WebNovels

Chapter 9 - CHAPTER 8 - Study Session

Rhaine had spent way too long cleaning her room for "just a school project."

She told herself it wasn't for Sam. It was for the sake of not looking like a total disaster.

Because it would be embarrassing if Sam thought she lived like a slob.

That was all.

Definitely not because she cared what Sam thought of her.

When the doorbell rang, she took a breath deep enough to almost make her dizzy.

"Your friend's here!" her mom called from the kitchen.

Rhaine opened the door to find Sam in a light denim jacket, tote bag slung over her shoulder, her hair catching the late afternoon light.

"Hey," Sam said with that easy, unshakable smile.

"Come in," Rhaine replied, forcing her voice into something casual.

Her mom poked her head out. "Hi! I'm Rhaine's mom. You're Sam, right?"

"That's me," Sam said, waving.

Before her mom could start asking questions, Rhaine grabbed Sam's arm and tugged her toward the stairs. "We'll be upstairs."

---

Her room suddenly felt… smaller. And warmer.

Sam's eyes wandered over the bookshelves, the desk, the corkboard with pinned photos of Maya, Eli, and a few others.

"It's very… you," Sam said, dropping her bag.

Rhaine frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Organized. Minimalistic. A little intimidating." Sam grinned.

"I'm not intimidating." Rhaine crossed her arms automatically.

Sam raised a brow like she didn't believe her, then settled cross-legged on the carpet. "Let's work."

---

They spread notes across the floor. Sam started humming under her breath as she typed. It was distracting not in a bad way, just… distracting.

Rhaine told herself she liked the quiet because it helped her focus. Not because it felt nice having Sam in her space, her voice filling the room.

---

"Hey," Sam said, "what if we use a split-screen slide to compare the French and Polish resistance? Looks more dynamic."

"That's… actually a good idea," Rhaine admitted.

Sam smirked. "'Actually'?"

Rhaine rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it."

Their shoulders brushed as Sam leaned closer to show her laptop. It meant nothing. Friends sat close all the time. She'd sat closer to Maya plenty of times without… feeling anything.

This was the same.

Totally the same.

---

Sam pulled a pack of cookies from her tote. "I brought these so we don't starve."

"Cookies aren't a meal," Rhaine said, grabbing one anyway.

"They are if you eat enough."

Rhaine almost smiled, but bit into the cookie to hide it.

---

After an hour, Sam glanced at the corkboard. "Who's in those pictures?"

"Maya, Eli, a few old classmates."

Sam stood to look closer. "This one boyfriend?"

Rhaine laughed sharply. "No. Just a friend."

"You've had one though, right? Boyfriend?"

Her pulse jumped. "Why?"

"Just wondering."

Rhaine looked down at her notes. "Not really. I've been busy with school."

Which wasn't the full truth, but it was safer than saying she never felt the way she was "supposed" to feel about boys.

---

Sam sat again. "I haven't dated much either. Had a friend who kept trying to set me up with people. Never worked."

Something twisted in Rhaine's stomach. "You… like anyone now?" she asked, too quickly.

Sam shrugged. "Not really."

Rhaine nodded, trying to ignore the sudden wave of relief. It didn't mean anything. She just didn't want her friend distracted. That was all.

---

They went back to work. Sam lay on her stomach now, hair spilling over her shoulder.

Rhaine caught herself staring, and snapped her eyes back to her laptop. She didn't like Sam that way. She just… admired her. Like anyone would admire a friend who was… charismatic. And funny. And nice to be around.

Totally normal.

---

Her mom knocked on the door. "Snacks in the kitchen if you need a break."

Sam brightened. "Yes, please."

In the kitchen, Sam chatted with her mom like they'd known each other for ages. Rhaine stood there sipping water, trying not to notice how easily Sam fit in.

It made her feel weird.

Good weird.

Dangerous weird.

---

Back upstairs, they finished the outline. Sam zipped up her bag. "We make a pretty good team."

"Guess so," Rhaine said, looking away before Sam could see the way her lips twitched upward.

At the door, Sam gave a lazy wave. "See you tomorrow."

When the door closed, Rhaine leaned against it for a second.

She wasn't into Sam. Obviously.

She just… liked her company.

And her smile.

And the way her laugh sounded in her room.

Totally normal.

More Chapters