~Assigned Seats~ Fpe ZipClaire fic

~Times Ticking~

Friday had arrived the day of the test that Claire had been dreading all week. She walked into the classroom with a heavy heart, trying to wrap around the fact that she barley got any studying done and her mind was just Zip..

Chaotic, Mischievous, Unpredictable, Playful, Zip. The girl she used to dread now being the one she loved so much that she could explode if Zip even missed one day.

Claire felt herself getting nervous as she sat down at her desk. The room was filled with the sound of shuffling papers and whispering last-minute study sessions. She glanced over at Zip, who was already in her seat, looking surprisingly focused as she flipped through her notes.

Miss Circle walked in, her eyes scanning the room with a stern look. The whispers immediately ceased as she placed the test packets on each desk.

"You have the whole class, read thoroughly and consider your answers," she announced. The room was silent except for the sound of the clock ticking.

Claire took a deep breath and picked up her pencil, trying to focus on the questions in front of her. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Zip, and the way their hands had felt when they touched. She sneaked a peek at Zip, and then at Petunia. How were they so silent and focused.. probably because they didn't have a major crush buzzing in their heads.

Time passed slowly as the students scribbled away, the occasional sigh or cough piercing the tension-filled silence. Claire's pencil hovered over the paper, her mind racing with both test answers and imagined scenarios with Zip. Some wholesome and some... should most likely be locked up and thrown into the depths of hell.

She couldn't help but wonder if Zip felt the same way about her. Did she see Claire as more than just a temporary seating buddy? The doubt and anxiety grew with every tick of the clock. Suddenly she saw a paper airplane get tossed over her paper, landing softly on her desk. She looked at Zip, but she didn't seem to look at her. She picked it up and unfolded it, expecting it to be a joke from one of the other classmates trying to be a distraction.

"You got number 7 wrong, the answer is (−x5 (4x5 − 1), good luck -♡ Zip"

The note was hastily scribbled, but the message was clear. Claire's heart fluttered as she looked back at Zip, who was now pretending to be absorbed in her own test.

"Thanks," Claire mouthed silently, hoping Zip would catch it. Zip's eyes flicked up for a brief second, a knowing smile playing on her lips before returning to her paper. The gesture was small, but it meant the world to Claire.

The test dragged on, and by the time Miss Circle collected the papers, Claire felt both relieved and anxious. She gathered her things, hoping she'd done well enough despite her wandering thoughts.

Once she walked out, she met up with Engel and Bubble, who were already waiting for her outside the classroom.

"So have you confessed now?" Bubble asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling with hopes that she did.

"What? No.." Claire said, leaving Bubble disappointed and earning a deep sigh from Engel.

"You've got to tell her soon, you know," Engel said, his voice firm but gentle. "You can't keep this up forever."

"I know," Claire sighed, her shoulders slumping. "But what if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"You say that everytime we mention it," Bubble pouted, "But when are you gonna tell her?"

"I don't want to be pushy, but I think it's time you take the big leap," Engel said, placing a hand on Claire's shoulder. "You've been avoiding this for days now."

"I know, I know," Claire repeated, feeling the weight of her unspoken words. "It's just..."

"So exciting!!" Bubble squealed slightly, "oh sorry, I know you're nervous."

Claire gave a small, soft smile. "I'm just not ready yet."

"But why not?" Bubble questioned, "here you go avoiding it again!" Bubble pouted..

"It's not that easy," Claire said, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and fear.

"I know it's nerve-racking, but you're going to miss your chance if you keep waiting," Engel said, his voice holding a hint of urgency but was still calm.

Bubble nodded in agreement. "You guys seem so perfect together. It's like a match made in heaven!"

"More like a match made in a tornado," Claire said, her voice laced with frustration and nervousness.

Engel chuckled, "Look, I get it. But you can't let fear dictate your life. Sometimes you just gotta go for it. Take the big step. Let life decide the next events."

Bubble nodded vigorously, "Yeah! What's the worst that could happen?"

The worst? Claire thought. The worst is that she says no, and then what? Do we just go back to normal like nothing happened? The thought of rejection was more than she could bear.
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Another short chapter y'all. I'm sorry 😭😭😭

You think Claire should confess or nah?