Seabrook, Texas, at Vanguard Preparatory, Friday, December 20th, 2030, at 2:15 pm

Lucas

I'm practically jogging down the hall as I try to get outside the building. I managed to keep it together in there, but my blood is boiling right now. Sam has probably been stopping in Rachel's room as often as possible to see her. Even though nothing happened between them, the thought of him near her is infuriating.

I make it to the side doors and throw them open. The air is cold against my skin as it was about fifty degrees outside. I take a deep breath, letting the crisp oxygen fill my lungs and wash away my anger. I hear the door open behind me, causing me to turn.

"Oh, perfect," Sam groans as he stands in the doorway. "I wasn't following ya, just trying to get some air," he sighs deeply and doesn't make eye contact with me. I start to actually feel sorry for him as I begin to see the pain hiding behind his eyes.

"Sorry about the performance," I mutter under my breath. "I didn't realize you would be...in her room," I growl as I look away from him.

"Yeah, Landon invited me in to make a geometric Christmas ornament," he chuckles awkwardly. I don't say anything to him as I try to relax my breathing again. "I have to admit, though," he continues from the doorway. "I have never seen Rachel's face light up like that."

I dart my head to look at him. He's already staring at me. He has on a light gray suit with his hands on his hips. His white button down makes his skin look even tanner and his hair blonder. His expression is painful, but I think he's trying to be nice.

"She really, really loves you," he shakes his head and glances away from me. A cold breeze blows through, a welcome contrast to the heat I feel right now.

"She means everything to me," I manage to whisper. He looks at me again and smiles weakly.

"I can tell," he replies plainly, but his expression is genuine. "I'm glad you finally realized what she's worth," he mumbles as he rubs the back of his neck. "Take care of her."

"I will," Sam nods at me firmly as the dismissal bell rings through the halls behind him.

"Oh my god, there you are," Rachel exclaims as she pops into the doorway, out of breath.

"Don't worry, I was just leavin'," Sam chuckles awkwardly as he faces Rachel. His eyes immediately shift as a gloominess takes over the green iris, making them darker than before. He stares at Rachel intensely for a moment before nodding slowly. He turns to scold some students for running in the halls, closing the door behind him.

Rachel looks at me and smiles hesitantly. I hold out one of my arms, gesturing for her to come here. Her smile widens and she quickly throws herself against me.

"Are you ready to go?" I whisper against her hair as I give her a small squeeze.

"Almost, I need to grab the rose and your little robot from my room," she giggles. "And maybe a few coffee cups," she buries her face in my chest out of embarrassment.

"A few, huh?" I kiss the top of her head as I lead her back inside towards her room. Several of her students wave to me in the halls, mostly girls. They all have this giddy look of excitement in their eyes.

"Hi Mr. Clarke!" they cheer in unison.

"Hi, girls," they giggle into each other's shoulders. Rachel is grinning from ear to ear at their tiny crushes. "Have a great holiday break," I nod my head at them as Rachel and I duck into her classroom. There's three coffee mugs sitting behind her desk as well as two tumblers.

"You do know the definition of the phrase, 'a few', right?" I tease her as I begin grabbing mugs we have been missing from the house for weeks.

"Yes, Mr. Know-It-All," she shakes her head at me as she grabs a reusable bag from under her desk to put the cups in. "I just forgot how many I actually had," I burst out laughing at how adorable Rachel looks when she's embarrassed.

"It's okay, I still love you, even though you're addicted to coffee," she beams at me as she picks up my little robot off of her desk.

"I can't believe you," she whispers, grinning.

"That is just the beginning of our date night, sweetheart," I grab her hand and pull her towards me to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Oh? What are we doing?" she rests her hands on my sides and squeezes me a little.

"That doesn't work on me," I say, trying to hold back laughter.

"It doesn't? Let me test that theory," she starts tickling me under my suit jacket, making me burst out laughing as I jump away from her.

"I'm still not telling you!" I grab the bag of dishes and dart out the door.

"Hey! Wait!" she calls out as she follows me down the hall with the tiny robot and single pink rose in each hand.