Elena barely slept. Two hours, maybe less. Her mind refused to rest — replaying every look Nathan had given her, every teasing word, every quiet glance that had somehow burned more than it should have.
A quick shower did nothing to clear her head. She pulled on an oversized jumper and wide-legged trousers, twisting her damp hair into a messy bun. Project first, panic later, she told herself, forcing her thoughts toward deadlines instead of blue eyes.
Downstairs, the scent of pancakes filled the air. Nick was at the stove, flipping them with practiced ease while Claire hovered nearby, smiling too sweetly for someone awake at 8:30 a.m.
"Isn't it too early for Claire to be wearing this much makeup? This girl is goals. Not."
"Morning, sleepyhead," Nick said, cheerful as ever.
"Morning."
"Hi Elena, join us. You look…cozy!!
"And you look like you're ready for a fashion show! " She groaned.
"Mean Elena mode on! Oh! I remember she has her final project's duetoday." Nick chuckled.
She nodded, reaching for a glass of water — only to freeze when another voice cut in.
"Big day, indeed!"
Nathan stood by the counter, casual in a black T-shirt and grey trousers, hair slightly tousled, coffee mug in hand. Somehow, he looked effortlessly perfect — like mornings were his natural habitat.
Her heart did a small, treacherous skip.
"Yeah, just need to submit it at the library," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Good luck!" he replied, his tone light but his gaze steady enough to make her fidget.
She could feel his eyes on her even as she turned to put the glass away.
Her phone buzzed. Dree.
> "Hey Leena, ready yet? I'm on my way to pick you up. Don't make me wait."
She smiled despite herself. "I have to run," she told her family hurriedly.
As she reached the hallway, a soft touch on her elbow made her turn.
Nathan…?
"Skipping breakfast again?"
"I'm fine."
"You'll faint in class."He protested.
"I'll risk it."
His lips curved into a quiet grin. "You're getting reckless, clumsy girl."
She rolled her eyes. "You're enjoying this wayy too much."
"Guilty!" he murmured, eyes glinting.
Before Nick or Claire could notice, she slipped out the front door, pulse still racing.
What just happened, really?
Does he really care for me?
---
Dree aka Adrian's car was already in the driveway, Isla waving from the passenger seat.
"Two minutes late!" Adrian called.
"Tragic. I was seconds away from revoking your punctuality privileges."
"Good morning to you too," Elena said, sliding into the backseat. Her mood instantly got better.
"Don't you good morning me, Leena. You know I thrive on melodrama."
Isla laughed softly. "Ignore him. He's been ranting about deadlines since he picked me up."
That's what best friends are for.
Elena smiled. "I'm shocked he even met one."
Adrian feigned offense. "Excuse me, I'm a responsible adult. Kind of."
The morning drive felt easy, the banter grounding her. Adrian and Isla's presence always balanced her chaos — like the noise in her mind had someone to harmonize with.
---
By the time they reached campus, caffeine and sarcasm had replaced exhaustion. The trio made their way to the library, where the soft hum of typing filled the air.
Elena worked quickly, fingers flying over her keyboard. Adrian leaned closer, pretending to inspect her spreadsheet.
"Wow. Riveting stuff. I can feel the excitement radiating off these numbers."
She smirked. "Says the guy who color-coded his report by mood."
"Organization is sexy, Leena."
"Sure. Tell that to your unfinished introduction."
Isla stifled a laugh. "He's been rewriting it for three days."
"Perfection takes time, darling," Adrian said dramatically.
For a moment, Elena forgot everything else — the lack of sleep, the thoughts she shouldn't be having.
By noon, they'd submitted their projects. Relief washed through her chest like cool air.
---
The cafeteria was crowded but warm. They sat at their usual corner table — Isla sipping a latte, Adrian dissecting a muffin like it had wronged him.
"So," Adrian started, "tell us about last evening, when you ditched us to 'study' and never came back?"
"Yeah, guests were coming and I got out late from the library." She told them but thegrimace on herface gave it away.
"The infamous Browns?"
Elena groaned. "Please, no."
"Oh, come on. Enlighten us. Was it as painfully polite as usual?"
"Worse." She lowered her voice. "And I kind of… met Nathan. Again."
Adrian froze mid-bite. "Wait. The Nathan? As in the poster child for perfection?"
Elena nodded.
"How did that go?"
"Complicated."
"Define complicated."
"He almost ran me over."
Adrian blinked, then grinned. "And people say romance is dead."
Isla giggled, stirring her coffee. "Did he apologize, at least?"
"Actually I was the one at fault."
"And you blushed," Adrian teased.
"You're blushing now."
"I am not."
"You totally are. Leena, admit it — you like him."
"Adrian!" she groaned.
He raised his hands in surrender. "Just saying. I call it as I see it."
Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number.
> Be back by 4. I'm bored.
She froze. Adrian leaned closer like a cat drawn to curiosity. "Secret admirer?"
"More like a nuisance."
"Mhm!!. Sure, sure."
She typed quickly:
< See you at 5.
---
By late afternoon, she was sprawled on Isla's bed, surrounded by dresses and chaos.
Isla was excited and nervous about a date. She was going with the man she'd been crushing on for 2 years and he finally noticed her.
"This one or this one?" Isla asked, holding up two options.
"The floral one," Elena said thoughtfully.
"It's softer."
Adrian, sprawled dramatically on the sofa, added, "The red one says 'I might ruin your life.' Go with that."
Isla threw a cushion at him. "You're impossible."
"You love me for it."
Elena laughed, warmth pooling in her chest.
Then her phone buzzed again — Nick: Come home if you're free. Taking Nathan and Claire out.
She sighed. "Duty calls."
Adrian grabbed his keys. "Fine, chauffeur mode activated. Isla, don't scare your date."
---
Outside, Nick and Claire stood near the car, chatting. Nathan leaned casually against the hood, sunlight catching the brown in his hair.
Nick waved at Adrian. Both hand-clapped when Adrian and Elena joined them.
Nick invited Adrian, "Movie night it is… join us! Horror flick."
Adrian laughed. "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"Whaa— are you all planning on scaring me to death here…"Elena blurted out. Horror movies gave her the creeps.
"Oh yes," Adrian said grinning, " Leena still hides behind cushions."
"Because jump scares are cheap!"
"And you're predictable," he teased.
Nathan's lips twitched in amusement. He didn't say anything, just watched her with that calm, unreadable gaze that made her stomach twist.
---
The cinema was dim and humming with quiet chatter.
Claire clung to Nick; Adrian balanced popcorn and smugness; Elena found herself seated between Adrian and Nathan.
The first half was manageable — eerie music, slow tension. Then came the first scream.
Elena jumped, clutching her jumper.
A hand brushed hers — tentative, warm. She froze, glancing sideways. Nathan's face remained toward the screen, unreadable.
On the next scream, Elena screamed as well. This time Nathan took her hand in his and gently squeezed– which oddly comforted her.
Another scare — she squeezed her eyes shut, instinctively hunching down, her hands on her ears.
Nathan shifted slightly, guiding her head toward his chest. She didn't resist.
His heartbeat thudded against her ear, steady and grounding.
She stayed there longer than she should have. She didn't watch the rest of the movie, only heard loud screaming from the movie and the audience.
She kept clutching on Nathan's tee-shirt. He kept rubbing her back.
When the credits rolled, Adrian stretched. "Leena, you can come out now. The monster's dead. Or is that Nathan's heartbeat I hear?"
Laughter broke the tension. But when Elena looked up– her face flushed, her cheeks tear-streaked.
Nathan glanced down at her — something almost protective in his expression.
"You okay?" he murmured.
"Yeah," she whispered as her voice cracked. "Just… got a little too into it."
---
The drive home was quiet, the city lights streaking across her window.
Adrian had to go back to his place so Nathan offered Elena a ride home. Adrian winked at Elena before going away.
They both remained silent in the car and somehow it made her nerves calm.
Inside, the house was silent. Elena changed into an old T-shirt and pyjamas. Her phone buzzed:
Nick: Taking Claire to grab dinner. Don't wait up, we'll be late.
She smiled faintly, relieved to have the place to herself. She sat at her desk, trying to study, but the movie's images wouldn't leave her head.
A gentle knock broke the silence.
"Elena? Can I come in?"
Nathan stood in the doorway, hair slightly damp, casual but self-assured. His eyes flicked over the scattered papers and unmade bed.
"Messy genius setup. I like it."
"Organised chaos," she muttered, embarrassed.
"You eaten?" he asked.
"Not really."
"Come on then. I can't let you starve after such trauma."
She hesitated. "Are you sure? I can make something."
"Perfect. I'll assist. Moral support is my specialty."he winked, and she smiled.
Good distraction, at least my mind would gimme a break from replaying scenes from the movie.
They went downstairs together; the rest of the house was still and dark.
Nathan opened the fridge. "What do you want? I can make toast, that's my entire skill set."
Elena laughed softly. "I'll cook. You can pretend to help."
"Perfect. I specialise in moral support."
He rolled up his sleeves while she pulled out pasta and vegetables. Their movements soon found a rhythm: the hiss of the stove, the clink of knives, the low hum of night.
"So," he said, casually slicing peppers, "any boyfriend back at college?"
She glanced over her shoulder. "Why does everyone keep asking that?"
"Curiosity. You don't seem like someone easy to impress."
"I'm not."
"Figures." He looked up, faint amusement in his eyes. "You ever been in love?"
She stirred the sauce. "Umm…no, I dated once.Didn't end well. It got… complicated." She replied honestly.
"His loss."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "You don't even know him."
"Don't have to. He's not here, I am."He replied swiftly.
She tried not to smile. "You sound confident."
"Occupational hazard."
"Of what?" She asked.
"Being right most of the time." He pointed.
She shook her head, fighting a laugh. "You're unbelievable."
"I get that a lot."
He thinks I'm not easy to impress?
The kitchen filled with the smell of garlic and cream. She plated the pasta; he poured two glasses of wine from her father's collection. They ate in companionable silence until he leaned back, studying her.
"You know," he said quietly, "I don't think you trust people easily."
"Maybe not,"she kept it short.
"You should. Sometimes it's worth the risk."
She looked up at him and asked. "And if it's not?"
"Then at least you'll know who deserves you."
The words lingered longer than they should have.
When they finished, she gathered the dishes, but he reached out, stopping her hand.
"Leave it. I'll clean up. You've done enough."
She hesitated. "You sure?"
He nodded and started cleaning the dishes.
"Trust me?" he asked, the same teasing note back in his voice.
Her chest tightened. "Maybe."
"That's a start."He replied, giving her a mischievous grin.
And it gave her butterflies in her stomach.
---
Later, when she returned to her room, the quiet pressed in again. She tried to read, but the pages blurred. The evening replayed in fragments — his voice, his laughter, the way he'd said trust me. She felt something inside her changing.
Her phone buzzed.
Nathan: You vanished again.
Elena: I thought we were done cooking lessons.
Nathan: I was starting to think you're scared of me.
Elena: I'm not.
She really wasn't.
Nathan: Prove it. Come to the guest room. I dare you.
Her pulse skipped. Before she could talk herself out of it, she was already at his door.
The room was dimly lit. Nathan sat on the sofa, hair damp, white T-shirt clinging to his shoulders.
"You actually came," he said, smiling.
"You dared me."
"And you never turn down a challenge. I like that."
He motioned for her to sit. She felt uneasy but obeyed quietly.
She noticed how his room was clean. His bed was neat, and not a single thing out of place.
Does he actually live here?
"About earlier… the movie," he said softly. "I didn't mean to scare you that much."
"You didn't," she lied.
"Still." He leaned forward slightly. "It was my idea and I hated seeing you upset."
Something in his voice made her chest tighten. She looked away. "You don't always have to be nice, you know."
"Who says I'm being nice?" He asked with a smirk.
"Then what are you doing?"She asked in confusion.
"Getting to know you." He replied, watching her.
Her breath hitched as he leaned slightly closer, eyes locked on hers.
Why does he want to know me? I am not some mysterious ravishing beauty…
"You really shouldn't say things like that," she whispered.
" Why not?" He whispered back.
"Because… I uh.. might believe you." she stuttered. Her mind couldn't work when he was in such close proximity.
He smiled faintly, that slow, knowing smile that made her heart skip. "Maybe that's the point."
Her heart was racing. She couldn't look up and kept looking down on her lap.
He whispered her name.
She was uncertain, her breath caught halfway between fear and wanting—
and in that suspended moment, the air changed.
He put his finger under her chin, coaxing her gaze up to his. His eyes locked on hers piercing through her soul – steady, unreadable, yet burning with something she couldn't name.
Her breath caught; the world seemed to still.
His fingers brushed along her cheek sliding into her hair, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. The warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine.
She trembled under his touch.
He leaned in closer — close enough that she could feel the faint brush of his breath on her skin, the scent of soap and something darker.
Her heart raced.
Then his lips met hers — soft at first, testing, almost hesitant. The touch sent a tremor through her; her knees nearly gave way. He tilted his head slightly, deepening the kiss, one hand tracing the line of her neck before settling at the nape, pulling her closer.
She felt the world dissolve around them — no noise, no thought, just the pulse between them.
His lips touched hers softly for a moment that felt like an eternity.
She trembled.
When he finally drew back, their breaths mingled in the charged silence. Her eyes fluttered open to find his gaze fixed on her lips, his voice a low rasp.
"You taste… sweet."
Before she could reply, he kissed her again — slower and deeper this time, deliberate, as if memorizing her, wanting her reaction.
She was spellbound by his unexpected intimacy, she couldn't move, couldn't process what made him kiss her.
What are you doing Elena? Her inner voice jolted her back to reality after what felt like an eternity.
Her mind caught up with her heart, panic threading through her chest. She pulled away, stumbling to her feet, and fled before words could follow.
---
When the door finally closed behind her, Elena stood in the hallway, breathing hard. Her thoughts refused to form words; her heart felt too loud. She pressed a hand to her lips as if to erase what had just happened — or to keep it.
Back in her room, she sank onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, every nerve alive. She wasn't sure if what just happened was a mistake or the start of something she couldn't stop.
Outside, a faint knock echoed from somewhere down the hall, followed by Nathan's quiet voice, barely audible through the silence.
"Goodnight, clumsy girl."
Her chest tightened.
Elena closed her eyes, torn between panic and the dizzy rush in her chest.
The game had begun and she wasn't sure she knew the rules anymore.