Two pages of the same book

They say the universe has a twisted sense of humor—
One minute you're avoiding your enemy,
The next, he's sleeping under your roof.

The next morning, school felt the same-except now, Rose was forced to deal with something even more frustrating.

A group project.

"You will be working in pairs for this project," the teacher announced. "Rose and Kalix, you're a team."

Rose stiffened. Of all people, why him?

She turned slightly, catching Kalix's reaction. He looked just as unimpressed, lazily running a hand through his hair.

"Seriously?" he muttered under his breath.

The teacher shot him a look. "Yes, seriously. And no excuses."

Kalix sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Fine. Whatever."

Reluctantly, Rose nodded as well.

---

That evening, Kalix showed up at her house for the project.

Her parents, ever curious, peeked from behind the door, exchanging glances. Rose tried to ignore them as she led Kalix inside.

As he casually looked around her room, his eyes landed on a vision board near her desk. A picture caught his attention-Rose standing next to a guy.

He smirked, pointing at it. "Your brother?"

Rose's face turned red in an instant.

"Ahhh! GO AWAY!" she shrieked, rushing to snatch the photo from him.

Kalix chuckled, leaning against the wall with a knowing smirk. "I'll take that as a no."

"He's no one. Why don't you mind your business?"-Rose said

Kalix snapped, his usual arrogance lacing his words.

"Rude much?"

Ignoring her, Kalix leaned over the assignment, skimming through the pages. They worked in tense silence for hours until Kalix's phone suddenly rang, breaking the quiet.

He glanced at the screen, and his jaw tightened. "It's my father," he muttered under his breath before answering.

"The keys are with me," his father's cold voice echoed through the speaker. "Just stay with your friends tonight."

Kalix's face darkened. The keys? Rose thought, watching him closely.

"What? You lost your house keys?" she asked, confused.

Kalix sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, my dad took them on purpose."

"Why?"

"Because he's an ass," Kalix muttered.

Rose blinked, piecing things together. His dad locked him out on purpose?

"So... where are your friends?" she asked hesitantly.

"Gone. Out of town for a trip," Kalix answered, running a hand through his hair. "I stayed behind because of an Olympiad. But my father-" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

Then, he turned to her, his eyes unreadable. "Can I stay with you?"

Rose stared at him, taken aback.

"Stay... with me?"

Kalix smirked, tilting his head. "What? Are you scared you'll fall for me if I sleep under the same roof?"