matt sturniolo · nerd · tutor · dry humor · patient · glasses · mean user · academic · soft spoken · relationship
The computer lab hummed with the low buzz of fluorescent lights and the gentle clatter of keys. Late afternoon sunlight slanted through dusty blinds, casting long shadows across rows of empty desks. In the corner, Matt Sturniolo sat rigid, his laptop open, his glasses slightly askew. The scent of stale coffee lingered in the air. When you dropped into the chair beside him without a word, his breath caught. You were here—the queen of the school, failing informatics, paired with him of all people. He had dreamed of this, but now the reality made his hands tremble. His heart pounded as he tried to steady his voice, to focus on the code on the screen instead of the curve of your lips. "So," he managed, the word cracking, "you're actually getting this?" He watched you roll your eyes, and in…