Engineering Class

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia walked in with her friends on either side of her, talking quietly to them about what had happened during lunch and whatnot. As she’d expected, a lot of people had spoken about her closeness and relationship with Bolt- most of them so incredibly shocked that it was amusing to them. So it was probably a good thing she and Bolt agreed on the lunch they had, since it saved them from annoying questions.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt was earlier than her, but not by much. He'd stopped to grab another apple on his way in since he could pretty much always eat. This was his favorite class though, so it wasn't like he was going to be bored during it. He'd heard a few whispers about him and Anastasia, but no one had noticed him around so he didn't get pestered with questions while he waited.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Is this seat taken?” Anastasia asked from behind him, trying to hide her smile as she started to pull the chair out for herself. Marcie and Mavis scoffed jokingly but went to do the same on their other side, since the last thing they felt like doing was get scolded for getting in the way of others.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I'm sorry, that seat is for my girlfriend," Bolt said without looking up. Clearly he knew it was her and her voice would have given it away if her scent and heartbeat hadn't. It was a juvenile tease but he couldn't help himself.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Too bad.” Anastasia replied, chuckling a little as she ran her fingers through his hair and tugged on it as she took a seat. She knew he would have wanted to tease maybe a little longer, but she didn’t feel like staying standing the entire time. “I feel like sitting next to you. You remind me of my boyfriend.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Then you must be very lucky," Bolt replied, flashing her a smirk since he always enjoyed that she played along. "My girlfriend isn't usually this late, so I guess she'll have to deal with the consequences of seating."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Very lucky, even if he can be a bit weird sometimes.” Anastasia teased, sitting in a way where she’d be allowed to face him rather than the front of the class. “Fate, then. Maybe we were supposed to sit together this entire time and talk… maybe kiss.” She whispered, smiling as she leaned in to kiss his cheek. “At least before I allow you to take over the work for this class. Not really an engineer myself.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt chuckled a little and kissed her cheek back, dropping the teasing for now. "Too bad, I really wanted to see you do some dirty engineer work," he said honestly. She didn't seem the type, but he didn't know how she would have gotten through this class before if she hadn't done some of it.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“How about I do the designing you do the dirty work.” Anastasia replied, scoffing as she took his hand and put them on her lap. It was more comfortable than to put it on the table, not to mention it drew less attention. “Unless it’s your birthday. Then I’ll do whatever you want. Deal?”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Alright, fine, but I'll tell you right now that I'll have to change your design if I know it isn't going to work," Bolt said. He wasn't going to waste his time building something he knew was wrong just to teach her something. Hopefully that wouldn't come back to bite him.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“And I’ll tell you right now that it will work.” Anastasia replied, pretty confident that she knew enough to get it to. She could do the dirty work herself, but she didn’t usually want to- unless it was something more complicated that she’d have to intervene. “But in the very unlikely case that it won’t, I’ll let you explain to me and fix it yourself.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips. "You really are amazing," he said and gave her a quick kiss before starting to pull the tools he knew he would need from the drawer. Of course she knew what she was doing, and he couldn't help being so attracted to it.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“I know.” Anastasia replied breathing out a laugh as she watched him get the tools they’d need. Marcie and Mavis had already done what they’d swore to do last year- find some moderately good looking, smart guys, and let them mansplain everything while doing the work themselves. At least for a few days before more classes opened up and they could switch out.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt double checked the lab manual already sitting on their desk and pulled out the last few tools they were missing. They would grab materials after the design phase, but they weren't left completely in the dark, at least not on the first day

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia only pulled over one of the books placed on the center of the table, pulling out her notebook and opening it to a new page so that she’d start writing whatever seemed important for their particular project. In the background, she could hear the door open and close as someone stepped into the class. It didn’t take a genius, or even a vampire, to know who it was- not when she could recognize the annoying jockey voice from a mile away. Not that she turned to look, though. She had no reason to.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

((Jockey? haha))

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt paused briefly when he heard who came in. Interesting, he hadn't read it on the class roster, but then again he'd only looked long enough to see if Blaze had made it into this class or not. He frowned slightly and considered the cards he had, wondering how he should deal with it, especially now that he and Anastasia were public. It was possible that he already knew.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

((I was exhausted okay haha.))

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Do you think we can do this in a week?” Anastasia asked Bolt, moving so that he’d be able to look at the design she’d found in the book. Harley was quite literally in the back of her mind- hell, he was barely even in it. So much that she wouldn’t have believed Bolt if he’d admitted that’s where his mind had gone.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

((I don't know what it's supposed to be haha))

Bolt looked at the page, taking her cues that she wasn't concerned about it. They were professional enough to get through the class without too much flirting usually, when they had to. It was just normal for them anyway. "Yeah I don't think that would take too long. Even give some troubleshooting time if it has problems."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

((Ah haha))

“Do you think we can borrow scraps from the garage or would I have to order them?” Anastasia asked, since most of these stuff weren’t offered by the school itself. None of her projects ever were, if she was being honest. She was an overachiever at anything.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt squinted thoughtfully, considering what exact pieces were needed. "Its not exactly borrowing considering what we'll have to do to these pieces. But I think I've got most of it at the garage. I'll look today when I go and let you know what extras we need."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Okay, have.” Anastasia agreed, giving a small smile and kicking his foot lightly. Not so much as flirty as… something else. Maybe. “Great. I’ll try to finish the planning by tonight, and I’ll show it to you… sometime tonight. After dinner, maybe.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"It can wait until tomorrow too. I'll just bring some of the basic pieces from the garage to class tomorrow and we can work on it then," Bolt said. He continued to use the collective and include her since they were still doing it together even if he did the handy work. They didn't need that homework to get in their free time if they could help it.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“I’ll have it by tonight.” Anastasia repeated, since it was one of their first big pieces of work together since being a couple and she wouldn’t be able to keep herself from thinking about it. “Let me go ask the teacher if there are parts here that they’ll be able to give us.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"That would be helpful, sure," Bolt said. It would be nice not to have to drag everything from the garage. Every little bit helped. Not that he couldn't carry it- just that he didn't want to.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“It beats having to see you carry all of it to school.” Anastasia joked, shooting him a grin before she started standing. Better get it over with. “I’ll ask now. Oh, but Bolt?”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Yeah?" Bolt asked, looking up at her with some amusement. She sounded amused or something so he felt like whatever was coming would be good.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Feel free to watch me as I walk away.” Anastasia replied in the same amused tone, giving him one last wink before she grabbed her book and turned on her heel to start towards whatever teacher was stuck with them for the rest of the year.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt chuckled a little and did just that, watching her go over to the teacher before he started to look at the design again and make some notes in his notebook. Harley was completely gone from his mind.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia asked, got her answer, and was just about ready to head back to the table when she was stopped by a pretty large body getting in her way.

“Hey, Ana. Having seen you in a while.” Harley said, the dimple on his face showing as he looked down at her. Like always, Harley was wearing that huge sports jacket that she was pretty sure she’d heard girls plotting to steal at some point, but underneath that he was wearing… well, whatever it was he was wearing that a lot of guys copied. Or he copied, she didn’t know. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been great.” Anastasia replied, trying to keep herself from making a face at the nickname as she stepped around him. She didn’t want to be rude, but she also didn’t want to make him think she was interested, so she didn’t ask him how he’d been.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt paused when he heard Anastasia's name from Harley's voice. He hadn't forgotten how annoyed Harley made him. Still, the casual approach to Anastasia made him...bothered. More than normal. He paid attention then, wanting to know what went down between them.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“That’s great. I was away for the summer, visiting some family. But I missed it here. The sights, the weather.” He said, and Anastasia only nodded somewhat. Which was why she had to stop walking at the next part of what he said. “I missed you most of all.”

“Harley…” Anastasia started, unable to keep herself from making a face this time. Coming from Bolt, such a phrase would make her heart skip a few beats and she wouldn’t stop playing the words over and over again in her head. But with Harley? It was all so disgustingly cliche that gross couldn’t cover it. “I don’t think-“

“I know, it’s too soon to know what you feel for me.” Harley said, interrupting her. Or almost getting to it, since she didn’t even know how to break it to him semi gently that she definitely hadn’t missed or thought about him at all this summer. Unless she used him to annoy Bolt, anyways. “We haven’t even gone on a date, despite trying so hard last year. Which is why I want to ask you on one now- before anything could happen to keep us from it.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

So Harley was finally bold enough to ask her outright. Supposedly he'd done it before, but Bolt hadn't witnessed it. He was definitely feeling something about it but it wasn't exactly anger...not jealousy. He tapped his pen on the desk as if he was trying to figure out the next note to write, not looking up at them but he was certainly listening for her answer. Even if she just called for him. But he knew she wouldn't.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Despite herself, Anastasia couldn’t help but to look over to where Bolt was sitting. She knew him enough to know the aggressive tapping was because he was annoyed, and she doubted he’d be able to sit still for too long. Might even cause a little scene despite claiming he never would. And even if she wanted to see it one day, now didn’t feel right. “Harley, I don’t think you and I have been on the same page.” She finally said, clenching and unclenching her hands as she faced him.

“What do you mean?” Harley asked, still smiling but poking confused as he raised an eyebrow at her. “Did you… want to count last times group dinner as a date? I’ll admit I wanted the first time to be more, but-“

“I mean that I don’t want to go on a date with you because I don’t… like you like that.” Anastasia said, wincing before she tried to fix it a little. “I don’t see you as a boyfriend, I mean.”

“Wait… but I thought you liked me.“ Harley said, smile dropping as he started shaking his head. The chatter of the other students quieted slightly, and Anastasia couldn’t help her growing annoyance at the attention. Why couldn’t he wait for this? “Ana-“

“My name is Anastasia, not Ana.” She snapped, crossing her arms. The attention, the judgement… it was starting to make her feel anxious. She knew how it would look to everyone later, and she couldn’t help hating him for that too. “I don’t like you like that, Harley. Not to mention that I’m… dating someone. Pretty seriously.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt finally did look up when Anastasia said she didn't like Harley in that way. He could tell himself it wasn't to see Harley's face when he heard it but that would be untrue. Unfortunately, he just felt a little bad for the other guy. Just a little, really. Not enough to give up Anastasia by any means. He was only surprised it took her that long to snap at him about the nickname thing, and that he was starting to pick up her discomfort and that alone made him want to jump out of his seat to her.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“You’re dating someone? Who is it?” Harley asked, his voice turning into a harsh whisper as he took a step closer to her. More for his own benefit than hers, she was pretty sure.

“It’s none of your business.” Anastasia snapped, taking a step back. Not because she felt threatened or anything, but because she didn’t particularly like him enough to pretend she liked him up in her space. It reminded her once again that Bolt had definitely gone through a lot to gain both her trust and her approval. “I’m dating him and that’s all that matters. So you can move on and leave me alone with the whole dating thing.”

“Ana-“ Harley started again, about to say something else when Travis, who seemed to always be near, went to pull on his arm. Then, Harley stopped talking and just went back to his seat, trying to control his confused and anger as Anastasia went back to her table, pretty calm despite having just broken his heart.

If she were honest, she thought he was being too dramatic. They’d never actually dated, and she had never made it seem like she actually liked him. Not even when she tried to use him to make Bolt, who she actually like, jealous. There just wasn’t any… chemistry. None.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt didn't say anything when she came back over, subtly trying to determine what she needed. Telling something was off and determining what she needed to fix it were two very different things. He was still learning her. After a moment, he decided maybe it should be discussed later, if at all. "So what did she say?"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“That she could give us the first three items and the last.” Anastasia replied, taking the pen he’d been playing with and doing the same thing he’d been doing. Anger overlapped the anxiety now, sure, but this helped too.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt stopped her tapping by putting his hand over hers, holding it in hopefully a subtle way. She'd made a point not to tell Harley who she was dating, so he didn't want to out himself right away. "Those items are good. I was pretty sure I didn't have the last one."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia stopped, looking at their hands before she looked back at him. She knew what he was doing, and why he was doing it, and she couldn’t help but to have her appreciation and lov- she couldn’t help but to be thankful. That’s it. “I didn’t want him to make things bad for you.” She whispered, letting the pen go and turning her hand so that she’d hold his. “Or to cause a scene. But not because I don’t want to be with you.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I understand. Don't worry," Bolt whispered back. He had picked up on such as he watched her, noting the way she'd gotten uncomfortable, but not defensive. He could see it shift in her not to make a bigger scene than it was. He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand before going back to his notes as if nothing happened.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia couldn’t help but to smile a little as she watched him, not saying or doing anything for a moment before she glanced over his shoulder towards where she felt the angry, immature jock staring daggers. Not even at her, as ridiculous as that was. But at Bolt, and the hand he was holding hers with. She didn’t say anything then either, but she did make a point to press the back of his hand to her lips before she too finished working.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt felt the glare, of course, but dismissed it. If Harley had a problem with him, then he could take it up with him. They could fight it out later or whatever, but for now he wasn't going to let Harley mess with his focus in class. There was plenty of other times.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

It wasn’t long after that the bell rang and everyone was dismissed, and Anastasia braced herself for whatever Harley would do. But he ended up just being the first to leave, barely even waiting for the teacher to give her last words before he was gone. Anastasia couldn’t help but to be relieved as she packed her things and then stood, releasing a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. So maybe he wasn’t as immature as she believed.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt slipped his notebook in her bag and then pulled it over his shoulder, more aware of Anastasia's reaction than he thought of his own. He wasn't sure he expected Harley to confront him right after class, but he still felt like something was coming. Harley didn't seem to understand before that he wouldn't win, so why would he know now.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“And now to the only class we don’t share.” Anastasia said, reaching over to tug on his shirt teasingly. More so that she’d distract herself than she would him, because she still felt anxious.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Do you want to take a moment before we split up?" Bolt offered, running his fingers down the inside of her wrist before taking her hand again. It wasn't hard for him to notice her anxiety, or discomfort. Anything he could do to put her at ease, he would.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Anastasia almost told him no, that she didn’t need a moment, but she ended up sighing. “I think I need it.” She admitted, even if she already felt better with what he was doing it.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Bolt kissed her cheek before bringing her down the hall to another abandoned room. They didn't have too long, but he would take the time they did have and do all he could with it.