Partnership!

Gwen found herself considering Luke, his offer hanging between them like an unspoken pact. A flicker of movement at the edge of her vision made her gaze flit towards the corner of the room. Max was already working the room, casting his net far and wide in the hopes of finding a partner. His actions carried a comical desperation, but Gwen was confident he wouldn't be without a partner for long. Beneath Max's playful exterior, he possessed a keen intellect, one often overlooked due to his perpetually relaxed demeanor.

Returning her focus to Luke, she met his gaze. His eyes were hopeful, holding a patience she hadn't expected. Gwen's gaze flitted around the room, in search of Olivia. However, it didn't take long for her to remember that her best friend didn't share this class with her. A wave of mild panic surged through her momentarily, but she quickly quelled it. After all, she was a police chief's daughter and Spider-Woman. A change in study partners was hardly a reason to flinch.

Releasing a resigned sigh, she turned back to Luke. Her features softened into a reluctant smile, a slight challenge dancing in her eyes. "Are you actually going to do anything…? I don't want to be the one doing all the work..." she queried, her tone playfully skeptical.

Luke responded with a grin that was both swift and bright. "Of course I will! I'll have you know, I'm the one that does all the work when Max and I partner up!" he claimed, determination gleaming in his eyes.

Gwen's eyebrow arched at Luke's proclamation. "Didn't you say you got a 'D' last time…" she countered with a smirk. Her voice was laced with humor, turning the tables on his earlier claim.

"Details, details," Luke brushed off, shrugging nonchalantly. His confidence remained unscathed by her retort, his grin unperturbed.

Without waiting for further conversation, Luke reached down, gathering the cluster of books and papers scattered across her desk. Rising, he slung his backpack over one shoulder and started to saunter towards the back of the classroom, silently claiming her as his partner.

Watching Luke's retreating back, Gwen shot a glance towards Max. He seemed to have successfully wrangled a partner from the group of boys that usually sat near them. His desk was cleared, and his new partner's belongings were being transferred. By some twist of fate, Luke and Max ended up virtually next to each other, with only an empty desk separating them.

Resigning herself to her newfound partnership, Gwen gathered her remaining belongings and followed Luke to the back of the room. A silent sigh of relief escaped her as she realized that their new workspace was not too far from her original seat. The walk of mild discomfort was mercifully short.

Once Gwen was settled into her new seat beside Luke, Mr. Jackson moved to the front of the class. His throat cleared, serving as a signal for the classroom to quieten down. "Alright, class," he began, his voice echoing in the silence, "Now that everyone has a partner, let's talk about this week's project."

"We are going to conduct a study on local biodiversity. I want you to select a specific habitat within our city — it could be a park, a river, or even your own backyard. Observe, document and analyze the variety and abundance of flora and fauna in your chosen area. Take note of any environmental issues impacting your site, like pollution or invasive species. Remember, this project is not just about data collection, but also about understanding the significance of biodiversity and our role in protecting it."

The room hummed with an approving murmur. For most of the students, the prospect of an outdoor project was a refreshing departure from their usual textbook-laden curriculum.

Gwen and Luke shared a mutual glance, a spark of interest flickering between them. Both turned their attention to their notebooks, scribbling down the project details. Gwen's notes were methodical and neat, in sharp contrast to Luke's haphazard and casual ones.

In a pause of their note-taking, Gwen turned towards Luke. "How about we focus on Central Park?" she suggested, her gaze still lingering on her notes. "It's big, diverse, and centrally located. It should be a good subject for our project."

Luke, now lounging back in his chair, looked up at Gwen. His shoulders lifted in a shrug, his face wearing an approving nod. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed. "I do enjoy the park... plenty of good places to grab a hotdog."

Gwen's brows furrowed at Luke's carefree response. "Luke, this isn't about where you can get your next meal," she chided, turning to face him with a stern expression. "This project is serious. I'm fully capable of handling the work, but that doesn't mean I should or want to do it all."

Turning back to Gwen, Luke met her gaze with a spark of mischief. He leaned in closer, resting his chin on his hand. "Well, Gwen, I thought we were in this together," he started, his tone layered with a playful charm. "You didn't stop me from moving your stuff, and you were the one that suggested Central Park. That sounds like a partnership to me."

At that moment, a peel of laughter sounded from the next desk. Max was chuckling, clearly amused by the scenario unfolding between them. Luke shot him a glare, which Max ignored with a nonchalant shrug and an innocent whistle.

His words, though laced with charm and humor, couldn't mask the truth in his statement. Luke had a point. Gwen hadn't really objected to his partnership, however unilateral they may have been. Still, she wasn't about to let him off that easily.

"Luke, I swear, if you don't pull your weight on this project, I'll happily accept an 'F' just to stick it to you," she said, her tone firm but laced with underlying humor. "And trust me, I've never gotten an 'F' in my life."

Her threat was met with a burst of laughter from the desk next to them. Max, unable to contain his mirth any longer, was holding his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably.

Luke shot him a look of annoyance, but Max was too busy laughing to notice. Luke then turned back to Gwen, his face now carrying a more serious expression.

"Gwen, you don't need to do that," he began, leaning in a bit closer. "I told you I would pull my weight, and I meant it. I'll...I'll do the data collection, and we can analyze and write up the findings together. How does that sound?"

There was an earnestness in his voice that made Gwen pause. She studied him for a moment, considering his proposal. It was a fair division of labor, and it might just keep Luke accountable.

"Alright, Luke," she finally agreed, a victorious smile lighting up her face. "But remember, you promised."

With a mock groan, Luke leaned back in his chair, a playful pout forming on his lips. "Alright, alright...you've got yourself a deal."

As he pouted, Gwen couldn't help the satisfied smirk that spread across her face. This was shaping up to be an interesting project indeed. Whilst she was stuck with Luke, at least he would do his part for the project, or at least said he will… who even knows at this point..

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. As the students began to pack their things, Gwen and Luke shared a glance. Gwen's being one of confidence regarding the future work, and Luke's being one of the obligatory looks you would give your boss to avoid being rude.