We've got Chemistry...xx
The next day, Reina was determined. She had spent half the night tossing and turning, rehearsing what she would say to Sirius when she saw him. Maybe she’d ask him how his summer was, or perhaps something casual like, "Did you get your schedule sorted out?" Anything to break the ice. But as the day wore on, Sirius continued to elude her, slipping in and out of classes and avoiding any interaction.
By the time Reina made it to her final class—science—her resolve was starting to crumble. She took her usual seat near the back of the room and pulled out her notebook, her thoughts still swirling around her estranged brother. The door opened, and she looked up, only to find herself locking eyes with James Potter.
"Reina," he said, his voice carrying that same easy, playful tone from the day before. He shot her a grin that made her heart skip. "Fancy seeing you here."
James walked toward her, and she couldn’t help but take in his appearance. He was wearing a deep red t-shirt that hugged his frame just right, the color bold against his tanned skin. His brown hair, messy as always, curled at the edges, like he hadn’t bothered to tame it. His hazel eyes, framed by his dark lashes, held a mischievous gleam as they met hers. She noticed the red sneakers, slightly scuffed from use, that completed his outfit.
He was quite literally the coziest and coolest person Reina could think off. Calm collected and easy on the eyes.
James wasn’t just casual; he was confident—everything about him screamed effortless charisma. And when he stopped by her desk, hands casually in his pockets, his grin widened. “Looks like you’re stuck with me today, Black.”
Reina blinked, her mind racing. “What?”
“For the science practical,” he said, gesturing to the board at the front of the room where the teacher had written out the pairings for the experiment. “Me and you—partners. Seems fitting no?” and there was that trade mark grin and wink.
She glanced at the board, and sure enough, there it was: James Potter + Reina Black. Her stomach did an odd little flip. Of all the people to be paired with, of course it had to be James.
"Oh," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, though she could already feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "Okay. That’s… fine."
“Fine?” James raised an eyebrow, sliding into the seat next to her, far too casually for her liking. “I was hoping for more enthusiasm.”
Reina couldn’t help but laugh a little, though her heart was racing now, she desperately hoped he could hear it no matter how irrational that thought was. "Fine’s the best you’re going to get, Potter."
James let out a mock sigh, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at her. “I’ll take it. For now.”
Reina glanced away, fiddling with the edge of her notebook. She was suddenly very aware of everything—her clothes, her surroundings, and the fact that James was sitting so close.
Her outfit was typically preppy, something her mother approved of—a neatly pressed white button-down shirt tucked into a green plaid skirt, knee-high socks with little bows, and black flats. Her black curls were tied back with a forest green ribbon, though a few strands escaped to frame her face. Her fair skin, with its natural porcelain glow, felt warm under James’s gaze, and she could feel the blush creeping up her neck.
It's not that she didn't like the outfit, it was more that she herself hadn't been allowed to select it. Her mother had.
The practical was about chemical reactions—something Reina usually found fascinating. But as the teacher began explaining the experiment, all Reina could focus on was the fact that James was still watching her, his grin never wavering.
As they set up their equipment, James leaned in a little too close, his arm brushing hers as he reached for the beakers. “So, Reina… tell me,” he said, his voice soft but teasing. “Is this your first time working with a charming partner, or am I just lucky?”
Reina could feel her face heating up again. “Charming?” she repeated, trying to keep her cool. “I think you might be overselling yourself.”
James chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “Is that so? Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that by the end of this.”
Reina bit her lip, trying not to smile. It was hard to ignore how easy it was to talk to James, despite his relentless teasing. There was something about him that made everything feel light, even when she was still drowning in thoughts about Sirius.
They began the practical, mixing chemicals and noting the reactions, but James didn’t miss a beat in keeping the conversation flowing.
“You know,” James said, carefully pouring a liquid into a beaker, “Sirius talks about you more than you think.”
Reina looked up sharply, caught off guard. “Does he? And I can't help but notice how much you mention him"
“Mhm.” James glanced at her, his expression softer now. “He doesn’t show it, but he cares about you. A lot.”
Reina’s hands stilled, and for a moment, she forgot about the experiment entirely. “He hasn’t talked to me in months.”
“I know,” James said gently. “He’s… complicated. Stubborn, really. But he talks about you like you’re the only family he’s got left.”
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and full of meaning. Reina swallowed hard, her emotions a tangled mess. She didn’t want to feel hopeful, not after all the silence, but something about the way James said it made her believe him.
"They why does he treat me like something he hasleft"
“You should talk to him,” James added, his tone sincere now. “Even if he doesn’t make the first move, I think he’s waiting for you to.”
Reina nodded slowly, though her mind was racing. Maybe James was right. Maybe she just needed to be the one to break the silence.
“Thanks,” she murmured, barely above a whisper.
James gave her a small smile, his usual playful tone replaced by something more genuine. “Anytime, Black.”
As they finished up the experiment, the atmosphere between them had shifted slightly—still friendly, still teasing, but with a deeper understanding now. James didn’t push any more jokes or flirty comments for the rest of the class, and for that, Reina was grateful.
When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the period, James stood up and stretched, flashing her one last grin. “Guess I’ll see you around, Reina.”
She smiled back, feeling lighter than she had in days. “Yeah, see you.”
As she watched James leave the classroom, his red t-shirt standing out in the crowd, Reina couldn’t help but feel like maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.
But of course pride comes before the fall.