Never Mine

Unavoidable Beginning

It was the end of another long lecture, and students were shuffling out of the classroom in pairs and small groups, chattering about their weekend plans. Anna stayed back, pretending to organize her notes, hoping to delay the inevitable: discussing the project with Ethan.

She didn't have to wait long. Ethan approached her, his bag slung casually over one shoulder, his ever-present notebook in hand.

"Hey, Anna," he said, his tone easy but focused. "Got a minute?"

Anna glanced up, her stomach twisting. "Sure," she replied, forcing a polite smile.

"So, about the project," he began, flipping open his notebook. "I was thinking we should meet and start mapping out the structure. What's your schedule like this week?"

She hesitated, her mind racing. A dozen excuses flashed through her thoughts, each one weaker than the last. But there was no way out—he was her partner, and she had no choice but to see this through.

"I'm free tomorrow afternoon," she said finally, her voice steadier than she felt.

"Perfect," Ethan said, smiling. "Library?"

"Library's fine," she said quickly, avoiding his eyes.

Ethan scribbled something in his notebook, then looked up at her again. "Let's meet at 3? We'll plan out the sections and figure out who does what."

"Sure," Anna said, clutching her notes a little tighter.

For a moment, he lingered, as if he wanted to say something else. But then he nodded and walked away, leaving Anna standing alone at her desk, her heart pounding in a way that made her wish she'd come up with an excuse after all.

As she watched him disappear into the hallway, she tried to suppress the storm of emotions brewing inside her. It was just a project meeting, she told herself. Nothing more.

But deep down, she knew that spending time with Ethan—just the two of them—would be anything but simple.

The library was unusually quiet that afternoon, with only a few scattered students absorbed in their books or tapping away at laptops. Anna sat at a corner table, her notes spread out in neat stacks as she waited for Ethan to arrive. She was determined to stay professional, to focus on the project and nothing else.

When Ethan finally appeared, her heart gave its usual betraying jolt. He carried his notebook and a laptop under one arm, his hair slightly disheveled as if he'd been running his fingers through it in frustration.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, sliding into the chair across from her. "Got caught up in another class."

"It's fine," Anna said quickly, keeping her gaze fixed on her notebook.

Ethan set his things down and flipped open his laptop. "So," he began, his voice steady and casual, "I was thinking we could start by outlining the main sections and assigning roles. What do you think?"

Anna nodded, scribbling something in her notebook. "That works. I can handle the literature review," she offered, eager to take the least confrontational task.

He frowned slightly. "You don't have to take that on just because it's tedious. We can split it if you want."

"No, I'm fine with it," she said quickly, still avoiding his eyes. Ethan paused, his gaze lingering on her. "Okay," he said finally. "But let me know if there's anything else you'd prefer to do."

They worked in silence for a while, the only sounds between them the scratching of pens and the soft hum of Ethan's laptop. Anna tried to focus on her notes, but her mind kept drifting to the way he furrowed his brow in concentration, the way he tapped his pen against the table when he was thinking.

"Hey," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Are you okay?" Anna froze, her pen hovering over the page. "What?" "You just seem... distant," he said, his voice careful. "If something's bothering you, you can tell me."

"I'm fine," she said quickly, her cheeks flushing. "Just... trying to stay focused." Ethan tilted his head, studying her. "You sure? You've been kind of quiet lately." Anna forced a smile. "I'm just busy, that's all."

Ethan didn't press further, but the look in his eyes told her he wasn't convinced.

As they continued working, Anna felt the weight of his presence more acutely than ever. Every small gesture—his quiet chuckle when he found something amusing, the way he leaned closer to explain an idea—made her heart ache with the knowledge that she was keeping him at arm's length.

When their meeting finally ended, Ethan gathered his things and stood. "We make a good team," he said, smiling down at her.

Anna looked up at him, her chest tightening. "Yeah," she said softly, knowing it was true—and knowing that it only made everything harder. As he walked away, she watched him go, her heart heavy with the unspoken feelings that lingered between them.