Ariana entered the North Wing Library, her bag heavy with books. The scent of old paper and polished wood always made her feel calm, though today she was distracted—her thoughts kept drifting to Kian.
She chose a quiet corner by the window and began arranging her books. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, painting faint colors on the floor. For a moment, the world seemed perfect.
Then a shadow fell across her desk.
Kian. đź’ź
"Mind if I join?" he asked, voice soft, almost hesitant.
Ariana blinked. "Oh… sure." She scooted her bag slightly, heart racing more than she wanted to admit.
He sat down carefully, placing his sketchbook beside hers. Neither spoke at first. Instead, they shared the silence—quiet and comfortable, broken only by the occasional rustle of pages.
"You always read here?" Kian asked after a while, glancing out the window.
"Mostly," she replied. "It's peaceful."
He nodded. "I like peace too. And… company sometimes." His gaze met hers for a brief second, lingering longer than usual.
Ariana felt a warm flutter in her chest. She wanted to ask more, but words seemed impossible to form.
Minutes passed. They worked quietly, occasionally exchanging notes or helping each other locate a reference. Their shoulders brushed once or twice—innocently—but enough to send her pulse racing.
At one point, Kian leaned slightly closer to point at a page in her textbook. Ariana caught the faint scent of cedar from his jacket, and her heart jumped. đź’Ł
"You're… really focused," he said softly.
"I try," she replied, cheeks warming.
He gave a small smile, just enough to make her stomach flutter.
When the bell rang signaling the next class, they packed up silently. Ariana realized that even a simple library session could leave her heart full;and she was beginning to look forward to every small moment they spent together. đź’–