Jacqueline was in no hurry.
Instead of going straight to the library, she detoured to the cafeteria, grabbed a couple of snacks, and lingered far longer than necessary while chatting with her friends. She laughed a little louder, talked a little slower, and checked the time more than once.
When she was finally satisfied that she had made him wait at least twenty minutes, she decided he had suffered enough.
Only then did she head to the library.
He was exactly where she had expected him to be sitting at the same table where she had first noticed him, back straight, expression carved from stone, a book open in front of him like it had personally offended him.
She walked over and deliberately chose the chair to his right.
"Late," he bit out, the single word sharp and clipped.
She rolled her eyes.
"You made me wait two whole days to even start this assignment. Twenty minutes is generous compared to that," she replied, a smug curve tugging at her lips.
