Chapter 2

 Aria Bennett & Noah Carter.

 Her worst nightmare had become a school assignment.

 "Absolutely not," she whispered.

 Noah leaned closer. "Having a little trouble accepting your fate?"

 Aria turned toward him. "I'm trying to figure out what crime I committed to deserve this."

 He smiled. "Maybe you're just lucky."

 "Lucky?"

 "You get to spend an entire semester with me."

 She gave him a disgusted look.

 "I'd rather repeat the class."

 Noah laughed quietly.

 Their teacher, Mrs. Parker, clapped her hands.

 "Everyone, settle down. Your first project will be a literary presentation. You'll choose a novel, analyze the characters, themes, and conflicts, then present your findings in six weeks."

 Six weeks.

 Aria immediately opened her notebook.

 She wasn't going to let Noah ruin her grade.

 "After class," she whispered, "we'll meet at the library."

 Noah glanced at her.

 "That's an order?"

 "It's common sense."

 "Unfortunately, I already have plans."

 "Cancel them."

 He looked amused.

 "You really think you can boss me around?"

 "No. I think I can remind you that I actually care about my grades."

 "So do I."

 "Then be at the library after school."

 He leaned back.

 "Fine."

 Aria turned toward the board again.

 At least they agreed on something.

 When the bell finally rang, students flooded out of the classroom.

 Aria packed her books quickly.

 "Aria."

 She stopped.

 A familiar voice came from behind her.

 Ethan.

 Her heart immediately began beating faster.

 She turned around and smiled.

 "Hey."

 Ethan walked toward her, holding a book against his chest.

 "How was your summer?"

 "Good. Yours?"

 "Pretty good."

 For a moment, neither spoke.

 Aria desperately searched for something interesting to say.

 Then Ethan smiled.

 "I like your hair."

 Her cheeks warmed.

 "Thanks."

 Before she could say anything else, Noah walked past them.

 "Careful, Bennett. Your face is turning red."

 Aria's smile disappeared.

 "Keep walking, Carter."

 Ethan laughed.

 Noah glanced between them before continuing down the hallway.

 Aria watched him leave.

 "He's always like that?" Ethan asked.

 "Worse."

 Ethan shook his head.

 "Well, I'll see you around."

 "Yeah."

 As he walked away, Aria couldn't stop smiling.

 Mia suddenly appeared beside her.

 "You like him."

 Aria jumped.

 "You scared me!"

 "You like Ethan."

 "I do not."

 Mia crossed her arms.

 "You've been staring at him for two years."

 "That's different."

 "How?"

 "I don't know."

 Mia laughed.

 "You are hopeless."

 Aria smiled.

 Maybe this semester wouldn't be so bad after all.

 ---

 At three-thirty, Aria sat at a table in the library with three books spread before her.

 She checked the clock.

 3:35.

 No Noah.

 3:42.

 Still nothing.

 3:50.

 Her patience disappeared.

 "Typical."

 She gathered her notebook.

 Just as she stood up, someone dropped into the chair opposite her.

 "Sorry I'm late."

 Aria stared at Noah.

 "You said you'd be here."

 "And here I am."

 "Fifty minutes late."

 "Forty-five."

 "That's not better."

 Noah placed his backpack on the floor.

 "I had practice."

 "Then you should have told me."

 He shrugged.

 "You would've complained."

 "I am complaining now."

 "I noticed."

 Aria sat back down.

 "Fine. Let's work."

 They spent the next twenty minutes arguing about which novel to choose.

 "No," Aria said.

 "Why?"

 "Because the characters are boring."

 "They're complex."

 "They're boring."

 "You're impossible."

 "And you're annoying."

 Noah leaned forward.

 "At least I'm interesting."

 Aria rolled her eyes.

 "That's debatable."

 Their eyes met.

 For some strange reason, neither looked away immediately.

 The moment lasted only a few seconds.

 Then Noah cleared his throat.

 "We should choose this one."

 Aria looked down at the book.

 "Fine."

 "Finally."

 "Don't get excited."

 He smiled.

 For the first time that afternoon, they worked without arguing.

 And Aria noticed something she didn't want to admit.

 Noah was actually good at this.

 Really good.

 He understood the characters quickly, noticed details she'd missed, and had surprisingly thoughtful opinions.

 When the library began closing, they packed their things.

 "Same time tomorrow?" Noah asked.

 Aria hesitated.

 "Sure."

 He stood.

 "Don't be late."

 She frowned.

 "You're the one who was late today."

 "I was testing your patience."

 "You failed."

 Noah smiled.

 "See you tomorrow, Bennett."

 "Goodbye, Carter."

 He walked away.

 Aria watched him for a moment before shaking her head.

 She didn't understand why, but something about today felt different.

 Noah was still Noah.

 Her enemy.

 Her biggest academic rival.

 The person she couldn't stand.

 So why had she smiled twice because of him?

 She pushed the thought away.

 Her heart already belonged to Ethan.

 There was no room for Noah Carter.

 At least, that's what she believed.