Nova Academy

Bigger and Better

Since Steven and Connie were dating, he didn't necessarily need to ask again. But he just couldn't get over how messy his first attempt was even if she'd told him thousands of times she thought it was clever that he'd used Philosophy to ask.

"And where are you headed?" She raised an eyebrow when he excused himself from chatting with the gang.

He started to sweat but glanced at Anna, who acknowledged him with a wink. "Uh... I've got to go... visit the Diamonds?" He had gotten good at lying, but in that moment he stumbled.

Her eyes softened and she gave him a smile. "Tell them I say hi, I guess. Good luck, Steven."

He turned around and walked off quickly, letting out a breath of relief that he'd somehow gotten away with it. Connie was smart but she was easy to distract and he hoped Anna was holding up her end of the bargain.

Anna had pulled him aside one day with narrowed eyes. "Alright, what's going on?"

He sighed and slumped against the lockers. "So you know how Connie and I are dating?" He couldn't stop the smile but she nodded.

"It's really honestly very hard not to. I've never seen Connie this thrilled, even if she tries not to show it." She chuckled. "The One That Matters."

"The what?"

She widened her eyes and cringed. "Whoops. Uhm, before you came back that's how she'd refer to you. But maybe don't tell her I said that because she threatened to show up with a sword if she found out."

He bit his lip and tried not to explode. "Okay, I promise. But the way I asked felt wrong even though she said yes–,"

"Okay but she gushed about it for days afterwards," She countered.

"I know but... I wanted to ask again, but this time the right way. So I've been brainstorming. That's why I'm so out of it." Part of him felt relieved to get it out. It had been eating away at him for so long he felt like he was going to accidentally give it away.

"Ohhh... gosh, you two really are puzzle pieces." She laughed. "How can I help?"

Initially he'd told her not to tell anyone, but news had spread to the rest of their friends to his mild annoyance. Ultimately it had helped him out though. Hazel had encouraged him to incorporate something he loved with it and after days of restlessly thinking about it during class, Mrs. Rueman had sparked an idea.

"Class, what's something that appeals to your pathos sense?" She was using a cane that day but limped up to the board like she wasn't.

Connie peeked over her shoulder and grinned.

She had in fact gotten a little softer, it was always dazzling to him when she reached for his hand or hesitated before she fired back. She was changing again, for him. And Steven found himself changing for her, too.

"Drawing. I love drawing, it helps me get all of my feelings out on a visual level," Makayla said.

"That's a good one. And more? You guys can just call them out, just try not to bury other answers."

"Donuts." Jacob casually reached under his desk while Rueman wasn't looking. "They make me feel good."

She didn't even have to look. "Jacob, if you have donuts in my classroom you'd better have enough for everyone."

Jasmin burst into laughter. "Oh, he does. A bakers dozen and a half to be exact."

Jacob scoffed. "You bitch, now I have to share." He sighed and pulled the double layered box out of his backpack. "I got gluten free ones too, cause they were cheaper but they put them on the top level so they wouldn't touch." He passed the box to Adam, who smiled bashfully, and crossed his arms.