At lunch, I'm on my own. Jade's out sick, and the rest of the group is stuck in class, caught up in some debate over their essay. It's strangely quiet without them. I head down the stairs, planning to find a spot in the hall where I can be alone with my thoughts. Near the lockers, I notice a big crowd gathered—the "popular" crowd, as usual. Dimelo is there, chatting animatedly with Kate, Vanessa, and their friends.

It hits me then, how much Jason has been on my mind since he came to school. We didn't even speak that first month, yet somehow, I was always aware of his presence. Every day felt like a small thrill, knowing he was somewhere nearby. And no matter how much I tried to ignore it, I always ended up looking for him, or catching him glancing my way. The past few days have felt different without him around. Even if I try not to admit it, school feels... emptier.

Earbuds in, Italian book in hand, I start walking past the group, feeling more invisible than usual. Then, in the middle of the crowd, I spot him—Jason. He's standing there, listening as Vanessa talks to him, twirling a strand of her hair and grinning up at him. Just as I walk by, he looks up and meets my gaze. In an instant, he murmurs something to her, and then he's heading straight toward me.

Caught off-guard, I stop and smile nervously. He's in a black sweater over a white shirt, looking a little more put-together than usual, and it suits him. His hair has that perfectly tousled look, and those green eyes lock on me with that familiar spark. I feel my cheeks warm, realizing I've been caught staring.

Jason gives me a small smile, running a hand through his hair. "Hey," he says, adjusting his backpack.

"Hey," I say back, pulling out my earbuds and unable to stop myself from smiling. Why does he make me feel this way?

"Miss me?" he asks, his eyes teasing. The question catches me off guard, and all I manage is an awkward "uhm..." and another uncomfortable smile.

He chuckles at my response. "So... back to school?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah," he says with a grin. "School is... interesting."

From the corner of my eye, I notice Vanessa glaring at me. Her friends look away after a moment, but she keeps watching, eyes sharp. I try to ignore it, turning my focus back to Jason.

A piece of hair falls over his forehead, and I have the urge to reach out and brush it back. Instead, I just smile, hoping he can't tell what I'm thinking.

"Well, you're one of the few people who thinks school is interesting," I say, glancing down to hide my expression.

He looks at the book in my hand. "Italian, huh? Been studying?"

"Sort of. It's for beginners, so I think I'll be fine," I say, surprised by how confident I sound.

He smirks. "Okay then," he says, taking the book. "How about a quick quiz?"

I nod, and we head to the benches out back, where it's quieter. We sit across from each other, and he flips to the right chapter.

"Alright, let's start easy. 'The mother.'"

"La madre," I reply. He nods approvingly.

"This is my mother," he prompts, his eyes twinkling.

"Questa è mia madre."

"Nice. How about, 'What's your name?'"

"Come ti chiami?" I answer, my gaze fixed on him.

He looks up with a smile. "Your pronunciation's really good."

"Thanks," I murmur, looking away.

"I didn't realize we could study Italian here."

"They don't actually offer it," I explain. "You have to request it as a separate course and study on your own."

"That's... kind of intense. Isn't it hard?"

"Not really. I'm comfortable with it. My dad's was Italian, so I picked up a bit." Jason watches me closely, his eyes studying my face. 

"Are you fluent?" he asks, clearly impressed.

"No, I mostly taught myself." I say, glancing down. He nods, seeming to pick up on the shift in my mood.

"Cira's an Italian name, so I thought maybe..." he trails off, not pressing further. I appreciate that.

After a pause, he leans forward, elbows on the table. "I haven't found anything new about the Vini stuff."

I blink, realizing he's switched topics. "Neither have I," I admit. "The website I'd found is gone now. It's weird."

"Yeah, it's strange that it just disappeared." His brow furrows, like he's turning it over in his mind. 

I sigh, feeling a wave of uncertainty. "What are the odds, though? It all sounds too... impossible." I glance at him, realizing how vulnerable I must look. Jason holds my gaze, an intensity in his eyes as though he's trying to solve a puzzle.

He speaks softly. "If it runs in your family, you'd think there'd be more than just the three we've found." He leans in closer, like he's trying to make sense of me. "But there has to be something special about you."

The first bell rings, and we both straighten up, realizing how close we were leaning over the table. Jason smiles, and I can't stop myself from smiling back.

"Promise me something," I say, meeting his eyes.

He tilts his head, curious. "What?"

"If you find anything else, you'll tell me. All of it."

He smiles faintly but doesn't answer. Instead, he gets up and nods toward the door. "Come on, second bell's about to ring."

I stay put, watching him, and he finally rolls his eyes. "Fine. I promise. Everything I find," he says with a sigh. Satisfied, I gather my things, struggling with my crutches as he steps aside to let me pass.

"Where's your next class?" he asks.

"B12," I say, and he nods, falling into step beside me.

"What about you?" I ask, noticing his drink. It's something thick and green with "Dr. Frizz" on the label.

"Free period," he says, catching my expression. "It's healthy. Want to try it?"

I make a face, but he wipes the rim and holds it out to me. Reluctantly, I take a sip, only to be hit by a thick, bitter taste with hints of beetroot, banana, and something vaguely green.

"Sorry, that's just... awful," I say, grimacing. He laughs, taking the bottle back.

Just as we turn the corner, I see Dimelo standing with Jason's friends. He notices us and starts walking over, an apologetic smile on his face.

"Hey, Cira," he says, scratching the back of his head. "I just wanted to say sorry about last week. It was... a bad day for me."

"Uh, thanks," I say, giving him a small smile. As he walks away, Jason watches him, an unreadable look on his face.

Suddenly, someone yells, "Hey, Dimelo!" Before we can react, Damin and Karim rush forward, one with a bucket and the other with a black balloon. Jason quickly moves in front of me, shielding me as the balloon bursts and feathers fill the air. Dimelo is covered in a sticky, gluey mess, and everyone around starts laughing and filming.

Jason chuckles, brushing the feathers from his shirt. He looks at me, dimples showing as he catches a feather in my hair and gently tugs it free.

"Thanks," I mumble, looking down, feeling my heart race. He watches me for a second, his expression softening.

The second bell rings, breaking the moment. Jason steps back, giving me a small nod. "Good luck on your test," he says, flashing an awkward but genuine smile.

"Thanks," I say, heading into class, knowing full well he'll be on my mind for the rest of the day.