Chapter 10

KACE wasn’t able to move when someone grabbed her by the arm. She clearly heard the words, “She already has a lab partner.” She didn’t expect that Luke would suddenly show up from behind them.

Stephen was also surprised after seeing Luke come up to them. He was wondering why he suddenly appeared and uttered those words. He really couldn’t believe that someone other than him and Kace’s friends would actually ask her to be her lab partner. “Kace, is it true? Is he your lab partner?”

She couldn’t look at Stephen’s eyes because she felt guilty. They’d always been partners in their projects ever since. Even Nix was getting jealous before, but now, she was already used to it.

When Luke noticed that Kace was having a hard time answering, he decided to speak for her. “Yes. I already asked her to be my lab partner.”

“And… you agreed?” Stephen was still looking at Kace.

She nodded. “But Stephen… don’t think that I don’t want to be lab partners with you anymore.”

Stephen bit his lip and nodded. “I understand. I… gotta go back to our table now.” He walked away from the two.

Meanwhile, Luke was still holding Kace’s arm which made the other students look at them in suspicion.

When she noticed this, she removed her arm off of his grip.

“Sorry,” Luke mumbled.

She didn’t answer him. She was still feeling bothered about Stephen.

“I’m sorry if I asked you to be my lab partner. I didn’t know that Stephen’s…” Luke got cut off when Kace finally spoke.

“You don’t have to apologize, Luke. It’s not your fault.” She said to him as she forced a smile.

He knew from the look in her eyes that she was not all right. Maybe he should just find another lab partner. “If you don’t want me to be your lab partner, I can just-"

“Luke, you don’t have to do that. I already said yes to you. I’ll just try to talk to Stephen about it later.” She flashed him a weak smile before proceeding to where Nix and the others were.

“Kace, what the hell was that all about?” Nix asked her when she reached them. “Are those two fighting over you?”

She shook her head. “Nothing like that. It’s just about Chemistry.”

Just then, Nix remembered telling Luke to ask Kace to be his lab partner. Maybe that’s what this is all about. So it was my fault in the first place.

But still, Nix just wanted to let Kace experience being lab partners with someone else other than Stephen. “Oh, all right then,” she said, pretending to not know anything.

“Chief, we still haven’t recruited anyone. What do we do?” Chester jeered beside them.

“I knew this wasn’t gonna work out.” Max sighed.

Kenneth nudged him. “Stop being pessimistic there.” 

“I think we should think of plan B now,” Brandon commented.

Kace agreed with him. “Yeah. I think so too.”

***

AFTER lunch, they all proceeded to their next class which was Chemistry. The others who still didn’t have a lab partner were now cramming to find one.

Kace noticed her bestfriend growing anxious in her seat. She tapped her back. “Hey, are you all right?”

Nix just nodded. She was actually gaining up her courage to ask Stephen.

“Who is your lab partner?”

“Uh… no one yet.”

“What? You should just pair up with any of the guys then.” She pointed at their friends who were goofing around as usual.

“They… already formed their pairs. Ken and Max. Chester and Brandon.” Nix lied. She actually didn’t know their pairs. She just said that so she’d have a reason to ask Stephen.

“Oh, is that so?” Kace sighed. Then, she thought of someone else. “Why don’t you ask Stephen?”

Nix turned to her. “Is… it alright? I mean, do you think he’d say yes?”

She nodded. “Of course. Now go ask him before someone else does.”

Nix stood up from her seat. She took a deep breath before marching her way towards his table.

Stephen was listening to his music and wasn’t paying attention to anyone.

When she was about three steps close to him, someone came rushing towards the guy she was aiming. Her eyes widened when she saw Brandon talking to him. What did he want from him?

She just froze from her post and watched them talking. After that, Brandon came towards her. “Oh hey, Nix. Why are you standing?”

“What did you talk about with Stephen?”

“Why do you need to know?” he teased.

“Brandon! I’m asking nicely here.” She was getting impatient but she tried to calm down.

“Relax. I just ask him to be my lab partner.”

“You what???” She exclaimed making the others look at them.

Brandon gestured their classmates to ignore them and just continue whatever they’re doing. “Why are you freaking out?”

“Why did you ask him?”

“Why? Can’t I?” He asked back. Then, he paused. “Oh, I get it. You were gonna ask him, right?”

Nix frowned at him. “Ugh!” 

Brandon just laughed at her. Then, their professor came in. They quickly rushed to their seats. “So, does everyone already have their lab partners?” He asked them.

“Yes sir.” They said, except for Nix who was still feeling down.

Just then, someone raised her hand up. It was Jessie. Everyone stopped and looked at her. “Uh… sir, I still don’t have a partner.”

Their professor turned serious. “That can’t be. Your class is an even number so there’s no one who’s not supposed to have a partner. Now, who is the other one without one?” The class started to murmur. “QUIET!”

They all remained silent. Then, Nix raised her hand up timidly. “Oh Ms. Campbell, you pair up with Ms. Lim.”

She looked at Jessica who just flashed her a thin smile. Kace tapped her back. “That’s alright Nix. Jessica’s nice.”

“Alright. Everyone sit down beside your lab partners and we’ll discuss your project.” Their professor ordered.

They all looked for their partners and sat side by side with them.

Kace looked at Luke who wasn’t moving his chair. She decided to just be the one to move next to him.

When he noticed this, he spoke, “Are you sure you want to be lab partners with me?”

“W-What are you talking about Luke?” She answered him.

“I just thought… you’d change your mind.”

She shook her head. “I think I just made the right choice.”

“Okay so for your first project, I want you all to pass a research paper showing the behaviors of different species of animals.” Mr. Flores started to explain. “It can be a hamster, a bird, a fish… anything you want to study. Just make sure that it is not harmful like those you see in the zoo.”

“What should we study?” She asked Luke beside her.

He just shrugged.

Kace didn’t ask him anymore questions after that. She was thinking of visiting the pet shop after their class so they could already start with the research.

She wanted him to come with her so they could both choose an animal, but since Luke was acting a bit… cold yet again, she decided not to ask him.

***