Defining Us
I wasn’t sure whether I was more nervous about the presentation or standing in front of the entire class next to Logan. It felt like every pair of eyes was on us, like they could somehow sense everything that had happened between us—the kisses, the secrets, the moments no one else was supposed to know about.
“Relax, Em,” Logan whispered as we walked to the front of the room. “We’ve got this.”
I shot him a glare, though my heart wasn’t in it. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who had to write the entire outline.”
Logan smirked, leaning in just enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek. “And you’re not the one who has to make it sound interesting. Teamwork, remember?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. He always had a way of making me forget how annoyed I was with him—at least temporarily.
As we set up our materials, the class quieted down, though I could still feel the undercurrent of whispers. Logan stood beside me, tall and self-assured, while I fumbled with the papers in my hand.
“Ready?” he asked, his voice low and steady.
I nodded, though my stomach was doing flips. “Let’s get this over with.”
We started with the basics, explaining the themes and structure of the book we’d analyzed. Logan handled the opening with ease, his voice smooth and confident as he introduced our points. It was almost unfair how effortlessly he could command a room.
“And now,” Logan said, turning to me with a slight smile, “Emma’s going to explain the deeper symbolism.”
I froze for half a second, caught off guard by the way he said my name—like it was something important. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my notes clutched tightly in my hands.
“The author uses recurring imagery of water to represent change and rebirth,” I began, my voice shaky at first but gaining strength as I went on. “Each time the protagonist encounters water, it signifies a turning point in their journey. It’s not just a physical transformation, but an emotional one as well.”
As I spoke, I felt Logan’s eyes on me—not in a distracting way, but like he was silently rooting for me. It steadied me, gave me the confidence to keep going. I gestured to the visual we’d prepared, explaining how the themes tied into the story’s climax.
“And that’s why the final scene at the river isn’t just about closure,” I concluded, my voice clear and steady now. “It’s about finding the courage to move forward, even when it feels impossible.”
The room was silent for a beat, and then the teacher clapped, breaking the tension. “Excellent analysis,” she said, nodding approvingly. “I could see the amount of effort you both put into this.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. As Logan stepped up to wrap things up, I glanced at the class. Most of them looked impressed—except Vanessa, whose scowl could have burned a hole through the floor.
“And that’s why we think this book resonates so strongly,” Logan finished, flashing a grin that earned a few laughs from the room. “Even if Emma did all the hard work.”
There was scattered applause as we returned to our seats, and I felt a strange sense of pride. Not just in the project, but in the fact that we’d done it together—and done it well.
***
After class, the teacher called us over.
“I have to say,” she began, looking genuinely impressed, “that was one of the best presentations I’ve seen this semester. You two work incredibly well together.”
“Thank you,” I said, a bit taken aback.
“So much so,” she continued, “that I’ve decided to pair you up for the next project as well. I think you’ll do great things.”
I blinked, unsure whether to feel flattered or panicked. Logan, of course, took it in stride.
“Happy to,” he said with a grin, slinging an arm over my shoulder as we walked out of the classroom. “See, Em? Told you we made a great team.”
I shoved his arm off, though I couldn’t help the smile creeping onto my face. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, here we are,” he teased, his grin widening.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t deny the truth in his words. Somehow, despite everything, we did make a great team. And as we walked down the hallway, the whispers didn’t feel quite so loud anymore.
