{{Dedicated to @melodymaniac because her comment on the last chapter made me squeal in delight}}

"Rhea Myers and Caleb Archer."

Oh no, Rhea thought. No, clearly she had misheard. There was no way she was paired with the asshole who had ruined her book and found it amusing. And for an entire term, too. She peered at Caleb, who was wearing an impassive expression, grasping the strap of his backpack that was casually slung over his shoulder. He didn't seem to have any objection to the arrangement; well, she had enough for the both of them.

"Mr. Martin," she charged for the teacher who was now done with reading the list, "Is there any way I can change my lab partner?"

Mr. Martin had the audacity to roll his eyes at the question. He'd always had an attitude, but this time, Rhea wouldn't have it.

"Can't I swap with someone, or something?" she tried once more.

"No, Ms. Myers," he said with an air of finality, "The pairings are final. I believe you two will make quite the team, too."

"How would you know that?" Rhea blurted out, growing impatient. "He and I have never even interacted. And he sleeps in classes, like, all the time."

She hadn't realized Caleb had come to stand beside her so she was startled when he spoke up.

"Been paying attention, have you?" he drawled.

"You wish," she bit out. She couldn't believe how this guy was behaving as if everything was a joke to him.

"Like I said, Ms. Myers, the pairings are final. You're going to have to deal with it."

Rhea groaned at the teacher's words. She wasn't normally one to disrespect the teachers, but Mr. Martin was being really trying at the moment and she hoped her behavior would be excused. Either way, though, she needed to let the frustration out.

Seeing her protests were to no avail, she finally gave up and turned around to see that every work surface but one was occupied by other students. So she made her way to the only empty one, which was the second by the window. She'd wanted to get the window seat, but Caleb beat her to it. Deciding to pick her battles wisely, she let it go, settling on the seat next to him instead.

By the time she placed her backpack down next to her seat and looked up, Caleb was, much to her shock, already getting his notebook out of his backpack. Mr. Martin was doing the introductory bit to the lesson, so she decided now was the best time to give Caleb a piece of her mind.

"Listen to me very closely," she hissed quietly, leaning towards Caleb, "I am going to ace this class, and if you were thinking of slacking it, you better change your fricking mind right this instant, because I am not going to let you ruin this for me."

Caleb continued to stare ahead to where Mr. Martin was drawling on and on about the importance of Chemistry, as if he hadn't heard Rhea at all.

"I know you heard me," Rhea hissed once more.

"Do you mind?" Caleb turned towards her sharply, "I am actually trying to pay attention and you buzzing in my ear isn't making it any easier for me."

Rhea felt all words leave her as she stared at the boy next to her with a taken aback expression on her face. He pursed his lips slightly to prevent a smug smile from finding his way to them and turned his attention back to the teacher after saying, "That's more like it."

Rhea huffed out a breath and turned towards where Mr. Martin was going on and on about one thing or the other. Really, the day had been so hectic that whatever he said didn't even register with her anymore. All she wanted to do in that instant was to go home and devour an entire box of ice cream all by herself while listening both Ed Sheeran albums. Alas, the minute hand of the clock seemed to slow down, each minute taking decades to pass. She felt her eyelids starting to drop; the adrenaline rush from her morning had left a feel of drowsiness in its wake as it disappeared. She tried to fight it, but eventually she lost the battle and let herself drift off with her chin resting on her hand.

Five minutes later –or it could be half an hour, she had no way of knowing– she jolted awake when she heard her name being called.

She inwardly cringed when she realized it was Mr. Martin who was addressing her.

"Ms. Myers," he said, "Am I boring you to sleep already?" She could feel her face start to heat up in embarrassment.

"No, sir," she answered quickly, "No, I just– I am sorry. It won't happen again."

"It better not," Mr. Martin replied curtly.

After he turned his attention back to the lecture Rhea slumped in her seat, inclining her chin towards her chest and hiding her face with her hair. This wasn't the best way to start the semester off with Mr. Martin and she would have to work twice as hard to make up for it.

"Acing the class, were you?" she heard Caleb drawl sarcastically and when she looked up at him, she saw that he was looking at her with an amused smirk. She went from embarrassed to annoyed in the blink of an eye.

"Look," she said, heaving a deep sigh, "I've been through eighteen kinds of shit today and some of it was thanks to you, might I add. So please, please do me a favor and shut your pie hole."

"Shut my pie hole..." he said, drawing the sentence out, as if testing it out.

"Yes, shut your trap, shut the front door, stop talking," Rhea said, her annoyance with him growing by the second.

"I didn't think anyone said that anymore."

"Well, I do," she said, jutting her chin out, "Deal with it."

"Mr. Archer and Ms. Meyers," they heard their names being called by Mr. Martin, "Did you have something you wish to share with the class?"

Oh crap crap crap, Rhea thought, this was the second time in only one lesson. This wasn't good.

"I am very sorry, sir," she heard Caleb say, "I was distracting Rhea with my musings. It won't happen again." Was she suddenly hearing things or had Caleb Archer just covered for her?

"I'm getting that phrase way too often from the two of you today," Mr. Martin said warningly, "And this is my last warning for you to cut it out."

"Yes, sir," they said simultaneously. Rhea gave Caleb a grateful look, but he just shrugged his shoulders.

***

When the bell rang, marking the end of the most dreadful school day she'd ever had to endure, Rhea dashed out of the class as if the room was on fire.

When she reached her locker, she saw that Willa was already there. How was that even possible when she'd all but sprinted here?

"Mrs. Carter let us go five minutes early," Willa explained as if she'd read her friend's mind.

"Where is Wade?" Rhea asked.

"I sent him home," Willa stated.

"How very thoughtful of you," Rhea drawled. She wasn't over the fact Willa had practically abandoned her on the most important day of her life yet.

"Look," Willa said, taking a step towards her, "I am very sorry about lunch today. I got sorta carried away."

"Do I even want to know?" Rhea said, groaning. The kind of friendship the girls had didn't leave much room for resentment; it was the kind of friendship where one second you'd be mad at each other and then the next second you'd be hugging and making plans for the evening.

"Well, Wade and I were in this empty classroom–" Willa started cheekily.

"I'll stop you there," Rhea interrupted her friend, "I don't need that image in my head." She closed her eyes and continued, "And now I have it anyway. Gee, thanks, Wills."

"Anytime, babe," Willa said, smirking, "Anyways, onto what's important. Who was that dreamy hunk you were making eyes with at lunch today?"

"Making eyes– dreamy hu– You know what, I won't even dignify that question with a response," he jutted her chin out.

"C'mon Rey," Willa whined, "Tell me!"

"Fine," Rhea said, she'd intended to tell her all along anyways. "His name is Floyd. Transfer student. Total cutie. Probably my soulmate. God, that sounds corny."

"You sure got lucky, then," Willa stated.

"What do you mean?" she asked as they started to walk towards the school parking lot.

"Well, this is your soulmate we're talking about," Willa smirked, "He could have been ugly. Or an asshole. Or a pervert. Or all of the above."

Rhea scoffed at her friend's words, "Good to know you think so highly of my chances."

"I am just aware of your track record," Willa stated matter-of-factly. Rhea had to begrudgingly admit that Willa had a point.

"Well, that's about to ch–"

Before she had the chance to finish her sentence, they were interrupted by Caleb who was walking towards what must be his own car.

He waved at her as he called out, "See you tomorrow, partner!"

Rhea groaned in response.

Willa eyed her friend curiously. "What was that about?"

"Don't even ask."

***