Monday Morning – 7:45 AM
I stood in front of my locker, watching the swirl of students drift past. Word about the Antarctica trip had spread over the weekend — and with it, the usual whispers.
"Why him?"
"Did he bribe the teacher?"
"Poor Vanessa, stuck with that nobody."
I pretended I didn't hear them. But when I closed my locker door, Vanessa was right there, startling me.
"Morning," she said, too brightly.
"You trying to give me a heart attack?"
She smirked, then leaned in slightly. "Try to look a little less nervous today. People are already talking."
"They always do." I shrugged, but her eyes lingered on mine — as if she wanted to say something more. Instead, she tugged her bag up her shoulder.
"Meet me at the library during lunch. We need to finalize the presentation slides for the briefing."
"Sure," I said. "Uh… about yesterday—"
"Don't," she cut me off. "What happens at my house stays there."
She walked away before I could read the look in her eyes.
---
Lunchtime – School Library
Vanessa had already claimed a table in the far corner, away from the chatter. She was scribbling notes furiously, earbuds in, foot tapping. For a moment, I just watched her — the way she chewed her lip when she was deep in thought, the way her hair fell over her shoulder.
When she noticed me, she pulled out an earbud. "Sit."
"Always so bossy," I said, sliding into the chair across from her.
"It gets things done." She pushed a stack of printed slides toward me. "Check the data on carbon emissions. Some of the figures might need an update."
As I flipped through the pages, I couldn't help asking, "You okay?"
She looked up sharply. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Yesterday, you seemed… different."
"Don't read into it." Her tone was flat, but her pen drummed against her notebook. A crack in the armor.
I tried again. "Vanessa, if you ever want to—"
She leaned forward suddenly, her eyes locked on mine. "Alvin, stop trying to fix me. We're not friends."
Her words stung more than I expected.
"Right," I said, forcing a laugh. "I'll remember that."
She didn't say anything after that. We worked in silence, but the air between us felt like ice — fragile, waiting to break.
---
After School – Front Steps
The final bell rang. I packed up slowly, hoping to catch her before she disappeared like always. Sure enough, she was at the front steps, tugging her coat tighter around her shoulders.
"Vanessa!" I jogged up. "Hey, do you want to—"
She stopped walking but didn't look at me. "What?"
"Do you want to go over the packing list together? For Antarctica. I mean… it's in three days."
She sighed, a soft white puff in the winter air. "Fine. Tomorrow morning. Before class."
I nodded. "Okay."
She turned to leave, but then paused. Her voice dropped, so quiet I almost missed it.
"You shouldn't be nice to me, Alvin."
"Why?"
She didn't answer. Just slipped her hands in her pockets and walked away.
---
Scene Shift – Vanessa's Room
Vanessa paced in front of her mirror, phone clutched in her hand. The new note on her screen glowed at her like an accusation:
MISSION: Stop pretending you don't care.
"Stupid," she muttered, deleting it again. She typed something new:
MISSION: Make him hate you.
Her reflection didn't look convinced.
---
Scene Shift – Alvin's Room
I sat at my desk, staring at the bonsai. Ran my thumb over its tiny leaves. Thought about the way she looked at me today — the way she always seemed torn between pushing me away and pulling me closer.
I don't get her, I thought.
But I wanted to.
I whispered to the bonsai, feeling stupid. "You've survived three years. Think you can handle one more winter?"
I didn't know if I meant the tree — or my heart.