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I tried to ignore the deep hurt I felt over his action, like why I was overreacting? He must have a reason for doing such or I was just being paranoid, I don't know which but that hurt feeling remained.

I licked my lips, my gaze on the notebook with his perfect handwriting, I was nervous because I might ruin it with my ugly ones, great! Maybe I should have just told him I would mix the chemicals, not that I knew what to do. I haven't had ANY focus on her teaching. Well done Emma!

"What's wrong?" I heard his soft tone and I flicked my eyes back to his.

"N-Nothing,"

"Then why aren't you writing? I just listed out the samples" his eyes narrowed at me, they looked worried.

Was he talking and I didn't hear him? "S-Sorry, I was lost there"

"Why? Is something wrong?"

Why was he sounding overly concerned? Not that I minded it but it was odd from someone who didn't want to make contact with me.

"Just realizing how much I suck in Chem" I forced a smile.

"You don't suck Emma," he said with one of those his side smile, and I quickly snapped out of it by looking away.

"My handwriting sucks"

"What?"

"I said my handwriting sucks"

"I heard you the first time, I'm only curious why you would say your handwriting sucks"

I bit my lips. "It does"

"Nothing sucks about you Emma"

"You don't know me"

"I'M getting to know you, and nothing sucks, I don't think anything does," he says so softly, almost too soft and it almost fell in a whisper but I heard everything loud and clear and it stunned me because we have only met twice and he's concluding that I don't suck at all with so much certainty.

"O-Okay" I muttered, facing the notebook back and he listed out the samples. I tried to focus on his words rather than the sound of his sweet voice, almost sounding like it was close to my ears. I ended up licking my lips multiple times trying to keep myself focused.

"See?" I said, sliding the notebook back to him, his gaze fell on it and my heartbeat seemed to race. My handwriting was a mess, completely a scattered mess from his well arranged ones. Maybe I should be a doctor and finally accept how awful my handwriting was.

"Cute"

Come again?! "C-Cute?"

He smirks, those pink lips of his forming a wide line and his eyebrow raised. "You heard me," he said, sliding the notebook away like it was a masterpiece of some sort.

I was about to open my mouth to speak but the bells came instead. What? 2 hours of class were over, already?

"Okay everyone, I expect that paper to be filled with how you mixed your chemicals as well as the process of your own making, one paper per seat"

"W-What paper?" I asked with wide eyes.

"This" he raised the form fully filled out.

"W-When did you…"

Others submitted theirs, as they walked out, how come I didn't know we were supposed to fill that? Once again Dace surprised me with his attentiveness.

"With your seat number, come on!"

He winked at me, rising to his feet and walking tall toward Mrs. Kate and muttering something to her.

"And it's our star student, brains like this are what all of you should have," she said to the rest who were already rushing out, her eyes set on me and I tensed, she looked at me like I was some nuisance to him, don't judge me but I think my Chem teacher might have a crush on Dace. "You better not let him do all the work"

I blushed, scrabbling out of my seat, and gathering my things in my bag before rushing to Dace already out the door.

"Wait!"

He came to a halt, I noticed he had his dark brown leather jacket and bag in one hand, the other in his jean pocket. He whirled, two steps were enough to close the distance between him and me, my neck tilted upwards just to meet his gaze.

"Y-Your umbrella…" I began. "I should give it to you"

"Okay," he said, amused watching me closely.

"O-Okay," I didn't know how long I stood there.

"We should hurry if we wanna catch the next class, Emma," he said in a ragged whisper, seeming more amused.

"R-Right," I said leading the way but suddenly some dude on his skateboard zapped past me and I lost my balance, my bag dropping to the ground. I thought I might be next but an arm snaked my waist stopping me and yanking me to his body.

"Are you okay?!"

I panted, his words lost to me but focused on the flush of the intense notion that swirled within me like a spark and the hairs at the back of my neck stood up. His eyebrows flicked together he was in as much case of confusion as I was and I did something that only tensed the feelings we both felt.

My hands grasped his arms.