𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 & 𝐂𝐥𝐲𝐝𝐞

First Signs of Connection

The school project was officially behind them. They had presented their work to the class, earning praise from their teacher and curious glances from their classmates. For Maya, it was one of the best presentations she'd ever been part of. The sense of accomplishment she felt was amplified by the connection she had formed with Bryson throughout the process. But now that the project was over, something lingered in the air between them—something neither of them could ignore.

It wasn't long after their presentation that Bryson started texting Maya more often. The conversations were light at first, mostly about school or funny things that had happened during the day. But as the days passed, their texts grew longer, more personal. Bryson would ask her about her dreams, her plans for the future, and Maya found herself opening up to him in ways she hadn't with anyone else.

One evening, after a particularly long day at school, Maya was curled up on her bed, reading a book, when her phone buzzed. It was a text from Bryson.

Bryson: Hey, what you up to?

Maya smiled as she read the message, a warmth spreading through her chest. She quickly replied.

Maya: Just reading. You?

His response came almost immediately.

Bryson: Bored outta my mind. You wanna go for a walk?

Maya hesitated for a moment, glancing at the clock. It was already getting late, but the idea of spending time with Bryson was too tempting to resist. They had spent a lot of time together for the project, but this would be different—this would be just them, no schoolwork involved.

Maya: Sure. Where do you want to meet?

Bryson: How about that park near your place? The one we always pass by on the way to school.

Maya agreed, quickly changing into a more comfortable outfit before heading out. The night air was cool, and the streets were quiet as she made her way to the park. Her heart was racing with anticipation, a mix of excitement and nerves that she couldn't quite shake.

When she arrived at the park, she saw Bryson leaning against a tree, his hands in his pockets. He looked up as she approached, a smile spreading across his face.

"Hey," he said, his voice warm and familiar.

"Hey," Maya replied, her own smile matching his.

They started walking together, their steps in sync as they made their way down the path that wound through the park. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the sounds of crickets chirping and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"So, how's it feel to have that project behind us?" Bryson asked after a while, breaking the silence.

Maya laughed softly. "Honestly, it's a relief. I was so stressed about it, but I think we did a great job."

"We definitely did," Bryson agreed. "But I gotta admit, I kinda miss workin' on it with you. It was... fun."

Maya looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "Yeah, it was. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did."

Bryson chuckled, his gaze shifting to the ground. "Yeah, me neither. But it was different with you. I don't know, you make things... easier, I guess."

Maya felt her cheeks flush at his words, but she couldn't deny that she felt the same way. "You do too, Bryson. You're not what I expected."

He looked up at her, his eyes softening. "What did you expect?"

She hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I guess... I thought you didn't care about school, about your future. But you do, don't you?"