Work Text:
The library smells like old paper and Cindy’s strawberry-scented lip gloss—cloying and relentless, just like her tutoring sessions. Nick drums his fingers against the textbook, staring blankly at the diagram of a mitochondrion.
"It’s, like, the powerhouse of the cell," Cindy repeats for the fifth time, tossing her hair over her shoulder like she’s in a shampoo commercial.
Nick’s necklace—the jasper gemstone warm against his collarbone—feels heavier than usual. He’s pretty sure Cindy’s staring at it—or his jawline—again. Then Jimmy slides into the chair beside him, smelling like ozone and solder.
"You’re overcomplicating it," he mutters, flipping the textbook shut.
With one quick sketch on a napkin, he explains electron transport chains using stick figures holding tiny lightning bolts. Nick laughs—actually laughs—and Cindy’s grip tightens around her highlighter. Jimmy’s fingers brush Nick’s wrist when he points at the drawing, and Nick’s pulse kicks up. Jimmy doesn’t seem to notice—too busy rambling about ATP synthase like it’s the coolest thing since quantum mechanics.
Cindy clears her throat. "That’s not how Ms. Fowl teaches it."
Jimmy shrugs. "Ms. Fowl also thinks Pluto’s a planet."
Nick grins, leaning into Jimmy’s space. "Guess I don’t need your tutoring anymore."
Cindy’s smile curdles. She snaps her textbook shut, but Nick barely notices—not with Jimmy’s elbow bumping his, not with the way Jimmy’s voice drops when he says, "You could just… study with me instead."
The jasper gleams under the library lights—deep red, like a secret.