DARK CHEMISTRY
Lizzie was hunched over her desk, textbooks open, highlighter in hand, fully determined to study—
until her phone buzzed.
Ding.
She glanced at the screen.
Daniel Cegielski
1 new message
Her heart instantly forgot how to function.
Hands trembling, she tapped it open.
And then she died.
Not literally—
but her soul left her body, submitted its resignation, and ascended.
The message said:
"Come to my room to sleep with me… for one night.
It's okay if you want to study.
But you better study with me."
Lizzie's brain:
❌ error
❌ 404
❌ system malfunction
❌ heart.exe has crashed
Her jaw dropped so fast it practically hit the bed.
SLEEP?
STUDY?
WITH HIM?
IN HIS ROOM?
AT NIGHT??
Her entire universe turned into static.
Lizzie typed back:
"S-Sleep?? W-with… you??"
Three dots appeared.
He was typing.
She squeezed her pillow like it was a lifeline.
His reply came:
"Yes, Lizzie. Just sleeping.
Unless you make it something else."
Lizzie choked on air.
She threw her phone onto the bed, face burning, heart screaming.
Then—another buzz.
Very calmly, his next text:
"Room 314.
Come now.
Bring your books."
Lizzie stared around her dorm like reality had gone on vacation.
She grabbed her phone with shaking hands and typed:
"Wh-Why?"
His reply was instant.
"Because you study better when you're near me."
Lizzie's soul evaporated.
Then—
"And because…"
Lizzie swallowed, staring at the screen.
"…I don't sleep well unless I know you're okay."
Lizzie collapsed onto the bed.
Dead.
Finished.
Gone.
Someone call Moana this girl is DONE.
Another buzz.
"Come, little one."
Lizzie sat up, heart going insane.
She grabbed her books.
She grabbed her phone.
She grabbed her sanity (barely).
Then she whispered to herself:
"Oh god… I'm doomed…"
And she stepped out of her dorm.
Lizzie walked down the hallway like someone heading straight into the lion's den—
except the lion was stupidly handsome, Polish, and had just asked her to sleep in his room.
Her legs were jelly.
Her brain was pudding.
Her heart was somewhere on the floor doing cardio without her permission.
She reached Room 314 and stopped.
Her hand hovered over the door.
She could hear her own heartbeat pounding louder than a drum.
She raised her fist to knock—
But the door opened first.
Daniel stood there.
Loose black t-shirt.
Messy hair.
Barefoot.
And that soft, dangerous smile that always made her knees forget their job.
"Hi, little one," he murmured.
Lizzie's breath dropped to the center of the earth.
"I—I brought my books…" she squeaked.
He stepped aside, letting her in.
His room was warm, dimly lit with a single lamp, smelling faintly of coffee and sandalwood. A king-size bed sat neatly in the center, and a desk cleared just for her.
He closed the door behind her.
The sound was soft.
Her heart wasn't.
Daniel walked up behind her slowly, like approaching a wild, scared kitten.
"You're tense," he murmured, placing one warm hand on her shoulder.
Lizzie almost left her body.
"I—I'm fine," she lied horribly.
He hummed, unconvinced.
Then he reached out and took her books from her hands.
"You're studying with me," he reminded softly.
"Not alone."
He placed the books on the desk and pulled the chair out for her.
Lizzie sat like a malfunctioning robot.
Daniel sat beside her, closer than necessary. His knee brushed hers. His arm occasionally brushed her shoulder.
Lizzie was trying to focus on chemistry formulas but her brain insisted on focusing on:
his scent
his voice
his proximity
the BED behind her
She dropped her pen.
Daniel looked at her with a soft smile.
"Nervous?" he asked quietly.
Lizzie nodded once, tiny and embarrassed.
Daniel leaned closer, his lips almost brushing her ear.
"You don't have to be," he whispered.
"You're safe with me."
Her stomach did a full Olympic flip.
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—slowly, gently—letting his fingertips brush her cheek.
Then he sat back and said:
"Finish one more page… then we sleep."
Sleep.
Next to him.
Lizzie swallowed hard.
"O-Okay…"
She tried.
She really did.
But her handwriting was shaking so badly it looked like an earthquake signed the page.
Daniel glanced at it, amused.
He leaned closer, voice warm.
"Lizzie," he murmured,
"if you're too nervous to focus… I can help you calm down."
Her breath caught.
"H-How?" she whispered.
He smirked slightly—soft, slow, dangerous-in-a-tender-way.
"Come here," he said quietly.
He patted the space beside him on the bed.
Lizzie froze.
Dead. Gone. Finished.
"Just to calm you," he added gently.
"No pressure."
Lizzie's heart fluttered painfully.
She stood up, walked to the bed like she was walking toward destiny, and sat down beside him.
Daniel pulled her gently against his chest, his arm wrapping around her waist.
"Breathe," he whispered.
Lizzie inhaled shakily.
And then…
She actually began to relax.
Daniel held her, warm and steady, his chin resting lightly on her head.
"That's it," he murmured.
"Good girl."
Lizzie's entire soul exploded like fireworks.
She melted against him completely.
Daniel smiled, kissing the top of her head softly.
"Now," he whispered,
"you're staying here tonight."
Daniel didn't move.
Didn't rush.
Didn't loosen his hold on her.
He just held Lizzie there—against his chest, her cheek pressed to his heartbeat—as if this was exactly where she was meant to be.
Lizzie's fingers curled weakly into his shirt.
She could feel the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the way his thumb rubbed slow circles on her waist.
And she didn't even realize how tired she was until her eyelids drooped.
Daniel noticed instantly.
"So sleepy already?" he whispered, smiling softly into her hair.
Lizzie flushed and hid her face against him.
"I-I didn't sleep much yesterday…"
"Mmm," he hummed, tightening his arms just a little.
"I figured. You looked exhausted in class today."
Lizzie blinked.
"You… noticed?"
"Of course I did."
He tilted her chin up gently with two fingers so she would look at him.
"I always notice you."
Her breath caught.
He brushed his thumb along her cheek—soft, slow, patient.
"Lie down," he murmured.
Lizzie froze.
"W-With you?"
Daniel laughed under his breath—not teasing, just unbelievably warm.
"Yes, with me. Come here."
He lay back against the pillows and gently tugged her down with him. Lizzie hesitated for only a second before sinking into the space right beside him.
Daniel immediately slid an arm beneath her head and another around her waist, pulling her close until her forehead rested against his collarbone.
Lizzie felt like she was being wrapped in warmth.
Safety.
Him.
"Comfortable?" he asked softly.
She nodded against him.
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"Good."
For a while, neither of them spoke. The room was quiet except for their breathing, their closeness, and the faint rustle of sheets.
Then—
Lizzie whispered, small and unsure:
"Daniel?"
"Mhm?"
"You're… really okay with this? With me… staying? In your room?"
He didn't even hesitate.
"I asked you to come, didn't I?"
Lizzie's fingers instinctively clutched his shirt again.
He looked down at her, brushing a thumb over her cheekbone like she was made of glass.
"Lizzie…" he whispered, voice low and sincere,
"I've been sleeping alone for weeks.
I don't want to tonight."
Her heart squeezed.
"And…" he added softly, "I sleep better when you're near me."
Lizzie felt her entire body melt into him.
She whispered without thinking:
"I feel safe."
Daniel inhaled sharply, like those three words hit him somewhere deep.
He kissed her forehead again—a long, warm, lingering kiss.
"That's all I want," he whispered.
"For you to feel safe with me."
Lizzie's chest tightened with something she couldn't name.
Then, softly—like she was drifting off:
"Daniel…?"
"Yes, little one?"
"Can… can I stay other nights, too?"
He froze—just for a second.
Then his hold tightened.
His voice dropped to a soft, breath-stealing murmur.
"You can stay every night you want."
Lizzie's eyes fluttered shut.
Daniel pulled the blanket over both of them.
"Goodnight, Lizzie," he whispered.
Lizzie managed a tiny:
"Goodnight… Daniel…"
He pressed one last kiss to her temple—
And they fell asleep in each other's arms.