Chapter 6: The Storm Between Us115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQbwc0ByrX
The cafeteria was still buzzing, but for me?
Everything felt… louder.
More chaotic.
More embarrassing.
And somehow… more focused on one person.
Alex Ford.
Still soaked.
Still smirking.
Still staring at me like I just became his new favorite problem.
I groaned, dragging my hands down my face.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKGCwLI1fx
“Can this day get any worse…”
“Miss Avery.”
I froze.
Oh no.
Slowly… painfully… I turned around.
Standing behind us was our teacher.
Arms crossed.
Eyebrows raised.
Disappointed.
Very disappointed.
The entire cafeteria went quiet again.
Oh. Great.
Public humiliation part two.
“Care to explain,” he said slowly, looking between me and Alex, “why there is a soft drink incident happening in my cafeteria?”
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing came out.
My brain? Gone.
Deleted.
System error.
Alex, of course, spoke like he wasn’t just soaked five seconds ago.
“She spilled it,” he said calmly, pointing at me.
I snapped my head toward him. “EXCUSE ME?!”
“You did,” he added, shrugging.
“I SAID SORRY!”
“You also shouted,” he continued, completely ignoring my panic, “and caused a scene.”
“I DID NOT… okay maybe I did BUT STILL…”
“Enough.”
We both froze.
Before the teacher could say anything else, a new voice cut through the air.
Calm.
Strict.
Authority.
“What is going on here?”
My soul left my body for the second time today.
Slowly, everyone turned.
The principal.
Standing right there.
Watching everything.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
This is worse.
Way worse.
The teacher straightened immediately.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP0mNyZnA1
“Sir, there was a disturbance. These two…”
“I can see that,” the principal said, eyes scanning me, then Alex, then his soaked uniform.
Silence.
Heavy.
Awkward.
Deadly silence.
I swallowed hard.
“I… it was an accident,” I said quickly, voice small.
Alex crossed his arms but didn’t speak this time.
The principal stepped closer, his expression unreadable.
“An accident that caused disruption, shouting, and public attention,” he said calmly.
I wanted to disappear.
Like immediately.
He looked at both of us.
“Both of you will report to detention after school.”
I nodded quickly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdNGlXUIpt
“Yes, sir.”
But he wasn’t done.
“And since it seems you both have excessive energy for chaos,” he continued, voice sharper now, “you will be given a choice.”
A choice.
That didn’t sound good.
“You will either participate properly in detention… or you will be assigned to clean the school bathrooms.”
Silence.
My brain stopped working.
Bathroom.
I slowly turned to Alex.
He slowly turned to me.
We both whispered at the same time.
“…Bathroom?”
The principal raised an eyebrow.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenDC6YUJvH
“Yes. Including floors. Sinks. Everything.”
I felt my soul evaporate.
“Nope,” I whispered. “Nope nope nope…”
Alex let out a low groan.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5zVg6idzg
“Yeah… we’re not choosing that.”
“Obviously!” I snapped quietly. “I am NOT cleaning bathrooms because of YOU!”
“Because of me?” he shot back.
The principal cleared his throat.
Instant silence.
“Good,” he said. “Then I expect cooperation from both of you.”
Cooperation.
With him.
This was a nightmare.
“Yes, sir,” we both muttered.
The principal gave one last look, then turned and walked away.
The moment he disappeared, I turned to Alex.
“This is your fault!” I snapped.
“My fault?” he shot back. “You soaked me!”
“You stood there!”
“You threw the drink!”
“You EXISTED!”
He blinked.
“…That again?”
“…Yes.”
He stared at me.
Then suddenly laughed.
And again, I froze.
Because it wasn’t annoying.
It wasn’t teasing.
It was real.
And for one second, everything felt weirdly calm.
I shook my head quickly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1CkwPK3oG
“Nope. Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” he asked.
“That. Being normal.”
He smirked slightly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO9jwqflf1
“Too late.”
I rolled my eyes, grabbing my bag.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvStbOMSy8h
“Great. Now I’m stuck in detention with you… or worse… the bathroom.”
He leaned closer slightly, lowering his voice.
“Relax. I’m not letting you clean bathrooms.”
I blinked.
“…You’re not?”
He shrugged.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUMOPjOy7P
“Not when I still need you to teach me algebra.”
I froze.
Right.
Algebra.
“…You still need help?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
I sighed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULejfs5GCm
“Unbelievable.”
Then I pointed at him.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9swcbv1XR
“Fine. Detention. I’ll teach you. But if we end up in the bathroom…”
He smirked.
“I’ll blame you again.”
“I HATE YOU.”
“Sure you do… nerdy baby.”
“I HATE THAT NAME!”
From behind us, Eliza was literally dying from laughter.
“This is better than a movie,” she whispered.
I groaned, dragging her away.
“Come on, Ella. Before I get expelled.”
As we walked away, I felt it again.
That weird feeling.
That same one from this morning.
From the dream.
From every moment he looked at me like he knew something I didn’t.
I glanced back.
Just for a second.
And there he was.
Alex Ford.
Still messy.
Still soaked.
Still watching me.
And somehow…
Still smiling.
I quickly turned away.
“Nope,” I muttered.
“Absolutely not.”
But deep down?
I already knew.
Detention was going to be dangerous.
Because now…
It wasn’t just about punishment anymore.
The rest of the day felt… strange.
Too quiet.
Too normal.
Which made it worse.
Because every time I tried to focus, my brain kept replaying everything.
The cafeteria.
The principal.
The word bathroom echoing in my head like a threat.
And worst of all…
Alex Ford.
I groaned softly, dropping my head onto my desk.
“Why is my life like this…” I muttered.
Eliza leaned over from the seat beside me, clearly enjoying every second of my suffering.
“Because you’re dramatic,” she said simply.
I lifted my head just enough to glare at her.
“I almost got assigned to clean bathrooms.”
She grinned. “But you didn’t.”
“YET,” I emphasized. “Keyword: yet.”
She laughed, covering her mouth. “Relax. You’ll survive. Besides…”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“You and Alex in detention? Alone? That’s not punishment. That’s content.”
I stared at her.
“…I need a new best friend.”
“Too late,” she said proudly.
I groaned again and dropped my head back down.
The bell rang, snapping everyone out of their conversations.
End of classes.
Which meant…
My stomach dropped.
Detention.
I slowly stood up, dragging my feet like I was walking toward my own execution.
“Eliza…” I mumbled.
“Hmm?”
“If I don’t come back… tell my mom I tried my best.”
She snorted. “You’re going to detention, not war.”
“Same thing.”
She laughed, patting my shoulder. “Go. And don’t end up cleaning toilets.”
“I hate you,” I muttered.
“You love me,” she shot back.
I waved weakly and started walking toward the detention room.
Each step felt heavier.
Slower.
More dramatic.
“This is it,” I whispered to myself. “The end of my peaceful life.”
I reached the door.
Paused.
Took a deep breath.
Then pushed it open.
The room was quiet.
Empty…
Except for one person.
Of course.
Alex Ford.
Already there.
Sitting casually on one of the chairs, spinning a pen between his fingers like he didn’t have a single worry in the world.
He looked up the moment I entered.
And there it was.
That smirk.
“Wow,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You actually showed up.”
I rolled my eyes, closing the door behind me.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice,” he said lightly.
“Yeah,” I shot back, dropping my bag onto the desk. “Between detention… and cleaning bathrooms. Very great options.”
He chuckled softly.
I tried not to notice how… calm he looked.
How different he was when it was just the two of us.
No crowd.
No noise.
Just… this.
I quickly looked away, pulling out my notebook.
“Sit properly,” I muttered. “We’re doing algebra.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Already?”
“Yes, already,” I snapped. “The faster we finish, the faster I can leave and forget this entire day ever happened.”
He smirked slightly, but this time… he didn’t argue.
Instead, he stood up and walked over.
Closer.
Too close.
My heart did that stupid thing again.
He pulled a chair beside mine and sat down.
Not across.
Beside.
I froze.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to sound normal.
“Learning,” he said simply.
“You can learn from there,” I pointed at the seat across me.
He leaned a little closer, glancing at my notebook.
“I can see better from here.”
I swallowed.
Why is he so close?!
I tried to focus, pointing at the problem.
“Fine. Start with this. It’s basic.”
He nodded, actually paying attention.
For once.
No teasing.
No jokes.
Just… listening.
And somehow…
That made it worse.
Because every time our arms brushed slightly…
Every time he leaned in closer…
Every time I felt his presence next to me…
My brain completely forgot what I was even teaching.
“Are you even explaining?” he asked suddenly.
I blinked.
“…Yes?”
“You just pointed at the page for ten seconds.”
I froze.
“Oh.”
He smirked.
“Rough day?”
I glared at him. “This is your fault.”
“Everything is my fault to you.”
“Yes.”
He laughed softly.
And again…
That sound.
Why does it sound like that?
I quickly looked back at the notebook.
“Just… solve it,” I muttered.
He sighed but picked up the pen.
A few seconds passed.
Then
“…I don’t get it.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
“Give me that,” I said, grabbing the pen.
Our fingers brushed.
I froze.
He froze.
For a second… neither of us moved.
My heart was pounding.
Loud.
Too loud.
I quickly pulled my hand back.
“Focus,” I said quickly, looking anywhere but at him.
“…Yeah,” he muttered.
But his voice sounded… different.
Quieter.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Too quiet.
Too close.
And for the first time that day…
Neither of us joked.
Neither of us argued.
We just sat there.
Side by side.
Trying to pretend like nothing was happening.
Even though something clearly was.
After two days of detention, Alex walked out of the room like he’d just conquered a kingdom. His hair was still messy, his shirt slightly wrinkled, but somehow… he looked completely at ease.
I, on the other hand, was still fuming. My arms crossed, jaw tight, and every muscle in my body screaming that he still owed me a million apologies.
“Finally,” he said, stretching dramatically as he stepped into the hallway, “freedom feels amazing.”
I huffed. “Freedom? You spent two days making me almost lose my mind. That’s not freedom, that’s chaos.”
He looked at me, one eyebrow raised, smirk threatening to creep back. “Come on, you have to admit—it was fun.”
I glared daggers at him. “Fun?! Fun?! I almost got sent to clean the bathroom because of you!”
He shrugged casually, like it was my problem. “Minor setback. Totally worth it.”
My blood boiled. I was about to launch into a full rant when he suddenly took a step closer, tone dropping slightly. “Listen… I actually need your help.”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
“I need tutoring,” he said, blinking at me with an expression that somehow made him look… vulnerable. “Algebra. I didn’t exactly… survive detention learning anything.”
I crossed my arms tighter. “Oh, you need my help now? After all the chaos, the soft drink incident, the screaming, the… everything?”
“Yes,” he admitted, nodding sheepishly. “Please?”
I narrowed my eyes, staring at him like he had grown horns overnight. “Huh. Interesting. You’re soaked, messy, chaotic… and now suddenly polite?”
“I’m… changed,” he said, smirking lightly. “Or at least I’ll try to be.”
I groaned, facepalming. “You think this will make me forgive you?”
He leaned back, hands in pockets, relaxed as ever. “Not forgive me. Just… help me pass algebra.”
I let out a long sigh, dramatic as ever, glaring at him. “Fine. But tutoring doesn’t erase two days of detention. You owe me.”
“Deal,” he said immediately, smirk returning just slightly. “And maybe… you can teach me without punching me this time?”
I rolled my eyes. “We’ll see.”
And just like that… detention was over, but the chaos? Oh, it was far from done.
We ended up at a quiet corner of the library, books stacked around us like a fortress. I plopped down in the chair, glaring at Alex like he owed me his soul.
“So,” I said, opening my notebook, “let’s start with algebra. Are you ready to actually listen this time?”
He leaned back, arms crossed, smirking. “I’m always ready to see your genius in action.”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You’re ridiculously smart. I can barely keep up.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, so now you’re giving me compliments to butter me up? Classic Alex Ford.”
He shrugged, looking innocent. “Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I’m just stating facts.”
I huffed, flipping to the first problem. “Fine. Solve this quadratic equation. Show your work.”
He picked up the pen, pretending to think. “Okay… so x equals… um… 5?”
“Five?” I repeated, incredulous. “Are you serious? That’s not even close.”
He grinned cheekily. “Hey, maybe I’m testing you. Making sure you’re paying attention.”
I groaned loudly, facepalming so hard I almost knocked over my notebook. “You are impossible. You don’t test me. You annoy me.”
He laughed softly. “That’s part of the plan. Gotta keep my genius tutor on her toes.”
I glared daggers at him. “Genius? Me genius? Don’t flatter yourself. Don’t think you’re actually smart either. You just get lucky sometimes.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Lucky? Oh no, Alexandra. I have a plan. My plan is beating you in spirit.”
I leaned forward, eyes blazing. “Oh, it’s on. You get one problem wrong, and I’m going to make sure you regret ever asking me for help.”
He smirked, leaning closer. “Oh, I’m counting on it. Bring it on, nerdy baby.”
I froze. “…Did you just call me that again?”
He grinned, fully enjoying my panic. “Of course. It’s tradition now.”
I groaned, hiding my face in my hands. “This is going to be a very, very long tutoring session.”
Alex laughed softly, but underneath that smug expression, I could tell he was genuinely focused. He wanted to learn. I wanted to make him suffer for being Alex Ford.
Two geniuses. One tutoring session. Zero mercy.
The chaos was just getting started.
By the time we finally finished the last problem, I was exhausted. My brain felt fried from correcting every tiny mistake Alex made, and I was pretty sure I had aged at least five years from sheer frustration.
Alex leaned back in his chair, stretching dramatically. “Wow. I think I finally understand this. You’re… actually a genius.”
I glared at him. “I just tutored you for three hours. That doesn’t mean you suddenly get to flatter me.”
He smirked, running a hand through his messy hair. “Doesn’t hurt to acknowledge the truth.”
I groaned and rubbed my temples. “I am officially done. My work here is complete. Now I can go home and finally recover from this nightmare.”
Alex glanced at the clock. “It’s 4:00. Perfect timing.”
I grabbed my bag, ready to escape the library and never look back. “Finally,” I muttered under my breath.
Then he looked out the window. My eyes followed his gaze and immediately dropped. Rain. Pouring rain. Like someone had dumped a bucket from the sky.
“Oh no,” I groaned. “There’s no way I’m getting home in this.”
Alex raised an eyebrow, smirk creeping back. “Lucky for me, I have a car.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah. My car is just outside. You can ride with me. I’ll get you home dry and safe.”
I froze. My brain immediately went through a list of reasons why this was a terrible idea. First, Alex. Second, the smug smirk. Third, the mental exhaustion from tutoring him for three hours straight.
I crossed my arms, scowling. “No thanks. I’ll manage.”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice slightly. “Come on, don’t tell me you want to get soaked. It’s just a short drive. I insist.”
“Nope,” I said firmly, glaring daggers. “Absolutely not. I’m not riding with you. I can walk, I can run, I can swim through the rain if I have to.”
He chuckled, clearly amused, like my refusal was the funniest thing he had ever heard. “You’re stubborn as ever. I like that.”
I flushed, annoyed that he could somehow make my blood boil and my face heat up at the same time. “I’m not stubborn. I’m smart. Unlike some people who can’t even understand algebra without me.”
He smirked wider. “Touché. But still, you’re walking home in this weather? Are you sure about that, genius?”
I glared, shoving my hands in my pockets. “Yes. And you’re welcome. For… saving me from tutoring you any longer.”
Alex laughed softly. “Fine. Walk if you must. But just know… I’ll probably still be enjoying this smug look on your face later.”
I muttered under my breath, trying not to let him see how flustered I actually was. “I doubt it.”
Rain poured harder against the window, drumming like a constant reminder that we were trapped in this chaotic little bubble together for just a few more minutes.
I rolled my eyes and muttered, “Impossible, infuriating, maddening…”
Alex smirked knowingly. “You mean like me?”
I groaned, throwing my head back dramatically. “Exactly like you.”
And with that, we stared out the window for a moment, both soaked in thought, neither of us moving. The rain might have trapped us, but it couldn’t stop the storm between us.
I let out a dramatic sigh, gripping the edge of my desk like it was holding back my sanity. “I can’t believe you’re just sitting there, smirking, while I’m thinking of drowning in this rain.”
Alex leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, completely relaxed. “It’s called character building, genius. You’re welcome.”
I narrowed my eyes, standing up. “Character building? Really? I think you mean torture.”
He grinned, tilting his head. “Same thing, really. But it’s my specialty.”
I grabbed my jacket and stormed toward the library doors, already hearing the rain pounding outside. My hair was about to be ruined, my shoes soaked, and my dignity… questionable at best.
“Wait,” Alex called, following me a step behind, smirk still plastered across his face. “You really won’t get in the car?”
I whirled around, chest heaving, hands on my hips. “No! Absolutely not. You’ve caused me enough chaos for one day. I can survive a little rain!”
He shrugged, pretending to look hurt. “Ouch. I thought we had a moment. I thought you’d finally give in.”
I groaned, dragging my bag behind me through the puddles. “Moment? There is no moment. Just me, my raincoat, and surviving the apocalypse you call a car ride.”
He laughed softly, walking beside me, keeping pace. “Fine, fine. Walk if you insist. But don’t be surprised when you secretly enjoy me saving you next time.”
I shot him a glare, muttering under my breath, “Save me? Don’t make me laugh, Ford.”
The rain was relentless, soaking my jacket in seconds. My hair plastered to my forehead, I stomped through the puddles with as much dignity as I could muster.
Alex stayed close, occasionally splashing water on me with a well-placed step in a puddle, clearly amused. “You know, you’re still impossible, infuriating, maddening…”
I whirled, soaked, and threw my hands in the air. “Exactly like you! Don’t think I don’t see what you’re doing!”
He grinned, eyes sparkling. “Oh, I know. That’s why I like it. That’s why I keep coming back.”
I paused mid-step, staring at him through the rain, mouth slightly open. My cheeks burned, part from the cold, part from… something else. Something infuriatingly familiar.
I shook my head, muttering, “I… I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of knowing that…”
Alex chuckled softly, his smirk softening just a fraction. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, genius. You’ll see one day.”
I huffed, grabbing my bag tighter and marching ahead. “One day, huh? Not today, Ford. Not today.”
The rain poured on, drenching us both as we walked, neither willing to give in, both secretly enjoying the ridiculous, maddening chaos we created around each other.
And as the library disappeared behind us and the streets stretched ahead, I realized something: this rivalry, this endless storm between us… somehow, it was just beginning.
And for better or worse, I wasn’t sure I wanted it to end.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeePtZnA7l4
and then Add to home screen.