Chapter One — The Seat by the Window
Mira Callahan always sat by the window.
Not because of the view there was none, unless you liked rust-stained brick and a crooked fire escape but because it was the farthest seat from the door. Less traffic. Less noise. Less chance of being spoken to.
She arrived early, like always, slipping into her desk and pulling her braid over her shoulder like a shield. From her bag came her planner, three gel pens, and a thermos of tea. Comfort in routine. Control.
Across the room, Mr. Park was writing “Senior Capstone Pairings” on the whiteboard in his precise, blocky letters.
Mira paused mid-sip. Pairings?
She flipped through her planner no mention of a partner project. She hated surprises. Her pen tapped against the desk, faster and faster.
The bell rang.
And then, as if summoned by her unease, he walked in.
Jace Moreno.
Black hoodie. Backpack slung over one shoulder. Headphones around his neck. That slight limp he’d had since he tried to jump the library steps on his skateboard and failed gloriously.
He didn’t look at her. Of course not. He never did. Mira had existed three feet away from him in several classes over the last four years, and he still called her “uh, brain girl?” when forced to refer to her at all.
He slid into a seat near the back right as Mr. Park cleared his throat.
“Okay, class. Senior Capstone. Big project. Big grade. You’ll be paired up. This isn’t negotiable.”
Groans filled the room like a slow, inevitable storm.
Mira’s heart sank.
“Partners were randomly assigned,” Mr. Park continued. “You’ll have until mid-November to submit a proposal and final presentation. Details are online.”
Mira barely heard him. Her gaze locked on the board as he started listing names.
She watched in slow-motion horror as her name appeared.
Right next to his.
Callahan & Moreno.
No. No, no, no.
She sank lower into her chair. Jace didn’t even react, which made it worse. Either he didn’t care or he hadn’t noticed yet.
And then too fast Mr. Park called out, “Pair up. Sit together. Get acquainted. You’ve got the rest of class to brainstorm.”
Mira didn’t move. Her braid tightened in her hand. Her tea went cold.
And then a shadow fell across her desk.
“You’re Callahan, right?” Jace asked, smirking like he already knew the answer. “Guess we’re a dream team now.”
She looked up at him. Slowly. Like staring into sunlight.
He was taller than she remembered. Or maybe she was just sitting down.
His eyes were sharp and playful, but not unkind. Not yet.
She cleared her throat. “I suppose we are.”
He dropped into the chair beside her with a dramatic sigh.
“You’re the smart one, right? I’ll let you do most of it. I’m chill like that.”
Mira arched a brow. “That won’t work.”
He blinked. Clearly not expecting resistance.
She turned her notebook toward him, flipped to a blank page, and clicked her pen. “So, Jace. What do you care about?”
He hesitated. Something flickered behind the sarcasm, quick and unreadable.
“Music,” he said finally. “And not failing this class.”
She allowed herself the smallest smile.
“Well. That’s a start.”
