Unwritten Desires

Eleanor 

I glared at Liam as I measured the next reagent into the flask. He wasn't even trying to be helpful. He just stood there, arms crossed, watching me like I was some kind of failed science experiment.

"If you're not gonna help, at least don't stand there like some ominous statue." I whispered, trying to keep my voice low.

Liam barely spared me a glance. "You seem to be handling it…okay." He added after a slight pause. 

Okay???

Oh God.

I slammed the flask onto the workstation and it was a miracle it didn't break. I turned to Liam, glaring at him with my 'I swear I'll kill you if I had the chance' eyes. "If you say one…"

"Theadora. Liam."

Mrs. Chen's sharp voice sliced through our whisper war, making me stiffen. The rest of the class was busy working, but of course she had to catch us.

"Is there a problem?" she asked, arms crossed.

"No," Liam answered flatly, looking completely unbothered. Meanwhile, I was internally screaming and losing my mind here.

"Then keep it that way," Mrs. Chen warned before walking off.

I exhaled, rubbing my temples. "See what you did?"

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"Yes, you. If you would have helped me instead of standing there and being all annoying and…ugh, never mind. Just pass me the beaker."

He reached for it but…on purpose or not, he took his sweet, agonizing time. By the time he actually handed it over, I was vibrating with frustration.

What an asshole. 

I yanked the beaker from his hand, barely resisting the urge to throw it at his head. "Thanks for nothing."

"You're welcome."

This man.

I turned my back to him, setting up the next part of the experiment. My fingers were still tense from annoyance, and maybe that's why I accidentally bumped into Liam's arm.

"Watch it, four eyes," he muttered, his eyes drifting down to the stain on the lower part of his shirt.

I gritted my teeth. "Then move out of the fucking way."

It wasn't my fault he decided to tie his lab coat around his waist instead of wearing it like a normal student. 

Oh wait…he wasn't a normal student. 

Why did I always forget that? 

"And let you spill sulfuric acid all over the table again?" His voice was maddeningly casual.

I gasped. "I did not…"

"Theadora. Liam."

We both froze. Again.

Mrs. Chen stood at the front of the class, looking visibly done with us.

"Is this really happening again?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "Because if it is, I suggest you figure out how to work together like civilized human beings instead of children."

I bit my tongue and nodded. Liam didn't say anything, he just blinked and Mrs. Chen's gaze lingered on his lab coat for a second longer before she turned away with a sigh and an eye roll.

Oh so he was bribing the professors too. How convenient. 

I guess I didn't read long enough to find that out. 

And just when I thought we were off the hook I heard her say, "Last warning. If I catch you two one more time, I'm switching your partners."

I didn't actually expect the threat to hit me like a lightning bolt but it kind of did. But I guess it was probably because I didn't want to get paired with someone mid practicals. 

But then again, Naomi wasn't in this class so it couldn't be that bad. 

Liam, however, looked completely indifferent. He didn't care. I bet he wouldn't even mind if we got switched.

And for some stupid reason, that irritated me more.

He should be thanking me for trying my best while he's just standing there. 

I clenched my jaw, grabbing a new beaker and focusing all my energy on not committing murder. The last thing I needed was…

"That should be done in a test tube and not a beaker." He cut my thoughts off as he pulled the beaker out of my hand. 

That's it.

I whirled on him. "Oh so now you want to help me…"

"That's three."

Mrs. Chen's voice cut through the air like a guillotine and my stomach dropped. 

I turned slowly, praying she was talking to someone else.

She wasn't. And now everyone was staring at us. 

"God I hated being in awkward situations like this and it was all his fault." I thought as I glared at Liam. 

Not that he cared though. 

Mrs. Chen pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly at the end of her patience. "I warned you."

Well at least I got to be with someone else now. 

I turned to Mrs. Chen and she parted her lips to speak but a sudden crash came from the other side of the room drawing everyone's attention. 

"Oh my God!" A yelp pierced through the air. 

It was Sofia. 

She spun around facing Mrs. Chen with a somewhat panicked look and a flask in her hand while Mrs. Chen just stared at her with furrowed brows. 

"I don't know what's wrong," she said, waving the flask around dramatically. 

What the heck was she up to?? 

"I think our mixture is…um…exploding??" She batted her lashes making me even more confused. 

"Goodness." Mrs. Chen muttered as she shut her eyes obviously frustrated. "You know what…I'm switching you two. I don't care who you were working with before, you're getting new partners now." She sighed walking towards the desk in front. 

"Theadora…you're working with him now." She said pointing towards Jake and I swear I felt my heart stop the second our eyes met. "…and Liam you're with her." 

What???

Of all the people in the class to get swapped with?? We weren't even staying in the same part of the class and we still switched partners???

What kind of twisted sense of humor did fate have?? 

I mean it was bad enough that I got reincarnated here and got forced to live someone else's life and now I had to deal with all these problems and tension??

Ugh. 

I was in the middle of packing my stuff when I just decided to leave it and pack it after the practical. As I left, Liam's head turned slightly in my direction, but his expression remained unreadable. 

Oh well, at least he couldn't peer at me with that piercing gaze of his now. 

Meanwhile, Jake who had been quiet the whole time…looked up at me with a small glint in his eyes. 

Oh God…I didn't want to talk to him. 

What was I going to say? 

Sofia and I exchanged glances as we slid past each other and she averted my gaze. 

Oh gosh. She did this on purpose. 

Who knows what Jake must have told her…

And I thought I was her best friend. 

Ugh. 

"Move on with your work." Mrs. Chen clapped her hands to get everyone's attention before she settled in her chair. "We haven't got all day." 

I swallowed hard, my hands fiddling with stuff as I shifted closer to the glasswares on the desk. I decided to reach for one of the flasks but apparently Jake wanted to get it too and our fingers touched. 

Crap. 

I pulled back.

I didn't look at him. 

But I felt his eyes on me. 

Double crap. 

This was definitely going to be a very long class.