Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was Monday, usually they were long and atrocious, especially when you have 3 specific teachers who were extremely harsh along with a strict principal. Today the weather was predicted to be sunny but fuck that. It was raining so hard it almost seemed like a flood could start.

Claire, along with her cat MoeMoe, were walking down the wet sidewalk since Claire didn't really have a ride or anything to get to school. It was a mess, water seeping into the hand-me-down hoodie she got from her mother. The droplets hit the pavement with a rhythmic tap-tap that seemed to echo in the silence that filled the mostly quiet neighborhood Claire was in.

She only had a few steps to go, and she'd reach paper school. Once she walked in, the tiles underneath her became soaked with rain drops.

She looked around her. It was pretty much the same as always. Lizzy and Petunia were chatting, Edward and Zip whispering and snickering while Oliver was presumably with Alice as he wasn't seen in the halls. Kevin was busy rambling on to Riley about how she should really fix her behavior, but Riley probably wasn't, anyway. As she was more focused on.. whatever her crazy head was thinking..

The bell rang as Claire made it to her locker, where both Bubble and Engel met up with her, their usual calm and positive self a stark contrast to the gloomy weather.

"Rain got you down?" Engel asked, seeing Claire extremely drenched from the rain.

"I just want to get this day over with.." Claire groaned.

"Um, you studied for the test, right?" Bubble inquired, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

Test!? She forgot all about that. This day was already off to a bad start, getting soaked by rain and now a test!? That she completely forgot to study for. Just lovely.

"What test?" Claire asked, trying to play it cool, hoping against hope that she had heard wrong.

"The math test that Miss Circle rambled on about almost all of last week," Engel replied, raising an eyebrow at Claire's apparent forgetfulness.

The second bell rang

"We might wanna get to class, don't want to end up late, now do we?" Engel said, nudging Claire gently as they started to walk towards their first class. The hallways crowded, like always.

Everyone sat down. Miss Circle cleared her throat.

"Sadly, I'm going to have to move the math test you guys have worked so hard to study for to next week,"

Miss Circle announced to the class. A collective sigh of relief filled the room, except for the few overachievers who had studied. Claire felt the weight of failing lift off her shoulders. She was in the clear for the moment, she now had time to properly study

A kid raised their hand

"Yes, Kevin?" Miss Circle sighed. She already knew what he was gonna ask.

"Why did you cancel the test this week?" Kevin asked, his voice slightly annoyed as he took so much time on figuring how everything worked.

Miss Circle took a deep breath before speaking. "The test has been rescheduled due to a majority of the classes grades. I've noticed that a lot of you haven't been doing too well. However, none of you has gotten an F."

*Miss Circle held the paper up to read it"

"I've decided I'm going to move your seating, to help boost the class's overall performance," Miss Circle continued, her voice firm. "Everyone stand up to the side of the classroom,"

Claire's stomach churned. She hated change. She was fine. Why was she getting moved? Did she do something wrong?

As everyone shuffled out of their seats and to the sides of the classroom, the atmosphere grew tense. Almost everyone was disappointed. They got to choose their seats at the beginning of the year and now they were being changed?

Miss Circle walked around with a piece of paper and a stern look on her face. It felt an eternity before she spoke.

"Cubbie, Edward, Engel" She assigned the three students to the group desk.

They awkwardly looked at each other and shuffled to the desk as Miss Circle assigned the next desk

"Ruby, Bubble, and Kevin" She assigned the next group of students.

Kevin rolled his eyes, not looking forward to being paired with any of them whatsoever, preferring to be alone.

"Riley, Lizzy, Oliver,"

The whispers grew as Miss Circle announced the next set of names. Claire felt a twinge of anxiety, hoping she wouldn't be paired with someone she couldn't stand for the life of her.

"Petunia, Zip, and Claire,"

The moment Miss Circle called out her name, Claire's heart sank. Petunia was fine, but Zip!? Of all people?! Why her!?

"Robby, Skell, and Abbie," she assigned the last students to the final group desk.

The class reluctantly rearranged themselves, books and bags thumping onto new desks. Claire took her seat with Petunia and Zip, trying to ignore the awkwardness, and pulled out her math book and pretended to look busy. Zip, noticing her discomfort, smirked.

"Cheer up, Claire. It's not like I'm going to bite," she said, her tone playfully mocking.

Claire shot Zip a glare that could've frozen lava. "I'd like to keep my sanity intact, thank you very much," she murmured under her breath, earning a snicker from Petunia.

"Are you guys just going to argue all period?" Petunia interrupted, trying to lighten the mood with a chuckle.

"No," Claire said through gritted teeth, flipping open her math book to the correct page.

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Class felt like it would never end., with the constant patter of rain outside and the constant speaking of Miss Circle, trying to keep up with her pace was like catching up with a cheetah.

Claire glanced over at Zip, who was scribbling away in her notebook, seemingly unaware of what Miss Circle was writing. She literally only got halfway through the notes before she began doodling random little drawings. Claire rolled her eyes and tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept wandering to Zips doodles.

She nudged her shoulder and Zip looked at her confused

"What are you doing!?" Claire questioned in a whisper, pointing to the drawings on Zips' notebook.

Zip smirked, "What? I'm bored."

"Wha-but- the notes!" Claire stuttered, her voice hushed but filled with frustration.

"Relax, I've got it," Zip replied, not looking up from her doodles. "Miss Circle repeats herself like a broken record. I've heard it all before."

Claire rolled her eyes. "really? What if she doesn't want you to be scribbling in her class?"

Zip just chuckled. "She's not going to say anything to me. I'm Miss Thavels' daughter," she whispered back.

"Oh, really so if I just-" Claire slightly began raising her hand, jokingly implying she was gonna tattle on her.

"Don't you dare," Zip whispered back, glaring playfully at Claire.

Petunia leaned in. "I thought you didn't like Zip," she whispered to Claire, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I don't," Claire replied, her voice low and serious. "But she's driving me crazy."

Petunia giggled with more amusement than before. "Well, you guys seem to be having a lot of fun over there," she said, raising an eyebrow at their interaction.

Zip's smirk grew wider as she caught the glimpse of Claire's frustration. "What's the matter, Claire? Can't handle a little chaos?" she whispered, her eyes finally leaving her doodles to meet Claire's.

"It's not about chaos, it's about learning!" Claire hissed back, trying to keep her voice down so Miss Circle wouldn't hear.

"Oh, come on," Zip leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. "Math is math. It's not like it's going to change the whole universe."

"But it could change our grades!" Claire whispered fiercely, her eyes darting over to Miss Circle, who was scribbling away at the board.

Zip shrugged. "So what? Grades aren't everything."

Petunia giggled, hearing them argue, "You guys are like an old married couple."

This caused a few snickers from the nearby desks. Claire and Zip both stopped and stared at her eyes wide, before they both said in sync, "What?"

Miss Circle turned around to look at them, a stern look on her face. "What's so funny?"

Petunia jumped slightly "N-nothing, Miss Circle."

Miss Circle narrowed her eyes before turning back to the board, continuing her lecture.

The rest of the class passed by with a mix of forced learning and sneaky glances at Zip's doodles. Claire tried her best to keep up with the notes, but the distraction was too much. Why was she so entranced with these drawings.. she didn't know?

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the class.

"Alright, I expect you all to review your notes tonight, and remember, the test is next week. No more rearrangements," Miss Circle said, a hint of a smile on her face as she dismissed the class.

As the students shuffled out of the room, Claire gathered her things, her mind racing with the daunting task of catching up on her math and this newfound entrancement with the drawings and Zip in general.

Chapter Text

Claire was in her bedroom, on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was racing with thoughts of the previous events. The rain had stopped, but the atmosphere felt.....boring.

MoeMoe, her cat, jumped onto the bed and curled up beside her, purring softly. Claire scratched him gently behind his ears, but her thoughts were on something else... more so, someone else. Zip's smug attitude had always gotten under her skin, but today it was different. It was like a bug bite she couldn't ignore, but it was....ugh, how do you describe it?

The more she thought, the more her mind went into crazy places. Was she actually starting to... like Zip? No, that was ridiculous. Zip was the complete opposite of her. She was... well, Zip. Chaotic, unpredictable, and infuriatingly nonchalant about school, yet somehow she had good grades and passed?!

MoeMoe looked at her with his big, circular eyes, probably wondering why she was sighing and groaning so much. She picked him up and cuddled him close. "You're the only one who gets me, buddy," she murmured into his fur.

What was she gonna do? How was she gonna get rid of these thoughts? Why did she even have these thoughts? And why about Zip, of all people?!

MoeMoe's purring was comforting, but it didn't help with the chaos in her head. Every time she thought about something else, her mind would revert to Zip's smirk, those doodles, Zips voice, her eyes, everything about her. It was like a never-ending loop of torment... but she found it somewhat... enjoyable? No, she couldn't like Zip. That was just crazy.

With a deep breath, Claire decided to focus on what she could control. The math test was now just a week away, and she had to buckle down and study. She knew she couldn't let herself get distracted by... by whatever this feeling was?

Grabbing her math book and a fresh notebook, she sat down at her desk. It was quiet, only the sounds of birds chirping. It was perfect for studying. But every time she looked at the equations, Zip's carefree doodles from class floated into her mind. She couldn't get them out of her head. They were so... free. So unlike her neat and orderly notes.

Claire sighed and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "You can do this," she whispered to herself. "Just focus."

With a determined look, she opened her math book again and began to read through the lessons. After a few minutes, she felt a gentle nudge on her leg. MoeMoe looked up at her, tail swishing back and forth. He was the only creature in the world that could read her mood so well.

She sighed. "Up" she said patting her lap, signaling MoeMoe to sit on her lap. She figured a little study buddy might help. Plus, it's not like he was going to distract her with doodles. MoeMoe jumped onto her lap, purring contentedly.

The first few pages went by with little issue. Claire managed to focus on the math, but as she stared at the numbers and formulas, she couldn't help but think of how Zip had made the class feel alive, even with the task of taking notes being so boresome and bland.

Her mind kept drifting to the way Zip's eyes sparkled when she was teasing her, and the way she moved her pencil so confidently across the paper. It was... mesmerizing. Claire blinked, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Focus," she told herself firmly, turning to a fresh page in her notebook.

(I'm totally not about to make a turning red reference)

With a deep breath, she began to write out the formulas from the textbook. But her hand seemed to have a mind of its own, and soon she found herself doodling a tiny Zip in the margin, complete with her signature smirk. Claire's face went redder than a tomato, and she quickly erased it.

"What is wrong with me?" she murmured to herself.

She lightly scratched behind MoeMoe's ears once again..him being the only thing that actually soothed her chaos of a brain right now. "Let's try this again," she whispered to herself, turning the page.

The evening rolled into night, and the only thing Claire had accomplished was a page full of doodles of just Zip, and a half-hearted attempt at a math problem. She was lost in her thoughts. It was like Zip had left a part of her with Claire and Claire couldn't ignore it.

MoeMoe had long since fallen asleep, his purrs turning into gentle snores. Claire stared at the clock, the red digital numbers glaring back at her. It was already 10 PM, and she hadn't even started her actual studying. Panic began to set in.

"Okay, okay," she murmured to herself, pushing aside the doodle-filled page. "Let's get serious."

But even as she tried to concentrate, the images of Zip haunted her, taunting her with their mischievousness and charm. It was like her mind had been hijacked, and she couldn't get back to her usual self. With a groan, Claire closed her math book and slammed it shut. This wasn't working.

She moved MoeMoe to his bed before flopping onto hers, almost suffocating her face into the mattress. "What's wrong with me?" she whispered to the darkness of her room.

Her thoughts swirled around Zip like a tornado, touching on every little detail she had noticed about her today. The way her hair was slightly snarly and unbrushed yet looked so smooth, the way her eyes squinted when she smirked, and the way her dragon-like tail wagged whenever she felt mischievous or excited. It was like her mind had suddenly been opened to a whole new world of... distraction... How come she only had thought about everything Zip does now?

Chapter Text

Claire's alarm buzzed loudy, abruptly interrupting her deep sleep. Morning already? It felt like she barley slept. She groaned and rolled over, smacking the stop button. Her thoughts from the night before came rushing back, making her face heat up. How could she be so...

But there was no time to dwell on it now. She had to get to school before she was late. She jumped out of bed. MoeMoe stretched and yawned, looking at her with big, sleepy eyes.

"Alright, buddy," she said, scooping him up for a quick cuddle. "Let's get ready."

MoeMoe didn't seem to understand the urgency, but he didn't protest. He simply curled into her arms and allowed her to carry him downstairs as she got ready for school. The quiet morning routine was a stark contrast to the tumoril in her head.

As she brushed her teeth, Claire caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, a mix of confusion and frustration on her face. She couldn't believe she was seriously considering the possibility of having a crush on Zip. It was absurd. But she couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach every time she thought about her.
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She finally got out the door, MoeMoe resting on her shoulders.

The cool morning air helped to clear her mind somewhat, but not entirely. As she walked to school, her thoughts kept returning to Zip. Why couldn't she just forget about her? Claire had never felt this way about anyone before, especially not someone who was such a thorn in her side. It was... confusing.

Was it the way Zip acted that day or was it the artistic talent she had that made her so... so... appealing?

Claire finally reached school. The hallways were filled with the usual buzz and chatter and the sound of lockers slamming and opening. She walked to her locker, trying to push down the swarm of butterflies that had taken residence in her stomach.

Her hand trembled slightly as she turned the lock. She had to get it together. It was just a temporary crush, right? Something that would pass. She couldn't let it affect her, especially not when the math test was so close.

Bubble walked up to her as their lockers were pretty close, she noticed the slight trembling and nervousness.

"Hey, you okay?" Bubble asked with genuine concern in her gaze.

Claire took a deep breath and nodded, trying to put on a brave face. "Yeah, I'm just a bit tired," she lied, hoping Bubble would buy it.

Bubble crossed her arms "you sure cause you don't look 'just tired'..."

Claire let out a defeated sigh, knowing Bubble could see right through her. "I'm not just tired," she admitted, avoiding eye contact. "I'll talk about it library.."

Bubble nodded, her eyes widening with curiosity. "Okay," she said, "Lunchtime in the library."

Claire looked around for a moment "where's Engel?"

"He's absent today," Bubble said with a shrug, as she turned to leave for class. "Some family thing, I guess."

Claire walked into the classroom, she almost forgot about the new seating arrangement before her eyes shot at Zip. Miss Circle wasn't in the classroom right now so the class was loud with the students chattering and laughing.

To be honest, Zip looked bored out of her mind, but once Claire sat down, the smirk ran back to her face.

"Hey'a partner," she said attempting a country accent before winking.

Claire felt her face heat up like a stovetop, God why did she sound so cute saying that... It was even worse that she winked at her!?

The bell rang, cutting off the conversation, and Miss Circle walked into the room, her eyes scanning the class. "Alright everyone, settle down," she said calmly before Edward snickered loudly at Miss Circle's entrance.

"Is there something funny, Edward?" Miss Circle's voice was sharp, and the room instantly fell silent.

"You should probably check your neck Miss" he said snickering even more.

Miss Circle looked puzzled "What do you mean, Edward?"

Edward bursted out laughing finally "YOU HAVE A HICKEY!"

Miss Circle's cheeks turned as red as a cherry tomato. The room exploded with whispers and giggles. Zip giggled before Oliver spoke.

"Looks like someone had to much fun with Miss Blooms, huh?" Oliver claimed, smirking.

Miss Circle, clearly flustered, touched her neck before retreating to the board. "Class, let's get started," she said, her voice a little shaky.

The lesson began, but Claire couldn't focus. She kept stealing glances at Zip, who seemed utterly unfazed by the class's reaction to Miss Circle's love bite.

Zip was sketching something in the margins of her notebook again, her pencil moving with a grace that Claire found utterly fascinating. It was like watching a painter bring a masterpiece to life. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be the subject of one of those doodles.

She looked like she was was drawing a dragon of sorts fighting a weird creature that had octopus features. The drawing was chaotic and wack itself, but the way she drew with such ease...it was almost satisfying to watch.

Claire realized she was in a class and instantly opened her notebook only to find herself at the page of zip doodles she made last night unintentionally instantly shutting the notebook with a slam that echoed through the room. The class quiets down and looks at her with confusion and a slight amusement. "Miss Circle," she says trying to recover "Could I take a moment"

Miss Circle nodded, "yes but don't skip class"

With a grateful nod, Claire picked up her bag and hurried out of the room, her cheeks on fire. The hallway was empty, which was a small mercy. She leaned against the cold lockers, taking deep breaths to calm herself. Why, why, why, why? Why was this happening to her?

Her heart raced as she stumbled into the bathroom, the coolness of the tile floor shocking her back to reality. She splashed water on her face, hoping to drown out the thoughts of Zip. But it was no use. Her mind was like a corn maze but if all the corns faces were Zips, with no way out.

"Just get through the day," she whispered to her reflection in the mirror. "Just get through the day."

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It was finally lunch, and Claire practically ran to the library, her heart racing. She needed to get her thoughts in order before she talked to Bubble. The quiet, book-filled room was a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.

She spotted Bubble who went on one of the tables in the very back corner, waving at her. Claire took a deep breath and walked over, sliding into the chair beside her.

"So, what's going on?" Bubble asked, her voice a gentle whisper in the library's hushed environment. She had a concerned look on her face, which made Claire even more anxious.

"It's... it's Zip," Claire confessed, her voice barely above a murmur. She felt her cheeks flaming up again.

"Oh no...is the seating change bothering you, she's not getting under your skin, is she?" Bubble said, her tone filled with understanding.

"I uh-" she took a deep breath "okay this is gonna sound really awkward but.."

"You have a crush on Zip," Bubble finished her sentence.

"I- wait whaaa-" Claire looked at her with surprise, she didn't even say anything and she just read her mind like that. "How did you-"

Bubble leaned back in her chair, her expression one of knowing amusement. "I've seen how you've been looking at her," she said with a smirk. "It's written all over your face."

"I don't have a crush on Zip!" Claire protested weakly "I just have this really weird feeling around her and I may find her attractive and I like the way she laughs and draws and-"

"You just described a crush" Bubble said with a knowing tone, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Claire buried her face in her hands. "This is ridiculous," she mumbled. "I can't have a crush on Zip. She's... she's..."

"She's what, Claire?" Bubble prompted gently.

"She's... she's everything I'm not," Claire said, peeking through her fingers. "Chaotic, immature, unpredictable..."

Bubble leaned in closer, her voice still a whisper. "But maybe that's the point," she said. "Opposites attract, remember?"

"But she's Zip," Claire protested again. "One of the school's top troublem-makers"

Bubble nodded "And you're Claire, the school's top over-thinker," she teased gently. "Maybe that's what makes it interesting."

"Interesting?" Claire echoed, her voice muffled by her hands. "It's more like a disaster waiting to happen."

Bubble reached over and gently pulled Claire's hands away from her face. "Look, it's okay to have feelings for someone you didn't expect," she said soothingly. "It's not like you're going to marry her tomorrow."

Claire looked up, her eyes displaying worry "B-but what if she doesn't like me back?" she whispered.

Bubble's smirk grew, "Well, you won't know until you tell her."

Panic flooded Claire's eyes "Tell her?!" she almost yelled "I can't do that!"

Bubble chuckled, patting her on the back. "You don't have to confess today," she chuckled quietly "But you should talk to her, get to know her, she's got more than trouble to her, we just haven't seen it"

Claire nodded, taking in her friend's words. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more to Zip than what met the eye. It was worth exploring, even if it meant facing the possibility of rejection.

Chapter Text

(this is a Timeskip to another week bc I'm extremely lazy😭💀)

Claire was just walking through the hallway, about to just head off to her next class, when suddenly she felt something bash into her and knock her and whatever it was that jumped at her to the ground.

Claire opened her eyes to see a wide-eyed Zip, presumably what has bumped into her. Once she realized their current position, her face turned beat red; Meanwhile, Zip began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Oh, my bad," she managed to get out through her giggles. "I didn't see you there."

What the hell!" she exclaimed. "what were you even doing!?"

"Just had a bit of energy to spare," Zip said, grinning down at her as she got up. "Race with Edward, lost my balance."

Her laughter was infectious, but Claire couldn't help but smile. "You're such a mess," she said, standing up and brushing herself off.

"Come on, you know you love it," Zip teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Claire blushed. She wasn't wrong. She had grown to enjoy the unpredictable nature of Zip. The more she saw it, the more she wanted more of it. It was like Zips's charm was eating away at her very soul.

"Hey, you okay?" Zip asked, reaching out a hand to help her up. The touch sent a jolt through Claire's body, and she took it, feeling a strange warmth spread through her as Zip pulled her up.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Claire said, trying to ignore the way her heart was racing. "Just a little surprised"

"Well, I'm full of surprises" Zip laughed, her hand still holding Claire's for a moment longer than necessary.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the next class. Zip's grip tightened for a second before she let go. "See ya, Eclair," she said, turning around and getting ready to leave before-

"Wait!" Claire called out, her voice echoing through the hallway. Zip turned around, her eyebrows raising in question. "I... I was wondering if you. " But the words got caught in her throat. How could she just ask Zip out like this? Where were they gonna go anyway?

"I-" she couldn't bring herself to say it...maybe it was too early. She had some students staring, as well as a very confused yet patient Zip tilting her head slightly. Waiting for Claire to say what she was gonna say.

"I- nevermind," Claire said, her voice mumbled as she quickly turned away, feeling a wave of embarrassment and disappointment wash over her. She couldn't believe she'd almost spilled her secret in the middle of the crowded hallway.

Zip took a step closer, looking at her with curiosity. "You sure?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.

The urge to tell her was strong, but Claire's fear of rejection was stronger. "It's nothing," she said, shaking her head. "Just forget it."

Zip's expression fell, but she nodded. "If you say so." Her voice had a hint of disappointment in it. Her voice was usually playful and energetic. It still was, but now....it almost sounded...fake?

Chapter Text

Friday had arrived the day of the test that Claire had been dreading all week. She walked into the classroom with a heavy heart, trying to wrap around the fact that she barley got any studying done and her mind was just Zip..

Chaotic, Mischievous, Unpredictable, Playful, Zip. The girl she used to dread now being the one she loved so much that she could explode if Zip even missed one day.

Claire felt herself getting nervous as she sat down at her desk. The room was filled with the sound of shuffling papers and whispering last-minute study sessions. She glanced over at Zip, who was already in her seat, looking surprisingly focused as she flipped through her notes.

Miss Circle walked in, her eyes scanning the room with a stern look. The whispers immediately ceased as she placed the test packets on each desk.

"You have the whole class, read thoroughly and consider your answers," she announced. The room was silent except for the sound of the clock ticking.

Claire took a deep breath and picked up her pencil, trying to focus on the questions in front of her. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Zip, and the way their hands had felt when they touched. She sneaked a peek at Zip, and then at Petunia. How were they so silent and focused.. probably because they didn't have a major crush buzzing in their heads.

Time passed slowly as the students scribbled away, the occasional sigh or cough piercing the tension-filled silence. Claire's pencil hovered over the paper, her mind racing with both test answers and imagined scenarios with Zip. Some wholesome and some... should most likely be locked up and thrown into the depths of hell.

She couldn't help but wonder if Zip felt the same way about her. Did she see Claire as more than just a temporary seating buddy? The doubt and anxiety grew with every tick of the clock. Suddenly she saw a paper airplane get tossed over her paper, landing softly on her desk. She looked at Zip, but she didn't seem to look at her. She picked it up and unfolded it, expecting it to be a joke from one of the other classmates trying to be a distraction.

"You got number 7 wrong, the answer is (−x5 (4x5 − 1), good luck -♡ Zip"

The note was hastily scribbled, but the message was clear. Claire's heart fluttered as she looked back at Zip, who was now pretending to be absorbed in her own test.

"Thanks," Claire mouthed silently, hoping Zip would catch it. Zip's eyes flicked up for a brief second, a knowing smile playing on her lips before returning to her paper. The gesture was small, but it meant the world to Claire.

________________

The test dragged on, and by the time Miss Circle collected the papers, Claire felt both relieved and anxious. She gathered her things, hoping she'd done well enough despite her wandering thoughts.

Once she walked out, she met up with Engel and Bubble, who were already waiting for her outside the classroom.

"So have you confessed now?" Bubble asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling with hopes that she did.

"What? No.." Claire said, leaving Bubble disappointed and earning a deep sigh from Engel.

"You've got to tell her soon, you know," Engel said, his voice firm but gentle. "You can't keep this up forever."

"I know," Claire sighed, her shoulders slumping. "But what if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"You say that everytime we mention it," Bubble pouted, "But when are you gonna tell her?"

"I don't want to be pushy, but I think it's time you take the big leap," Engel said, placing a hand on Claire's shoulder. "You've been avoiding this for days now."

"I know, I know," Claire repeated, feeling the weight of her unspoken words. "It's just..."

"So exciting!!" Bubble squealed slightly, "oh sorry, I know you're nervous."

Claire gave a small, soft smile. "I'm just not ready yet."

"But why not?" Bubble questioned, "here you go avoiding it again!" Bubble pouted..

"It's not that easy," Claire said, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and fear.

"I know it's nerve-racking, but you're going to miss your chance if you keep waiting," Engel said, his voice holding a hint of urgency but was still calm.

Bubble nodded in agreement. "You guys seem so perfect together. It's like a match made in heaven!"

"More like a match made in a tornado," Claire said, her voice laced with frustration and nervousness.

Engel chuckled, "Look, I get it. But you can't let fear dictate your life. Sometimes you just gotta go for it. Take the big step. Let life decide the next events."

Bubble nodded vigorously, "Yeah! What's the worst that could happen?"

The worst? Claire thought. The worst is that she says no, and then what? Do we just go back to normal like nothing happened? The thought of rejection was more than she could bear.

Chapter Text

Zip met up with Edward and Oliver. Edward was his usual science invested self, but Oliver had a spark in his eyes that Zip hadn't seen in a while. One that she hadn't seen since... the last time he'd let Alice loose.

"What's up?" Zip asked, noticing the mischief Oliver had all over his expression.

"I didn't know you were a girlkisser, Zip," Edward teased, even though he knew her sexuality very well.

Zip tilted her head at Edward's comment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What?"

Oliver's grin widened. "Don't play dumb. We caught you passing a note to Claire during the test."

Zip rolled her eyes. "It was just a math correction," she said casually, trying to play it cool. But the blush creeping up her cheeks gave her away.

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Math correction, huh?" He said skeptically, smirking. "So you would correct Claire just because she was wrong? Why not let her get an F?"

Zip let out a short gasp. "You know what they do after people fail! I don't want her to end up like..." She paused, not really wanting to mention the subject of the previous failure.

Edward leaned in with a knowing smile, "we're just messing with you Zipster but now that you said all of that, there's no denying that little crush."

Zip's blush deepened. "It's not a crush, it's just..." she trailed off, unable to find the right words.

"Oh, it so is," Edward began laughing. "You can't even say it without turning redder than a lobster!"

Zip crossed her arms, trying to ignore the teasing, "It's not funny, guys. She's not a crush! She's just..... It's complicated." She said, her tail wagging fast behind her.

Edward's laughter grew harder, he could almost choke over it "you're a terrible liar"

It's pretty clear that you're completely smitten." Oliver added, his voice more collected than Edward's.

Zip shot him a glare, "I don't know what you're talking about."

But Edward and Oliver weren't buying it. They had known Zip for long enough to see right through her also, she wasn't hiding this crush very well at all.

Oliver and Edwards, laughing, died down to gentle chuckles as they saw the clear annoyance on Zip's face. Edward was the first to break the silence, "cheer up Zip, we're not judging you. Can't you handle a little teasing?"

Zip let out a huff. She didn't have any crush as far as she was aware of. Okay, that was a lie, maybe a tiny one, but it was nothing that'll get out of hand. She'd had crushes before, and they were just... crushes. They faded away like chalk on a sidewalk during the rain. Claire was probably not any different.

Edward and Oliver were aware of Zip's usual way of handling it. They had seen her through her phases of unrequited love, and they knew she was the type to keep her thoughts to herself. The thing was, it had become somewhat of a predictable pattern.

A once in a while occurrence, Zip would develop a crush, and she'd keep it buried deep down like treasure, as if she was a pirate and the feelings were her loot. Edward and Oliver rarely played any mind to it, but it was becoming bland..bland as a piece of toast with no butter or jam.

They had seen the same pattern over and over again. Zip didn't have many crushes as Zip was. well Zip, but she had a few. A majority of them were in elementary grades. Edward and Oliver had seen her through it with Skell in 3rd grade and even Edward himself for a short period before she came out as lesbian and then got a crush on Petunia and ect. None of those crushes had ever gone anywhere. They had always lived short and then forgotten.

This time it was different, though. They could feel it. The way Zip looked at Claire, the way her tail wagged when she was around her, it was clear that this was meant to be something more. Edward and Oliver had to admit, they were getting quite invested in this crush and that's when something came to both of their heads. Their smirks grew wider.

It was time to play a little game of Matchmaker.

Chapter Text

Oliver and Edwards' plan was brewing with rascality and a sprinkle of good intentions. It was time to play Matchmaker, to stir the pot of love. It was gonna get very cheesy.

All three were in the library. Oliver and Edward were whispering their plans while Zip was distracted with her little brother, Chip, the two of them giggling over a book about silly dragons that Chip asked her to read.

Claire, on the other hand, was with Engel and Bubble, reading one of the Shadow Children books (They're really good bruh). Engel was explaining something to Bubble.

Edward looked between the two places with his drone and then turned to Oliver.

"Okay, so hear me out," Edward began, his eyes "shimmering with excitement. "We need to set them up, like a classic rom-com, but it has to look unintentional"

Oliver nodded, his mind racing with ideas. He hummed a bit before something clicked. "I got it," he whispered, leaning closer to Edward before Edward chuckled a bit and nodded.

"Perfect," Edward whispered back, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the plan. "We'll have to study their handwriting, though, to make sure they don't catch on."
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Claire was walking to her locker, it being the end of the day. The halls were filled with the usual chatter and slamming of lockers as everyone hurried to leave.

Once Claire reached her locker, she found a folded note taped onto the front. Curiosity peaked her interest, she peeled it off and unfolded it, reading the note quietly to herself. The handwriting was neat but scratchy and wacky, eerily similar to Zip's, but she couldn't be sure.

The note read, "Meet me in the mall near the food court after school tomorrow. -A Secret Admirer." Claire's heart raced as she read the words. Who could that be? She had her suspicions, but quickly shook them away. She shouldn't get her hopes up.

----------------------------
Zip had gotten a similar note, written a little more neat and precise. She had placed it on her nightstand questioning..what should she do about it! She should do it.

She sighed... Usually she wouldn't necessarily talk to her mom about these things, but she couldn't really ask Chip. He was only 6 and didn't understand the concept of love yet, and her friends...well, ehhh, too much teasing.

Her mom, Miss Thravel, was in the kitchen, grading some papers she didn't get to during school hours. It was quiet before a voice broke the silence.

"Hey Mom?" Zip asked, twiddling her fingers a bit

nervously.

Miss Thravel looked up from her papers, noticing the shy expression on her daughter's face. " Zip?"

"Well..." Zip paused, trying to find the right words. "I got a note today from someone at school. It says to meet them at the mall tomorrow." She said before placing the note on the table near Miss Thavel.

Miss Thravel read the note, a small smile playing on her lips. "A secret admirer, huh?" she said, looking up at her daughter. "I think you should give it a shot"

Zip bit her lip, unsure of what to do. "But what if it's just a prank?"

Her mother chuckled softly. "Well, you won't know unless you go, will you?"

"I guess.. " Zip's voice trailed off as she contemplated her mother's advice. The idea of meeting a secret admirer was interesting, but scary at the same time.

Miss Thravel noticed her hesitance and lifted her onto her lap, playing with her hair. "Zip, dear, I know you're nervous, but I think you should at least try. I was just as nervous as you were when I met your father and not too long ago just had to go through it all over again with Miss Sasha,"

Zip looked up into her mother's eyes, seeing the reassurance within them. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, I'll go."

"Attagirl," Miss said, hugging Zip close.

Chapter Text

Zip walked nervously into the crowded mall, she's honestly never been here on her own before, well she wasn't completely alone. She had Chip by her side as she knew very well she couldn't leave him at the school or home alone and their mother had to stay after-school hours, most likely some sort of meeting or something.

She looked around looking for this secret admirer, her heart beating like the drums she'd hear in Mister Demi's class. She felt like the main character in one of those romance novels.

Finally, she made it to the Food Court area. Chip looked around, mostly staying silent before he tugged at her capelet. "Cookie," he whispered, pointing at the bakery.

She sighed before shaking her head at her little brother. "Not now, Chip," she whispered in response, only gaining a sad whimper from Chip.

Her eyes scanned the area for the secret admirer, but she couldn't tell. None of them looked like they were from her school.. was the note some stupid prank, did she just waste her time?

She was just about to leave the food area before accidentally bumping into something...or someone. She looked up to see... Claire? What's she doing here? Oh god...what was she supposed to say?

"Zip? Wha-" Claire's eyes widened in surprise as she looked down at the slightly shorter girl in front of her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her voice low to not draw attention.

"I-uh," Zip stuttered, her cheeks flushing a vibrant shade of hot pink. "I got a note......from a secret admirer," she murmured, almost mumbling the last part.

Claire's eyes widened even more. "You too?" she whispered back, pulling out the note from her pocket.

Zip handed her note out a bit shyly, and Claire took it gently, giving her note to Zip. Zip looked at it, the handwriting looking an awful lot like her own.

Claire seemed to notice the similarity of Zips' note handwriting to hers, but it was noticeably less neat and then it hit her...someone set them up..

Zip's heart sank a bit, but she put on a brave face. "Looks like we both got played," she said with a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"No, wait," she murmured, looking around the area before leaning closer to Zip. "I..I have something to tell you..." Claire's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes searching the room for any sign of an audience.

Zip was sure her heart skipped a beat as she looked into Claire's eyes, searching for some sort of clue of what she was gonna say next. The mall's noisy chatter faded into the background as her focus was solely on the pretty girl in front of her.

"What is it?" Zip whispered back, her voice barely audible over the bustling of the mall.

There was a sudden awkward silence between the two of them. Zip's mind was racing, trying to piece together what could possibly be going on in Claire's mind.

"I... I don't know if this is the right place, or time," Claire stumbled, her cheeks blushing a light shade of pink. "But I've had feelings for you..." she paused "for a while now..."

Zip's heart felt like it had stopped, and the noisy mall around them faded into white noise. She looked at Claire with wide eyes, trying to process the words that had just been said.

"You...you do?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn't believe it. The person she teased and somewhat bullied felt the same way she did. It was like a dream come true, but she had to be sure it wasn't some trick, though she wouldn't blame Claire if this was one.

"Yes," Claire nodded, her eyes never leaving Zip's. "I wanted to tell you myself, not because of some setup," she said, her voice a little stronger now. "But I guess the world had other plans."

Zip a wave of relief and surprise wash over her. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she shouted a bit, her tail starting to sway lightly behind her excitedly.

"I-" but before Claire could even get a word out, Zip had lunged onto her, surprisingly not knocking her over, and wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace before planting a kiss right on her lips.

The kiss was soft, full of warmth and gentleness. It was a kiss that spoke of the emotions that had been brewing between them for too long. It was a kiss that was worth the wait.

When they finally pulled away, their eyes locked, and a smile spread across both of their faces.

"I-I've liked you too, Claire," Zip confessed, her voice a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The two of them stood there for a moment, just looking into each other's eyes with flustered faces before Chip tugged on Zip's capelet again. "Cookie," he said, reminding them of their earlier conversation.

They both giggled, the tension from the confession dissipating slightly. Claire looked down at Chip with a gentle smile. "Alright, little guy," she said, patting his head. "Let's get you a cookie. "

Chapter Text

Claire came to school with a newfound sense of confidence, now that she didn't have some crush weighing heavily on her shoulders. Engel and Bubble were right, she really should've told Zip sooner.

The sound of a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts, calling her name. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zip with Oliver and Edward near some lockers.

Oliver snickered, then whispered quite loudly near Zip "Go get her, Zipster" before he pushed her towards Claire. Zip stumbled a bit before Claire reached out and grabbed her by the hand to steady her.

"I thought I told to keep this a bit personal for now," she whispered, her voice gentle, but there was a hint of annoyance within it.

Zip quickly composed herself, her signature smirk appearing on her face again. "Oh, come on, that doesn't mean I can't show my girlfriend a little affection?"

The word "girlfriend" hung in the air, making a harsh blush rush to Claire's face. Edward and Oliver's shared glances, their smirks growing wider.

"What?" Claire whispered, her heart racing. She hadn't expected Zip to be so...so open about it.

Zip's grip on her hand tightened, and she looked at Claire. "I know you wanted to take it slow, but I can't help it," she admitted. "I want everyone to know how much you mean to me."

Claire felt her cheeks heat up even more, but she couldn't help the nervous smile that tugged at her lips. But she still felt nervous. "but what will others think of-"

"Let them think," Zip interrupted. "We don't have to hide who we are, its not like they can control us," she said with much confidence, if only Claire had that, her eyes never leaving Claire's.

Her words resonated within Claire. Maybe Zip was right, she thought. Maybe it's time to be honest with everyone, to live on, ignore the fear of judgment.

"Okay," Claire nodded, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this," she said, her voice shaky but determined.

The bell rang, Zips grip on Claire's hand tightened slightly. "We don't wanna be late, right?"

Claire sighed, letting out a slight chuckle as well. "Right," she said, looking down at their intertwined hands. She felt a sense of ....comfort? When Zip held her hand.

They walked to class together. The whispers and glances from certain students didn't go unnoticed, but they ignored them. Zip was right, it didn't matter what anyone else thought. They had each other, and that's all that mattered~♡.