GAME ON

Chapter 31~ Crazy girl

JASMINE'S POV

Today's the day we are to present Mr. Baldwin's project to the class. Honestly I had already forgotten with all the chaotic drama happening recently but somehow I had remembered.

The library was too quiet. That's what made it worse.

Connor sat across from me, feet propped on the table like he owned the place, flipping through my notes like it was nothing. I wanted to snatch them back, but he'd already read half of them.

"So," he said, leaning back, "you've got acids down. Sour taste, pH below 7, turns blue litmus red. Strong acids ionize completely. Weak acids don't. You even wrote about vinegar and stomach acid."

I blinked. "You... read all of that?"

He smirked and slid his own notebook over. Pages full of neat diagrams, reactions, examples. Bases. Properties. How they feel slippery, taste bitter, turn red litmus blue. Sodium hydroxide, ammonia, antacids.

I stared at it. Then at him.

"You're kidding me," I said. "When did you research this? And why? I thought delinquents don't study."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Connor's smirk didn't fade, but his eyes got serious. "Maybe delinquents get bored too. Maybe I didn't want you doing all the work alone. And maybe," he tapped the table, "I don't like losing."

I crossed my arms. "Fine. We know our stuff. Now how are we supposed to present this to Mr. Baldwin without killing each other?"

He leaned forward, that familiar dangerous grin back. "Simple. I'll handle the 'cool' part. You handle the 'smart' part. We make it a show. Acid vs. Base. Battle of the chemicals."

I groaned. "You're impossible."

"But you're in," he said.

And... yeah. I was.

____________________________________

Standing in front of Mr. Baldwin's class felt like standing on a stage with the spotlight in my eyes. We were the last to present and everyone was already looking bored.

In fact they focus their attention more on Connor while I felt invisible.

Connor was beside me, calm as ever in his leather jacket, while I clutched my notes like a lifeline.

We started rough. I explained acids - definition, properties, examples. My voice shook at first, but then I got into it. Then Connor took over with bases. He actually explained the neutralization reaction in a way that made half the class laugh and understand at the same time. He even did a quick demo with baking soda and vinegar. The room went wild.

When we finished, the room was quiet for a second. Then Mr. Baldwin clapped. Slow, deliberate.

"That," he said, "was one of the best presentations I've seen all term. Detailed, accurate, and you both actually made it engaging. I didn't think I'd see teamwork from you two."

So you knew. And yet you paired us.

He looked at me, then at Connor. "Excellent research. Excellent delivery. A+."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Connor nudged me, grinning low. "Told you we'd kill it."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide my smile.
For once, the bad boy and I weren't fighting. We were winning.

The bell for Lunch break rang and everyone packed their stuff and headed out of the class. Connor and I were last to leave the class.