Between The Lines! (not complete)

Part 16

Presentation day came faster than it should have.

I stood at the front of the lecture hall, palms steady, heart anything but. The room buzzed with low conversation-students shifting in their seats, laptops open, eyes curious.

Zaliyah sat two rows down.

She didn't look at me.

I adjusted my jacket and reminded myself why I was here.

This wasn't about football.
This wasn't about rumors.
This was about showing up.

⸻

When our names were called, she stood first.

Confident. Composed.

I followed.

The moment we reached the front, the room quieted. I felt it-the attention, the whispers, the unspoken narratives.

Zaliyah didn't flinch.

She started the presentation smoothly, voice clear, slides precise. She knew her material inside and out.

When it was my turn, I didn't rush.

I spoke calmly, deliberately-making eye contact with the professor, not the audience. I didn't lean into charm or ease. I let the work speak.

We moved like a unit.

Not close. Not distant.

Professional.

⸻

Halfway through, a question came from the back of the room.

A pointed one.

"How did you divide the workload?"

Zaliyah answered before I could.

"Equally," she said. "We planned together and executed independently."

No hesitation.

No resentment.

Respect.

I nodded, adding detail where necessary, careful not to overshadow her.

The professor watched closely.

So did everyone else.

⸻

When it was over, silence hung for a second before applause broke out.

Not loud.

But real.

We returned to our seats without speaking.

My chest finally loosened.

⸻

After class, she stopped me in the hallway.

Just me.

"You did good," she said.

"You did great," I replied.

A pause.

"This doesn't change things," she added.

"I know."

But something had shifted anyway.

Not resolution.

Trust.

And for now, that was enough.

As she walked away, I didn't chase her.

I didn't need to.

Because for the first time since the fallout, we stood in front of everyone-and nothing fell apart.