In Our Next Lives

Steven had to admit; Jessica wasn't as unbearable as he'd expected. She was still overly chatty, still full of dramatic expressions and unnecessary commentary, but at least she was trying. And for someone who had zero experience with coding, she was catching on surprisingly fast.

They sat in the computer lab, side by side, as Steven guided her through another basic function. Jessica leaned in, her eyes fixed on the screen. "So, if this statement is false, it moves to the 'else' part, right?"

Steven nodded. "Exactly. Think of it like…"

"A backup plan," she finished, snapping her fingers. "Like, if my first outfit doesn't work, I already have an 'else' ready."

Steven smirked slightly. "That's… actually a decent analogy."

Jessica gasped. "Did you just say something nice? Steven Greece, was that a compliment?"

He rolled his eyes. "Don't make it weird."

Jessica chuckled, clearly pleased with herself. They were actually getting along. And for the first time, Steven didn't mind having a partner.

That was, of course, until Zach Monroe walked in.

The energy in the room shifted instantly. Zach was one of those people who didn't just enter a space; he claimed it. Tall, broad-shouldered, and always carrying the air of someone who knew he was better than you, he strolled in like he owned the place.

His eyes landed on Jessica, and a slow smirk spread across his face. "Jess," he drawled, stepping up behind her. "Didn't expect to find you in a place like this. What's the occasion? Extra credit?"

Jessica spun in her chair, smirking right back. "Maybe I just wanted to expand my genius, Zach. Not all of us can coast through school on biceps and charisma."

Steven kept his gaze on the screen, resisting the urge to sigh. He'd seen guys like Zach a thousand times, loud, arrogant, and completely uninterested in anything that didn't revolve around sports or popularity.

Zach leaned on the table, ignoring Steven entirely. "Or maybe you just missed me and needed an excuse to see my face."

Jessica scoffed. "Please. If I needed to see your face, I'd check the nearest reflective surface. We both know you stare at yourself enough."

Steven bit back a chuckle. He had to admit, she was quick.

Finally, Zach's gaze flickered to him, as if just realizing he was there. "Oh, right," he said, faking surprise. "Didn't see you there, bud. What's up?"

Steven, fully aware of the condescending tone, simply nodded. "Trying to work."

Zach raised an eyebrow. "Work? Man, that sounds exhausting. You sure you don't wanna take a break? Go outside? Maybe get some sunlight?"

"I'm fine," Steven replied evenly.

Zach smirked. "Suit yourself. But hey, at least Jess is here to keep you company. It's probably the most social interaction you've had all year."

Jessica's expression shifted. She shot Zach a look, one that Steven couldn't quite read, but it was clear she didn't like what he'd just said.

Without missing a beat, she turned to Steven. "Hey, Steven," she said, loud enough for Zach to hear. "Do you think if we adjust Zach's ego, we could program some actual intelligence into him?"

Steven blinked. Then, before he could stop himself, a small chuckle escaped.

Zach's smirk faltered. "Real funny," he muttered, straightening up. "Anyway, Jess, let me know when you're done with whatever this is. We've got more important things to do."

Jessica waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, don't let the door hit you."

With an annoyed huff, Zach walked out, leaving the two of them in silence. Then, almost simultaneously, Jessica and Steven burst into laughter.

It wasn't forced, or awkward. It was just easy. Natural. And in that moment, Steven realized something surprising.

He actually liked hanging out with Jessica Whitehall.