Across That Room

Ch 3: Closer to you

Reece scurried off back to his seat, clenching on to the hand that once was touching Cooper. While the other regained his composure and sat leisurely, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Alright, students! Before we start the work that the delightful Reece has handed out to you all, we will start with an icebreaker game to get to know one another.", announces Mr. Amauly enthusiastically. Swishing his hand in a wide-brim hat full of folded up pieces of paper with everyone's names written on them, he pulls two random papers at a time and announces the chosen people to be partners.

Majority of the class weren't new to Cooper. Or so he thought, due to his outgoing and chatty personality, he already knew a lot of people, but weirdly he had never come across Reece.

'How could I have never noticed someone so stunning before?', kept ringing in Cooper's thoughts.

Meanwhile, the still embarrassed Reece was crossing his fingers extra hard, praying not to be paired with Cooper. Knowing another encounter would truly take a toll on his heart. Yet, funny enough, on the other side of the room sat the other boy, praying the opposite, hoping this would be an opportunity for them to become closer.

As others were standing up to sit beside their partner, Reece had rapidly become more anxious as both their names weren't being called up. Ryan then leaves to sit with Sam, that he coincidently got picked together with, leaving an empty spot next to Reece.

The thumping in Reece's chest only increased as the number of papers in Mr. Amauly's stupid hat had lessened. Only leaving two other people he could be partnered with.

"Reece and Cooper...", the teacher reveals, almost in slow motion to Reece's ears.

However, Cooper had sparkles in his eyes, instantly glowing after finally hearing their names being called as a pair.

Reece's face turned a red hue, as he peeped over to see Cooper grinning gloriously back at him. 'Okay, act confident, don't let his hot face get to you.', Reece reassured himself. Deeply sighing, he fixes his hair that was ruffled up by the wind.

"Okay, I will give you 10 minutes to chat and try to befriend your partner, beginning now.", said Mr. Amauly.

"Ay, Sam, I'm gonna go sit with my partner.", said Cooper, while he strides nonchalantly over to Reece, but honestly, he was so nervous and excited his heart was ready to explode.

The silent pair now sat together at the back of the room. Painfully, Reece rakes his brain, at where to begin this awkward conversation. Yet, Cooper quickly begins chatting, thankfully putting Reece's mind at ease.

The brunet was completely shameless, trying to get all the details of Reece. From his hobbies to other meaningless things like where he bought his cologne. Leaving, the other to naturally loosen up to him in no time, laughing together, like they've been friends for years. They clicked instantly.

Well, it wasn't hard, with Cooper constantly complimenting Reece on everything he said.

"Reece, you're so smart."

"Reece, you're so funny."

These small statements may be simple but were more than enough to make the receiver have a heart attack. Coopers' earnest replies and how he genuinely laughed at the poorly executed jokes Reece made, surprised the shy teen. How could someone be honestly interested in what he had to say?

Cooper was just so intrigued on how someone could be so cute. The small change of light blush that appeared on Reece's dusky cheeks, ran through Cooper's mind the entire time, making him think of how his face would look like evener cuter under him.

Timid Reece was completely embarrassed now, with Cooper watching him intently from the beginning. He shifts his body to face forward avoiding Cooper's eyes.

But who would have known, Reece's move was counter intuitive. With both boys facing forward, Cooper makes no hesitation to wrap his arm lazily around Reece's chair. As if no big deal, Cooper continues the conversation.

Now, Reece absolutely could not contemplate whether, the other was boldly hitting on him, or some extremely straight guy that wanted to stretch out his arms. Yet, the thought of Cooper liking him, brought Reece in a cheerful mood.

Before they knew it, the 10 minutes had passed, as Mr. Amauly calls for everyone's attention.

"Wow! Everyone got along so well, how about we keep this as our class sitting plan?" Remarked, the teacher, as one boys face went dark and the other cheered blissfully.

Most in the class agreed happily with the idea, leaving Reece dumbfounded.

'I have to sit with him now for the rest of the year?!', thought Reece, how would he survive a year, when he barely made through 10 minutes with this hunk.

He sighs heavily, before stuffing his blushing face into his hands, ignoring the cheeky boy smirking beside him.

"Alright, let's start! Firstly, the periodic table...", babbles on Mr. Amauly.

Cooper lightly nudges Reece's side, smiling cutely at the hopeless boy. Somehow, that quick smile eased Reece from his pervious worries. Making him laugh back.

The two boys were finally focusing on the schoolwork after playing around, fully unaware of the pair of sharp eyes staring them down from afar.

"He was meant to sit next to me...", mumbled an anguished Sam.

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Author Notes:

Sam, boy what's going on... heheehehehe 😅🤭

💥

bye 4 now