Scenario:Demi chewed on the end of her pen, her blue eyes fixed on Simon across the history classroom. He was animatedly discussing something with Maarten, his brow furrowed in concentration. His short, curly hair, a mix of brown and blonde, bounced slightly as he gestured, and Demi felt a familiar flutter in her stomach. History was Simon's domain, his passion, and watching him delve into it was, in Demi's opinion, incredibly attractive. Beside her, Amber sighed dramatically. "Look at him," she breathed, her brown eyes glued to Maarten, who was currently attempting to balance a textbook on his head. "He's so effortlessly…Maarten." Demi rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Effortlessly clumsy, you mean?" "That's part of his charm!" Amber protested, nudging Demi's arm. "Besides, at least Maarten doesn't smell faintly of old parchment and forgotten battles." "Hey!" Demi said, playfully offended. "Simon's history-smell is intoxicating. It's the scent of knowledge and adventure!" Amber snorted. "Right. And I bet he uses 'Eau de Ancient Egypt' cologne." Their banter was interrupted by Professor Davies, a kindly woman with a penchant for tweed and historical anecdotes. "Alright, class," she announced, clapping her hands together. "For your final project, you'll be working in groups of four to research and present on a significant historical event. I've already assigned the groups to ensure a balanced mix of skills and…interests." Demi held her breath as Professor Davies began reading out the groups. Please, let Simon be in my group, she silently pleaded. Please, let Amber be with Maarten. "Group three: Demi, Amber, Simon, and Maarten." Demi nearly squealed, catching Amber's excited grin. Victory! This was it. Her chance to finally get closer to Simon. "This is going to be epic," Amber whispered, practically vibrating with excitement. The first group meeting was held in the library, surrounded by towering shelves and the hushed whispers of other students. Simon, predictably, had already drawn up a list of potential topics. "I was thinking the French Revolution," he suggested, his blue eyes sparkling. "Or maybe the Russian Revolution? The socio-political implications are fascinating." Demi, who had spent the last five minutes trying to discreetly fix her hair in the reflection of a dusty textbook, nearly choked. "Revolutions are…great," she managed, trying to sound enthusiastic. "But maybe something a little…lighter?" "Lighter?" Simon frowned, clearly confused. "But the complexities, the power struggles, the sheer drama of revolution…" Maarten, who had been quietly sketching in his notebook, looked up. "How about the invention of the printing press?" he offered. "It's pretty significant, and we could make a really cool visual presentation." Amber's eyes lit up. "That's actually a great idea, Maarten! Think of the posters we could design!" Simon looked thoughtful. "The printing press…okay, I see the potential. It did revolutionize the spread of information and ideas." He glanced at Demi. "What do you think?" This was it. Her chance to impress him with her historical knowledge. Demi cleared her throat. "Yes! The printing press! A true monument to human ingenuity and…and…printing!" She winced internally. Okay, not her finest moment. Simon just smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made Demi's heart skip a beat. "Alright, the printing press it is. So, how should we divide the work?" Over the next few weeks, the library became their second home. Simon, of course, took the lead on the historical research, delving deep into the Gutenberg Bible and the societal impact of mass-produced books. Amber, with her artistic flair, designed stunning visuals, transforming dry historical facts into captivating infographics. Maarten, surprisingly, proved to be a research whiz, unearthing obscure but fascinating details about the early printing process. Demi, meanwhile, struggled to find her footing. She wasn't a history expert like Simon, or an artistic genius like Amber, or a surprisingly adept researcher like Maarten. She felt like she was just…there. One afternoon, while Simon was engrossed in a particularly dense text on the evolution of typography, Demi found herself alone with him at their table. "So," she said, trying to sound casual, "the printing press. Pretty interesting stuff, huh?" Simon looked up, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It is. It's amazing to think about how one invention could change the course of history." He paused, then added, "You know, you're really good at asking questions. You always manage to get me thinking about things in a different way." Demi blushed. "Really? I just…ask questions." "Yeah, but they're good questions. They show you're really thinking about the material." Encouraged, Demi pressed on. "So, what's your favorite thing about history?" Simon's eyes lit up. "That's a tough one. I guess it's the stories. History is just a collection of stories, and each one teaches us something about ourselves, about humanity." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And sometimes, those stories are just plain juicy." Demi laughed, her heart pounding. "Juicy history? Tell me more." And he did. He told her stories of scandalous monarchs, daring explorers, and forgotten inventors. He talked about the rise and fall of empires, the clash of cultures, and the enduring power of human spirit. And as he spoke, Demi realized that she wasn't just attracted to Simon's passion for history, but to his passion for life. Meanwhile, across the table, Amber and Maarten were having their own moment. Amber was showing Maarten some of her initial poster designs when he suddenly reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "These are amazing, Amber," he said, his blue eyes locking with hers. "You're really talented." Amber's cheeks flushed. "Thanks, Maarten. You're pretty good at finding those weird historical facts. I never knew that early printers used ground-up bones to make ink." Maarten grinned. "Yeah, well, you never know when that kind of information might come in handy." As the project progressed, the group dynamic shifted. Simon started asking Demi for her opinions on his research, valuing her insights. Amber and Maarten's collaborative efforts blossomed into flirtatious banter and lingering glances. Even Demi, initially intimidated by Simon's historical expertise, began to contribute her own ideas and observations. The night before the presentation, they gathered at Demi's apartment to finalize their slides. They ordered pizza, spread out their notes, and worked late into the night. At one point, Demi caught Simon staring at her, a thoughtful expression on his face. "What?" she asked, self-consciously smoothing her hair. "I was just thinking," he said, "this project wouldn't have been the same without you." Demi's heart did a little flip. "Really? I felt like I was kind of…just there." Simon shook his head. "No way. You kept us grounded. You asked the questions that no one else thought to ask. You made us all think differently." Amber, overhearing the conversation, chimed in. "Yeah, Demi, you were great! Besides, someone had to keep Simon from launching into a three-hour lecture on the socio-economic factors that led to the invention of movable type." Everyone laughed, and Demi felt a warm glow of belonging. This wasn't just a group project, it was a genuine connection. The presentation the next day was a resounding success. Simon delivered a captivating overview of the historical context, Amber's visuals brought the subject to life, Maarten's research provided fascinating details, and Demi, armed with a newfound confidence, fielded questions from the audience with ease. As Professor Davies praised their efforts, Simon turned to Demi, his eyes filled with genuine admiration. "We did it," he said, his voice low. "We actually did it." "We did," Demi agreed, smiling back at him. After class, as they were packing up their things, Simon stopped Demi. "Hey," he said, "I was wondering if you'd want to…I don't know…grab some coffee sometime? Maybe we could talk more about…history." Demi's heart skipped a beat. "I'd like that very much," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. Beside them, Amber and Maarten were exchanging numbers, a shared grin on their faces. As they walked out of the classroom together, Demi couldn't help but smile. The printing press might have revolutionized the world, but this group project had revolutionized her life. Maybe, just maybe, history wasn't just about the past, but about the future too. And her future, with Simon, looked incredibly bright. And who knows, maybe Amber and Maarten would find their happily ever after too. After all, love, like history, is full of unexpected twists and turns, and sometimes, the greatest stories are the ones you write yourself (make a part 2 of this story. Characters: demi: ginger hair, blue eyes, white, bestfriends with Amber amber: bestfriends with demi, brownhair, brown eyes, lightbrown skin Simon: loves history, tall, muscular, short brown/blonde hair, blue eyes Maarten: tall, slim, blue eyes, messy blonde hair)