You fiddled with your metallic septum ring, tapping your feet to a song stuck in your head. A groan escaped your lips mingled with frustration and annoyance.

It was just your luck, the crushing, binding will of your misfortune that you'd be paired with none other than Shikamara Nara for Psychology this year. And what made you despise the situation even more was your secret, yet undeniable infatuation with him. The class was already the toughest and most despised class required at your high school, and being assigned "study buddies" with the lazy slacker in no way made a contribution to your grade. You had asked the pineapple head a week in advance for advice on which study question you should pick to write your essay on and he had only now acknowledged your plea for help; finally making plans to meet up with you at the library to work on said essay which just so happens to be due the following day.

Yet here you sit, cursing your school hierarchy, for all the lazy genius was doing was stare hazy eyed at his book, although what you didn't know was that the boy was wide awake, the scent of your pomegranate shampoo reaching his nostrils, awakening the brain beneath his cranium, enveloping the organ in pure euphoria. You were clueless but that didn't matter. The only topic on your mind was the paper due tomorrow, finalizing your grade for the current semester.

"Shikamaru, help me," you grumbled, your blazingly bright blue eyes meeting his rich chocolate brown ones. A bubblegum pink bubble burst from your mouth as you exhaled more and more oxygen, feeding your piece of gum til it almost capsized, a centimeter from coming into contact with Shikamaru's lips.

Of course he wants to help you. Though the way you act so carefree around him, lacking the intelligence necessary to be on the same level as Shika only surprised him more. He usually didn't have time to deal with people like you, people who only cared about being cool: people who lacked the same natural knowledge as him. Yet, the way you look at him with big blue eyes, eyes that show reliance on him; it made him nervous.

Snap. Your bubblegum popped before retreating back into the confines of your mouth where you continued to chew and savor the flavor of your chewing gum. Shikamaru finally regained his composure, cracking his neck before allowing his body to relax, slouching more deeply in the uncomfortable wooden chair.

"As far as the essay topic goes, I'd go with option 3," he replied, a cunning smirk twitching at the corner of his lips.

Your eyes transformed into slits as you glared at the teenager and his "sarcasm", reading for yourself essay option number 3: Do you believe in love at first sight? If not, explain. If so, explain your portrayal of the concept.

Reaching your arm across the table you lightly whacked Shika's arm, for he recommended the hardest question.

"You idiot, that's the hardest question."

Of course it is. Every option had to do with love, but love at first sight, some people are firm believers while other are completely opposed to the fact. You could make or break your grade, the staple of the rest of your school year.

"I know it is, I recommended it because I know you can't do it. Love at first sight, in my opinion is absurd. Although I know you, on the other hand, believe in ridiculous absurd things. Our psychology teacher is quite the realist, and for you to propose a concept as "love at first sight" as being true, opposing its misconceptions, it's quite the risk. But I am your partner after all, and I know your report card isn't looking so hot. I'm only doing you a favor, {Name}."

Shikamaru scratched at the back of his head, before beginning to write on a scrap of paper, starting his essay on who knows what, most likely the easiest question to answer. Although what he said, you couldn't help but decipher a point behind it.

It was decided, you'd write an essay on love at first sight. Why? Because even the mere thought of proving Shikamaru wrong made you giddy. You craved watching his face crumble as he realized how wrong he would be. He already made up his mind that you'd never even attempt a question as that in a class as this, but you were going to do it anyway, and completely slay your paper and earn yourself your highest grade of the year.

As the sudden sound of pen on paper reached Shikamaru's ears, his eyes met your face, filled with conviction and confidence. He had no idea what you were writing about, but your fingers flew across the page, your scrawly hand writing already making progress.

Do you believe in love at first sight? In all honesty: yes. Shika knew that. But what he didn't know was that he's the culprit behind your "absurd" belief. Yes, in fact, you do believe in love at first sight though Shikmaru the Wise remains clueless of what he had done. The minute you had laid your eyes on Shikamaru years ago, you saw in him someone you could love. You knew him. And you knew he was who you wanted.

Finishing answering your question took about ten minutes total, and you couldn't deny it was quite short though you believe you covered enough ground, stating your opinion in a sophisticated enough fashion for your teacher to at least take you serious and professionally. A sigh of relief escaped your lips, along with a triumphant smile at the completion of something that would put your partner to shame.

Shikamaru eyed you suspiciously, noticing your so soon completion, his own pencil still in his hand.

"Well I see you took the easy route after all," he confirmed.

"Wrong," you chided, before handing him your paper, your fingers accidentally grazing his sending a shiver to go down your spines'.

"{Name}-" his face held one of confusion mingled with surprise as his eyes scanned the page, drinking in ever word written.

Pure ecstasy coursed through your veins, as you took back your golden ticket to surviving yet another semester, your fingers delicately holding the page as your re read the words you hoped and prayed would award you with an A+.

Do you believe in love at first sight? If not, explain. If so, explain your portrayal of the concept:

I believe in love at first sight. But I will always believe that the people we love we have loved before. Many, many, many times before, and when we stumble through grace and circumstance and that brilliant illusion of choice to finally meet them again, we feel it faster each time through. The one glance that set life alight is two sets of two eyes staring through the layers of lifetimes and stolen glances and first kisses and hands held; the brace against the weight and unrelenting tide of waiting. I believe in love at first sight but am not burdened with the misconception that it's a first sight at all.

"What even made you come to that conclusion?" He asked, genuinely curious with how you developed such a passion and firm believe in a concept as cliche as this.

"You're clueless," you replied hopelessly, pecking his lips.

Secretly, you made him fall in love with you even more.