Chapter 34 Provoked

• The days following the scavenger hunt were a whirlwind of shared moments. Whether it was study hall, after-school events, or just passing each other in the hallways, Annabel was always there. It felt oddly natural, though part of me still hesitated to let my guard down entirely.
• One Friday, the school organized a cooking workshop for a home economics project. Students were randomly paired to encourage teamwork. By some twist of fate or perhaps Annabel’s meddling, I found myself partnered with her again.
• “Urgh! Not again,” my eyes rolled as I saw my name tagged to the same table as hers.