Silent Affection

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Partner

The next few days passed in a blur for Kiomie, but one thing remained constant—Theo Adler was now more than just a distant presence. Their brief interaction in the library lingered in her thoughts, replaying over and over. She hadn’t expected him to talk to her, and certainly not with that calm, almost friendly demeanor. His words, though few, had left an impression.

As she walked through the hallway, she glanced around, hoping to spot him. But Theo, true to his nature, remained elusive. He was never in the middle of a crowd, always just on the edge, quiet and composed. Kiomie told herself she wasn’t looking for him. But deep down, she knew better.

“Earth to Kiomie!” Nora’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Kiomie blinked and turned to her best friend, who was giving her a knowing look.

“You’ve been in another world since last week. Let me guess—Theo?”

Kiomie frowned. “What? No, I’m just… distracted, that’s all.”

“Uh-huh,” Nora said, smirking. “Well, lucky for you, there’s a chance for distraction in real life.” She pointed toward the whiteboard in front of the classroom, where Mr. Harvey, their literature teacher, was writing out instructions for their new project.

Kiomie’s eyes widened as she read the board. Partner Assignment: Analysis of Classic Literature. Each student was supposed to pair up with someone, and together they’d choose a novel to analyze.

“I hate these partner projects,” Nora groaned, pulling out her notebook. “It’s always a gamble who you end up with.”

Kiomie didn’t respond, her mind suddenly racing. She wasn’t sure why, but a small part of her hoped—no, wished—that maybe, just maybe, Theo might end up as her partner. But the chances were slim, and she tried to push the thought away.

As Mr. Harvey finished writing, he turned to the class with a grin. “Alright, everyone. I’m going to assign partners randomly this time. You’ll work together over the next few weeks, so make sure you’re ready to communicate and collaborate.”

Kiomie’s heart sank a little. So much for that idea.

Mr. Harvey began reading names off a list. “Nora Wells and Alex Turner… Jordan Parker and Lily Nguyen…”

Kiomie listened absentmindedly, her thoughts wandering again. She tried to focus on the novels she might choose for the project, but her mind kept drifting to Theo. She hadn’t even seen him today. Maybe he was—

“Kiomie Hart… and Theo Adler.”

The sound of her own name paired with Theo’s snapped her attention back to reality. She sat up straighter, staring at Mr. Harvey in shock. Did she hear that right? Her eyes quickly scanned the room, searching for Theo. He was sitting near the back, looking as calm and unreadable as ever. When he heard his name called alongside hers, his eyes briefly met hers across the room, but his expression didn’t change.

Kiomie’s heart raced. She couldn’t believe it—she and Theo were actually partners. Part of her wanted to be excited, but another part of her was nervous. What would working with him be like? Would he talk to her like he had in the library? Or would he retreat back into his silence, leaving her to handle the project alone?

As the rest of the names were called, Kiomie barely paid attention. Her mind was already spinning with possibilities. When Mr. Harvey finally dismissed the class to meet with their partners, Kiomie hesitated for a moment, gathering her things slowly. Nora gave her a sly grin as she walked off with Alex, leaving Kiomie to face Theo alone.

Taking a deep breath, she walked toward the back of the room where Theo was still sitting. He looked up as she approached, his dark eyes calm but unreadable.

“Looks like we’re partners,” Kiomie said, trying to sound casual. “For the project.”

Theo nodded. “Yeah. Shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

Kiomie blinked. His voice was soft, like it had been in the library, but there was a hint of something else there—confidence, maybe? Or was it indifference? She couldn’t tell. Either way, she was relieved he wasn’t acting distant or dismissive.

“Do you have any ideas for which book we should choose?” she asked, shifting her weight nervously.

Theo thought for a moment, then shrugged lightly. “I’m fine with whatever. I usually stick to classics. Maybe ‘The Great Gatsby’ or ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’? We could analyze themes of silence and unspoken emotions. That seems like your thing.”

Kiomie stared at him, taken aback. His words seemed casual, but there was something strangely accurate about his suggestion. How did he know she would be drawn to something like that? Did he… notice her more than she realized?

“That sounds… perfect, actually,” she said, trying to hide her surprise. “I’ve read both, but we can figure out which one works best.”

Theo nodded again, his gaze steady. “We’ll meet up after school tomorrow to start. The library?”

“Sure,” Kiomie agreed, feeling a strange mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Working with Theo was going to be interesting—if nothing else.

As the day went on, Kiomie couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this project would be the beginning of something more than just a partnership. Something silent, but significant.