, but still noticeable. Justin is also about to open up his emotions in front of Amelia because of Joshua's bullying. Let's wait and watch how the whole scene would unfold in the next chapter. Let me know in the comments how you feel about Amelia and Justin's interactions till now.
Please vote and comment if you liked this chapter. The next chapter will be updated soon. Take care, cuties 💙
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