Maybe We're Just Kids | Natasha Romanoff AU

Chapter 4: Oh...

Over the next few weeks, Natasha started to settle into her schoolwork, finding her rhythm. She enjoyed chatting with Jenna every day in their first and second periods; those interactions brightened her days.

However, lunch remained a different story. Natasha still hadn't made a single friend to sit with, not that she had really tried. But each day felt more isolating, eating alone in the hallway.

But today felt different. Natasha was engrossed in her book, her sandwich resting beside her, when suddenly a shadow blocked her view. She looked up to find Jenna smiling down at her.

"Hey" Jenna said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Mind if I join you?"

Natasha looked up, momentarily confused. Jenna always sat with her friends in the cafeteria; she was practically glued to Lily, those two always inseparable.

"Uh, yeah, sure" Natasha said, a little surprised. She quickly shifted her things over to make space.

Natasha hesitated, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Um, sorry if this sounds rude, but why are you sitting out here? I thought you always ate in the cafeteria with Lily and everyone."

Jenna shrugged, a playful smile on her lips. "I just wanted a break from all the noise. Sometimes it gets overwhelming, you know? Plus, I wanted to see what you were up to."

Natasha blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Are you sure? I don't think you'd want to be seen hanging out with... well, me."

Jenna raised an eyebrow, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Natasha shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I mean, I'm sitting alone eating lunch in the hallway. It's not exactly a social highlight."

Jenna chuckled, "Sitting here with you is way more interesting than whatever's happening in the cafeteria."

Natasha felt her cheeks heat up, and she looked away, trying to hide her blush. "Oh, um, thanks, I guess..."

Jenna leaned in closer, her playful demeanor shifting slightly. "But I'm not here without ulterior motives, you know."

Natasha's heart raced. Here it comes, she thought, bracing herself for whatever came next.

But instead of the expected line, Jenna's confidence seemed to falter just a bit. "I was actually wondering if you could tutor me in AP Physics..."

Natasha blinked, surprised. "You need a tutor?"

Jenna nodded, a slightly embarrassed smile on her face. "Yeah, I tried to ask Ms. Bryan for help, but she told me to come to you—her best student."

"Me? Best student?" Natasha felt her eyes widen in disbelief. "I didn't know she thought that."

Jenna leaned in, her eyes sparkling with charm. "So, can you pretty please help me out?"

Natasha felt her cheeks heat up. "Um, y-yeah, sure! I can, um, definitely help." She fumbled with her sandwich wrapper, feeling the nervous energy buzzing inside her.

"Really?" Jenna's face lit up, and Natasha couldn't help but smile, even as her heart raced.

"Y-yeah. I mean, I didn't know you, um, needed a tutor" Natasha stuttered, her mind racing. "I—uh, I thought you were doing fine in class."

"Yeah, well, I'm not, obviously" Jenna replied with a playful grin. "So how about after school tomorrow?

"Is my house okay?" Natasha blurted out, her cheeks flushing even more.

Jenna nodded, a bright smile on her face. "Sounds good."

Just then, Natasha noticed Jenna reaching into her backpack. Curiosity piqued, she watched as Jenna pulled out a pen.