Hours into the exam, Angel adjusted her pen and tried to focus. She was deep into solving the problems when something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. David Sinclair, the boy she had noticed that morning, had his head resting on the table.
For a moment, she wondered if he was sleeping. She shook her head slightly and returned her focus to her work, telling herself it wasn't her business. But then, as she subconsciously glanced up again, she caught him looking at her—head still on the table. His dark eyes met hers for just a moment before he rolled them and looked away. Seconds later, she looked back, and there he was again, stealing another glance.
The exam ended, and students began leaving the hall. Angel carefully packed her things. Sarah appeared beside her almost immediately, a grin spreading across her face.
"You know," Sarah said conspiratorially, "there wasn't a single handsome guy in the hall… except the boy with the nose mask."
Angel felt her lips curl into a smile. "Yeah, I noticed him too," she admitted.
Sarah's eyes lit up. "He's so fine… I think I might have a crush on him."
Angel felt an unexpected thump in her chest, a subtle shift in her heart. She smiled, glancing at David, who was chatting a little farther away with his friends.
"Why don't we walk in that direction?" Angel suggested softly, leaning closer to Sarah. "I can act like I accidentally push you toward him, and he'll apologize."
Sarah's eyes sparkled. "Yes! Let's do it!"
Linked arm in arm, the two girls started walking toward David. Angel's heart began thumping harder with each step. The closer they got, the more she reconsidered. The plan suddenly felt too bold. Without a word, she let go of Sarah's arm and ran back a few steps, leaving Sarah laughing at her hesitation.
"That would've been too obvious anyway," Sarah teased.
Angel laughed softly, catching her breath. "Okay, okay. Let's try something else. We should check his seat number and then go ask the teacher who has the full list. That way we can get his name without looking too obvious."
Sarah nodded, and Angel remembered exactly where he had been sitting—just one chair away from her. It would be easy to find.
The two girls quickly located his seat number and headed straight to the tech room. The teacher in charge of the student seating list raised an eyebrow as they approached.
"His seat number?" the teacher asked, already suspecting their plan.
"Yes," Sarah said, a grin on her face.
A playful scuffle of words followed, the teacher teasing them, and Angel laughed along, enjoying the light-hearted tension. Finally, the teacher handed over the information. Angel and Sarah exchanged victorious glances—their mission was complete.
They left the tech room, holding the slip with David's name, hearts light with excitement and a new secret in their hands.