You Were Never Supposed to Notice Me.

Chapter 2: Partners by Chance

The next morning, Maya woke before her alarm.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, replacing yesterday’s rain with a bright blue sky.

She stretched before reaching for her phone.

7:02 A.M.

“First day wasn’t so bad,” she whispered to herself.

Maybe Westbrook High wouldn’t be so different after all.

She got dressed in her school uniform, brushed her hair into a loose ponytail, and grabbed her backpack.

Downstairs, the smell of pancakes filled the kitchen.

“Good morning,” her mom smiled.

“Morning.”

“So... how was your first day?”

Maya smiled as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.

“It was actually... nice.”

Her mother raised an eyebrow.

“Nice?”

“I made a friend.”

“Really?”

“Her name’s Ava. She’s funny... and she talks a lot.”

Her mom laughed.

“Sounds like someone you’ll never be bored around.”

Maya giggled.

“And I met this guy named Noah.”

Her mother noticed the tiny smile that appeared on Maya’s face.

“Oh?”

“It’s not like that,” Maya said quickly.

“We just bumped into each other.”

“Literally?”

“Yes.”

Both laughed.

“I hope today goes just as well,” her mom said.

“So do I.”

When Maya arrived at school, the hallways were already crowded.

Students stood by their lockers, talking about homework, weekend plans, and the upcoming basketball season.

“Maya!”

She turned to see Ava waving wildly.

“You actually came back!”

Maya laughed.

“I only missed one day.”

“I know, but you never know with transfer students.”

The two girls walked toward English class together.

“So...” Ava said with a grin.

“What?”

“I saw you walking with Noah yesterday.”

Maya rolled her eyes.

“We were just going to class.”

“Mhm.”

“Ava.”

“I’m just saying... Noah doesn’t usually walk people to class.”

Maya felt her cheeks warm.

“I think he was just being nice.”

Before Ava could tease her again, the classroom door opened.

“Everyone, take your seats,” Mr. Harris called.

The room quickly became quiet.

“I hope you all enjoyed your first week back.”

Several students groaned.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

The class laughed.

Mr. Harris picked up a stack of papers.

“As I mentioned yesterday, you’ll be working on a semester-long project.”

Excited whispers spread across the room.

“You’ll be working with one partner for the entire semester.”

Maya’s stomach fluttered.

Please don’t let it be someone who hates group work...

Mr. Harris began reading names.

“Emily and Sarah.”

“Jason and Marcus.”

“Ava and Lily.”

One by one, students found their partners.

Then...

“Maya Collins...”

She looked up.

“...and Noah Brooks.”

Silence.

Jason immediately smirked.

“No way!”

Ava looked at Maya with a huge grin.

“I knew it!”

Maya covered her face with her hands.

“This can’t be happening.”

Across the room, Noah laughed softly.

“I guess we’re partners.”

She smiled nervously.

“I guess we are.”

After class, Noah caught up with Maya outside.

“So...”

“So?”

“When do you want to start?”

“The project?”

He nodded.

“I was thinking maybe after school.”

Maya hesitated.

“Sure.”

“Great.”

“I’ll meet you in the library.”

“It’s a date.”

Noah froze.

“I mean—”

Maya laughed.

“I know what you meant.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed.

“Good.”

For the first time, Maya realized something surprising.

The most popular boy in school...

Got nervous too.

The final bell rang.

Students hurried toward the buses.

Others stayed behind for clubs and sports.

Maya walked into the library carrying her notebook.

She found a quiet table near the windows.

A few moments later...

“Sorry I’m late.”

She looked up.

Noah stood there holding two iced coffees.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked,” he admitted.

“So I got one vanilla and one caramel.”

Maya blinked.

“You bought these?”

He shrugged.

“I figured studying is easier with coffee.”

She smiled.

“Vanilla’s my favorite.”

“Lucky guess.”

They spent the next hour planning their project.

Instead of only talking about school...

They talked about life.

Maya admitted she had moved several times because of her mother’s job.

Noah confessed that basketball wasn’t as easy as everyone thought.

“My dad expects me to get a college scholarship.”

“That’s a lot of pressure.”

“It is.”

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then Maya smiled.

“I think we’re going to make a pretty good team.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

At that exact moment...

Someone across the library quietly lifted their phone.

Click.

A picture of Maya and Noah sitting together appeared on the screen.

The student smiled.

“Oh...”

“This is going to be interesting.”

Without another word...

They sent the picture into the school’s biggest group chat.

Neither Maya nor Noah had any idea.

By tomorrow morning...

The entire school would think they were dating.

End of Chapter 2

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