Veil of Desire - Jasper Hale

1.5

After lunch, Catalina walked into Biology, her mind still buzzing from the earlier conversations and the lively atmosphere of the cafeteria. The room was filled with the usual chatter, students settling into their seats, and the faint smell of formaldehyde wafting through the air. She quickly scanned the classroom and spotted Jasper sitting at their usual spot in the back, his focus already on the textbook in front of him.

"Hey, Jasper!" Catalina greeted as she made her way to him, her heart lifting at the sight of him.

"Hey, Catalina," he replied, looking up with a warm smile. "Ready for some genetics?"

"Absolutely!" she replied, sliding into her seat beside him. As she opened her notebook, she felt a rush of excitement at being paired with him again. He felt her excitement and couldn't hold back a quiet chuckle. So quiet that Lina didn't notice. Alice sat in front of them with Noah, beaming with happiness. The time was finally here for Jasper and Catalina to become closer. "Careful, or you might shine brighter than the sun if you keep it up." Noah said beside her with made both of them laugh.

Mr. Banner, their teacher, stepped into the room and immediately commanded attention. "Alright, class, today we're diving into Mendelian genetics. We'll be exploring inheritance patterns through a lab exercise."

Catalina's heart raced at the mention of genetics. She loved this subject. She glanced at Jasper, who was already taking notes with diligent focus. "I can't wait to get into the Punnett squares," she said, her voice bright.

Jasper nodded, a hint of amusement in his expression. "I feel like we could make a pretty good team."

Mr. Banner began distributing worksheets, and the classroom buzzed with excitement. "Now, for this exercise, you'll be predicting genetic outcomes for various traits. Make sure to work with your partner and discuss your findings," he instructed.

Catalina felt her heart race with anticipation. "Let's start with the pea plants," she suggested, her pen poised over her notebook. "They're the classic example."

"Sounds good to me," Jasper replied, leaning closer as they worked together, which made Linas heart skip a beat unbeknownst to her. The connection between them felt effortless as they began discussing the traits, with Catalina leading the way through the exercise, even though Jasper has already had classes like this before. He liked her leading the way.

"It's amazing how traits can be so predictable," she said, her voice animated. "Like how purple flowers are dominant over white. It's so cool that something so simple can explain so much."

"Yeah, and it makes you realize how interconnected everything is, even in a classroom like this," Jasper added, his expression thoughtful. "People might not think much of it, but genetics can explain a lot about us too."

Catalina nodded, feeling an intriguing spark of connection as they shared ideas. "Exactly! It's like looking into a mirror of our own traits and backgrounds. You can see how things carry through generations." As they filled out the Punnett squares, their conversation flowed seamlessly. They joked about how the hypothetical offspring of pea plants would look, imagining goofy scenarios like a plant with rainbow-colored flowers.

Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted their laughter. A group of students near the front had knocked over a stack of lab equipment, causing a wave of laughter to ripple through the class. Catalina giggled, glancing at Jasper. "Looks like we're not the only ones having fun."

"Just another day in Biology," he said, shaking his head with a hint of amusement. Even though he was calmer around Catalina, he tensed up for a moment, fearing that someone got hurt. He never knew if he could take the blood. They continued working, but Catalina couldn't help but notice the way Jasper seemed to relax as they collaborated. The atmosphere felt comfortable, the connection between them growing stronger with each shared laugh and insight.