The Chemistry of Us

Chapter 3: Unexpected Chemistry

Evelyn was nervous. Not because of the tutoring session—she felt confident in her chemistry skills—but because Derek Jacobs, the star football player and one of the most popular boys in school, had somehow become a regular part of her week. Their tutoring sessions had started off as a simple arrangement to help him raise his chemistry grade, but now, three weeks in, she felt the dynamic beginning to shift. Something about their last meeting had been different—lighter, more comfortable. And now, the prospect of seeing him again made her feel...excited?

Evelyn shook her head as she made her way to the library, trying to clear the thought. Derek was just a classmate, someone who needed help, nothing more. She was being ridiculous. But as she stepped through the library doors, her heart skipped a beat when she spotted him sitting at their usual table, his head bent over a notebook, a look of concentration on his face.

He hadn't noticed her yet, so she took a moment to observe him. His usual messy hair fell across his forehead, and his jaw was set in determination. He looked different when he wasn't surrounded by his usual crowd of friends or caught up in the chaos of football practice. Here, in the quiet of the library, he was just Derek—someone struggling with a subject he didn't understand, just like anyone else.

"Hey," she said, approaching the table and sliding into the seat across from him.

Derek looked up, his expression softening into a smile. "Hey, Evelyn. Ready to tackle more chemistry?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, pulling out her textbook and notes.

They began the session as usual, diving into stoichiometry problems and balancing equations. Derek asked questions when he got stuck, and Evelyn patiently explained each concept, breaking it down in a way that made sense. She found that she enjoyed helping him—not just because it came easily to her, but because Derek genuinely wanted to understand. He wasn't just going through the motions to pass; he was trying.

After about an hour, they took a break, both of them leaning back in their chairs and stretching. The library was mostly empty now, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow through the windows.

"Man, I never thought I'd actually start getting the hang of this," Derek said, running a hand through his hair. "I used to think chemistry was just a bunch of random numbers and letters thrown together to confuse people."

Evelyn laughed. "It's not as bad as it seems once you understand the logic behind it. Everything in chemistry follows a set of rules, even if it looks complicated at first."

"Kind of like football," Derek said, nodding thoughtfully. "There's a system to it. You've got your plays, your strategies, and once you figure out how it all fits together, it just...clicks."

Evelyn smiled. "Exactly. It's like solving a puzzle."

Derek looked at her for a moment, his blue eyes studying her face. "You're really good at explaining things, you know that?"

She felt her cheeks flush under his gaze. "Thanks. I guess it just comes naturally."

"You ever think about being a teacher?" Derek asked, leaning forward slightly, his tone genuinely curious.

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard by the question. "A teacher? I don't know... I've never really thought about it."

"Well, you'd be great at it," Derek said with a grin. "You've got the patience for it, that's for sure."

She smiled, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. "Maybe. I've always liked helping people, but I'm not sure if that's what I want to do forever."

Derek nodded, leaning back in his chair again. "Yeah, I get that. I mean, everyone assumes I'm just gonna go off and play football in college, but...I don't know. Sometimes I think about doing something else. Something different."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"I'm not sure yet," Derek admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Football's always been my thing, you know? But sometimes I wonder if there's more to me than just being the guy who throws a ball around."

Evelyn was surprised by his honesty. She had never really thought about it before, but she realized that Derek's life must have a lot of pressure. He was always in the spotlight, always expected to perform, to win. It made sense that he might want something more—something different.

"You don't have to decide everything right now," she said softly. "You've still got time to figure it out."

"Yeah, I guess so," Derek replied, his gaze distant for a moment before he snapped back to reality. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get all deep on you."

"No, it's okay," Evelyn said quickly. "I'm glad you feel like you can talk to me about that stuff."

Derek smiled again, and for a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. The library felt almost peaceful in the fading light, and Evelyn found herself relaxing more than she had expected.

"You know," Derek said after a moment, "I don't think I've ever seen you at any of the football games. Are you not into sports?"

Evelyn shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "I guess I've just never really been into it. I've always been more of a...books and science kind of person."

Derek grinned. "Nothing wrong with that. But you should come to a game sometime. I think you'd have fun."

Evelyn hesitated. The thought of going to a football game—especially one where Derek would be playing—felt intimidating. She could already imagine the crowded bleachers, the loud cheers, the energy of the whole school packed into one space. It wasn't exactly her idea of a relaxing evening.

"I don't know..." she said slowly. "I'm not really good with crowds."

Derek's smile softened. "Hey, no pressure. But if you ever feel like coming, let me know. I'll save you a seat."

Evelyn felt her heart skip a beat. He wasn't just inviting her to a game—he was offering to make sure she wouldn't feel alone. It was a kind gesture, and it made her realize that Derek was more thoughtful than she had given him credit for.

"Thanks," she said, returning his smile. "I'll think about it."

They returned to their work, but the conversation lingered in Evelyn's mind. Derek wasn't what she had expected. He wasn't just the popular football player everyone thought he was. There was more to him—more depth, more complexity. And the more time she spent with him, the more she found herself drawn to that side of him.

As they wrapped up the session, Derek gathered his things and stood up, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Thanks again for helping me, Evelyn. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd probably still pass," Evelyn teased. "You're not as bad at chemistry as you think."

Derek laughed. "Maybe, but I wouldn't get through it nearly as fast without you."

They walked out of the library together, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the school grounds. The air was cooler now, with a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the trees lining the sidewalk. Evelyn felt a sense of calm as they made their way toward the parking lot.

"So," Derek said, stopping at the edge of the lot, "same time next week?"

Evelyn nodded. "Yeah, same time."

Derek smiled, and for a moment, they stood there in the fading light, neither of them saying anything. It wasn't an awkward silence, though. It was the kind of silence that felt...comfortable. Natural.

"See you then, Evelyn," Derek said, giving her a small wave before heading off to join his friends, who were waiting by a row of cars.

Evelyn watched him go, a strange mix of emotions swirling in her chest. She had never expected to become friends with Derek Jacobs, but here they were—meeting every week, talking about more than just chemistry. And the more time she spent with him, the more she started to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was something more growing between them.

But Evelyn quickly shook the thought from her mind. She had enough to focus on with school, her family, and her future. There was no time to complicate things with feelings.

Still, as she walked home that evening, the cool breeze brushing against her skin, she couldn't help but smile to herself. Maybe this year wasn't going to be as predictable as she had thought.