********************

Fiona nodded slowly, clicking her pen as she bent over her notebook.

His excuse—“I couldn’t see the board from behind”—still lingered in her ears.

She had hoped, for just a flicker of a moment, that maybe he wanted to sit beside her.

But she let it go. Don’t overthink it, Fiona, she scolded herself, scribbling in the corner of her page.

Then she froze.

“Thank you.”

Her head whipped toward him. “What?”

Elliot’s gaze darted to hers for a split second before diving straight back into his book.

His curls bobbed as he ducked his head further down, pretending to read.

Fiona blinked, confused. Had she imagined it?

“Sorry,” she muttered under her breath, licking her lips as she turned back to her notebook.

Maybe she’d misheard him.

But then his voice came again, low, almost fragile.
“I said thank you.”

He leaned the tiniest bit closer, his eyes locked stubbornly on the page.

“You didn’t run away when everyone else does. They think I’m… intolerable. With my constant rambles.”

Fiona’s chest squeezed. He said it so plainly, like a fact he had long since accepted.

“Nonsense, you aren’t,” she blurted, looking at him properly this time.

His brows shot up.

“I mean…” she rushed to add, “you do ramble a lot. But I think that just shows how much you love something. Like science. It’s… fascinating.”

*********************

For a moment, Elliot didn’t move. His lips parted. His eyes—those bright, curious eyes—lit up like fireworks.

“Really?” His voice cracked with disbelief. “You think my love for science is… fascinating?”

Fiona nodded, smiling softly.

And for Elliot? That one word, that one nod—

It was everything.

A grin split across his face, wide and unguarded. His eyes practically glowed as he slammed his book shut and pumped his fist lightly.

“I knew it!” he burst out, too loud for the quiet classroom. “Somebody believes in my love for science!”

Heads turned. A couple of students groaned.

Elliot, oblivious, launched into a rapid-fire ramble about particle physics, neurons, and theories Fiona couldn’t begin to keep up with.

But his joy was contagious, spilling out of him in waves.

Then, mid-sentence, he stopped. His smile faltered. His shoulders hunched.

“S-sorry,” he whispered, voice small. “I did it again, didn’t I?”

Snickers rose from behind them.

“Here we go again…”
“Can’t he ever shut up?”

The words hit Elliot like stones. He shrank into his seat, fidgeting with the corner of his book, gaze fixed on the desk.

Fiona’s jaw tightened.

“Yes, you did,” she said clearly, her voice carrying over the whispers.

He winced.

“And you can do it as many times as you want.”

Elliot’s head snapped toward her.

“I won’t stop you,” she added, her smile steady, her eyes unwavering.

**********************

For a heartbeat, silence fell between them.

Then Elliot’s entire face lit up.

A grin stretched ear to ear as he nearly bounced in his seat.

He ducked back to his book, giggling softly like someone who’d just been given a gift he’d wanted his whole life.

Fiona watched him, warmth blooming in her chest.

His eyes still sparkled as he turned a page, a faint blush creeping up from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

And then—he looked at her.

Just for a moment.

There was something flickering there, something she couldn’t name. Admiration, maybe. Something softer, deeper.

And then, just as quickly, he looked away, burying himself in the safety of his book again.

Fiona lowered her gaze to her notebook, her pen hovering above the page.

Elliot… you’re full of surprises

*****************************