𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 | bridget and hook

𝟏𝟏

The next day in Biology class, Bridget and Hook found themselves grouped together for a class project. The teacher had divided the students into small groups for a week-long assignment, and as fate would have it, Bridget, Hook, and a few others were placed in the same team.

Bridget sat at her desk, trying to focus as the teacher explained the project details, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the day before. The flour fight, the cookies, and how comfortable she and Hook had been around each other. It felt like a different world from the tense dynamics at school, and now, here they were—back in reality, forced to work together with others watching.

Once the teacher finished explaining, the groups gathered to discuss their project. Bridget sat down with the rest of the group, glancing at Hook, who seemed relaxed, his usual smirk playing at the corner of his lips. The other group members included two girls, Sophie and Mira, and a boy named Derek, who all seemed eager to dive into the work.

"So," Sophie said, flipping open her notebook, "our project is on plant biology and ecosystems. We need to choose a specific ecosystem to research and present."

Bridget nodded, trying to focus on the task. "What if we do something about tropical rainforests? There's a lot of interesting plant diversity there."

Mira smiled. "That sounds great! We could divide the sections—some of us research the plants, others can focus on the environmental impact."

Hook leaned back in his chair, his eyes on Bridget. "I'll handle whatever part you need me to, Eloise," he said casually, using the name from the night before, causing Bridget's heart to skip a beat.

Bridget shot him a warning glance, quickly glancing around to see if anyone caught it. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice, but she could tell Hook was enjoying the subtle game they were playing.

"We'll split the tasks," Bridget said quickly, trying to keep the conversation on track. "I can handle the introduction and some of the research on plant species. Hook, maybe you can work with Derek on the environmental section?"

Derek nodded, seemingly indifferent to the situation. "Sounds good to me."

As the group continued dividing up tasks, Hook kept his eyes on Bridget, a playful gleam in them that made her both flustered and frustrated. He wasn't making this easy for her, especially when she was trying to keep things professional in front of everyone.

Once the group had their assignments, they agreed to meet up after school to start working. As they left the classroom, Bridget caught Hook's arm, pulling him aside for a moment.

"Eloise? Really?" she whispered, narrowing her eyes at him.

Hook grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. "What? It's just a name."

Bridget sighed, trying not to smile despite herself. "Just... don't make it too obvious, okay? We have to work with other people now."

Hook leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Relax. No one suspects a thing."

Bridget rolled her eyes but couldn't help feeling a little thrill at their secret. "Alright, just focus on the project."

"As you wish," Hook said with a mock salute before heading off to his next class, leaving Bridget shaking her head, half-amused and half-exasperated.

This project was going to be more complicated than she thought.

As Bridget, Hook, and the group worked on their biology project in the library, the atmosphere was a mix of focused effort and subtle tension between Bridget and Hook. They exchanged occasional glances, but both kept their interactions professional as they worked through their sections on tropical rainforests.