Chapter Text
A book slammed down on the desk beside Sam, startling him out of his daydream. He realized he'd been completely spaced out for God knows how long. He looked around, noticing students were partnered up for some mystery project he hadn't been paying attention to. He exhaled. English was never fun for him. Math was fine, biology was amazing, but english? He never saw the appeal. Plus, his teacher assigned far too many group work projects, which always entailed him being randomly assigned to a group by the teacher or him working by himself.
He realized someone was next to him. He turned to see who it was, his eyes widening slightly upon realizing that it was Tyler Locke. The Tyler Locke. The two of them had only spoken once when Sam was in trouble, and never again. Sam had assumed that was the last of it. Tyler was just being nice to him. Tyler was just nice.
Now, Tyler sat beside Sam, tapping the desk with his fingers and looking at Sam with a smile.
“Wanna be partners?” Tyler asked.
Sam stared blankly at him. “I'm sorry?”
“Do you want to be partners? For the project?”
Sam looked around. He was being pranked. He had to be.
“Uh- you can say no if you want-”
“No!” Sam looked back at Tyler, his eyes wide as he spoke quickly. “I mean- yes. Partners.”
“Cool,” Tyler smiled, pulling his seat in. “So, did you have any ideas?”
“For..?”
“The project.”
Sam paused.
He must think I'm fucking insane.
“No,” Sam looked down at his binder, pretending to be looking for something as he shuffled through his notes. “I wasn't really paying attention, to be honest.”
Tyler laughed.
Was that a good laugh or a bad laugh? Is he laughing with me or at me?? Oh God, he thinks I'm stupid. He's not gonna wanna work with me anymore. I'm gonna annoy him. I hate him. I don't wanna work with him, it's gonna be so awkward. I wanna work with him so bad I wanna be his friend-
“You can read my notes,” Tyler’s voice snapped Sam out of his thoughts. He pushed his notebook over to Sam’s desk. “Sorry about my handwriting.” He laughed slightly.
“Oh, it's not-” Sam paused, looking at Tyler’s handwriting. “How the fuck do you even manage to get it to look like that? Do you shut your eyes while you write?”
Tyler stared at him with wide eyes.
“I'm sorry, that was-”
Then, Tyler laughed. He laughed so loud that the class went silent for a second, before everyone returned to their work. Sam smiled, laughing slightly as well.
Okay. That's good. He doesn't hate me. Not too much.
“I'll just- explain it,” Tyler dragged his notebook back to his desk. “We just have to pick a literary device in the book and say how it's used. With, like, quotes and stuff.”
“That's it?” Sam asked.
“Just about,” Tyler answered. “Also, it has to be a poster, but I'm not a great artist, sooo…” Tyler looked to Sam, awaiting an answer.
“I could draw it, if you'd be okay with that?” Sam prompted, to which Tyler smiled.
“Great! Then it's settled,” Tyler rapped his knuckles against the desk.
“Um-” Sam looked up at Tyler, trying to make eye contact without it being insanely painful and awkward. “Would you want to, um, maybe hang out? After school? To work on the project?”
Sam watched Tyler’s face fall into an expression he couldn't quite read. “Today?” Tyler asked.
“Um, if you're busy, we don't have to. We could hang out- any time. Or- not at all. We don't have to hang out, I was just suggesting-”
“No, of course we can hang out,” Tyler laughed, his expression now much more lighthearted. “I have practice today, though. Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” Sam’s eyes widening, and he smiled. “Okay! Yes. Yes. Tomorrow. That works.” He laughed awkwardly.
“You can come to my house, if you want.” Tyler suggested.
“Okay! Great!” Sam beamed. “Tomorrow. Your house. Okay.”
“Okay,” Tyler laughed in response. "I'll see you then."
Tomorrow.