We were in the university’s small study room, the fluorescent lights buzzing faintly overhead. Marcus was sitting across from me, camera in hand, as he fiddled with the settings. Since Professor Marshall required video documentation of the project, which meant Marcus had to film everything, much to his annoyance.
“Hold still,” he muttered, focusing the lens on me. “You’re in the shot.”
I shifted awkwardly in my seat. “Do we really need to do this? Can’t we just pretend we filmed it?”
Marcus gave me a look. “You’re asking me to cheat? Shocking.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to focus on the textbook in front of me. The camera clicked, capturing the page. Marcus glanced over the screen, clearly bored. I could feel his gaze lingering, though, waiting for the right moment to poke fun.
“You’re real tense, you know that?” he said, snapping another photo.
“I’m just trying to finish this project.” I snapped back, keeping my eyes on the notes.
I could feel the weight of his stare on me. “You ever had a boyfriend?”
I stiffened, the question catching me off guard. “What?”
“You heard me.” He leaned back, crossing his arms. “Have you ever had a boyfriend?”
“Does it look like I have time for one?” I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “That’s not an answer.”
I bit my lip, focusing on the words on the page, but they blurred together. “No,” I muttered under my breath.
Marcus leaned forward, his smirk growing. “What was that?”
I clenched my jaw. “No. I haven’t.”
The air between us shifted, the casual teasing dropping away as he stared at me, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
“Interesting,” he said softly, the edge to his voice gone. “So, no boyfriend… and never been kissed?”
I froze, suddenly hyper-aware of the camera on the table, recording every word. “Why are you asking me this?”
His eyes locked onto mine, his smirk still there, but softer now. “Just curious.”
I tried to look away, but the tension in the room was palpable. “Why do you care?”
He leaned in, his voice dropping lower. “Relax, Fatty Betty, you seem so nervous.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. The way he was looking at me made it impossible to think straight. My cheeks burned, and I could feel the heat rising up my neck.
He chuckled, leaning even closer. “You’re missing out a lot.”
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. “I don’t think so.”
He paused, his gaze dropping to my lips, then back to my eyes. “You really think that?”
I couldn’t answer. The space between us seemed to disappear, and I could feel his breath on my skin. He was close — too close. My heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.
Marcus’s voice was barely a whisper now. “You don’t wonder what it’s like?”
I felt the words on my lips, but I couldn’t speak. My breath caught in my throat, the room spinning. He was teasing me, like always, but there was something different this time.
His hand brushed mine, light but enough to send my pulse racing. “You really don’t?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, the door creaked open.