Bad Mixed Signals | A Chaennie One Shot

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It was the first day of Theology, and Jennie felt a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in her stomach as she rushed across campus. The large, sunlit lecture hall was already filling up by the time she arrived, her dark hair bouncing as she quickly slipped into a seat near the middle of the room. She glanced around, taking in her surroundings, trying to get a sense of the people she'd be spending the semester with. Her mind buzzed with nervous energy, but she kept her cool, opening her notebook and pretending like she was fully prepared.

The professor began handing out papers, going over the class expectations and reminding them all about a required form they needed to submit by the end of class. Jennie's eyes widened in horror as her heart sank. The form. She'd completely forgotten to print it out.

Her hands frantically searched through her bag, even though she knew it wasn't there. Papers rustled, notebooks tumbled, but nothing. Not a single copy of the form she needed. Jennie felt a pit form in her stomach, her mind racing. What was she going to do? It was the first day, and she was already about to mess up.

Panic swirled in her chest, and just as she was about to mentally spiral, a soft voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey," the voice said, calm and smooth. "I think you dropped this."

Jennie's head snapped up, and there, standing next to her, was a tall blonde girl she hadn't noticed before. She looked effortlessly cool in a casual jacket, with a certain kind of confidence that instantly made Jennie feel small in comparison. There was something about her—a vibe that suggested she wasn't exactly sure of. Jennie was intrigued nonetheless.

The blonde girl smiled at her, holding out an extra copy of the form Jennie desperately needed. Jennie blinked in confusion, sure she hadn't dropped anything, but the girl's smile deepened, almost as if she knew exactly what Jennie was thinking.

"Take it," she said, her voice low and kind, with a subtle wink that sent a jolt through Jennie's chest. "Looks like you might need it."

For a moment, Jennie just stared, unsure of what to say. She knew it wasn't hers—she definitely hadn't dropped it—but something about the way this girl casually saved her from embarrassment, without making a big deal out of it, left Jennie momentarily speechless.

Finally, Jennie's lips curled into a small, grateful smile as she reached out to take the paper. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice quiet with relief.

"No problem," the blonde replied easily, her smile warm as she turned and walked back to her seat near the back of the room.

Jennie watched her go, her heart still racing—but now, not because of the form. There was something about the girl that she couldn't shake. Her effortless confidence, the subtle wink, the way she had swooped in to help without any hesitation—it all left Jennie buzzing with something she couldn't quite name.

——

The next day, Jennie spotted the blonde girl again—but this time, it was in her Literature class. Her heart gave an excited little leap when she saw her across the room, sitting alone at a desk. Jennie decided she couldn't just sit back and do nothing. This is my chance, she thought, gathering up her courage as she lifted her hand to wave.

The blonde girl looked up, but instead of the friendly smile Jennie expected, she furrowed her brow, looking confused. She gave Jennie a strange look—almost like she had no idea who Jennie was—and then, without acknowledging the wave, turned back to her book.

Jennie blinked in confusion, her hand dropping awkwardly to her side. What the hell?

She spent the rest of the class feeling off-balance, trying to understand what had just happened. Wasn't that the same girl from Theology? She had the same blonde hair, the same height, the same casual confidence. Jennie was sure it was her. So why had she looked at Jennie like she was a total stranger?