Chapter 11 - LIBRARY MEET-UP
Tessa's pov
The library was my safe place.
It was never totally empty, but it was quiet enough that I could pretend the rest of the world didn't exist. No Piper. No whispers. No cafeteria stares. Just me, my notebook, and rows of books that smelled like dust and old paper. Honestly, that smell was kinda comforting.
Compared to the chaos in the cafeteria, the library felt like stepping into another planet. One second the whole school was buzzing about Adrian smiling at me like it was breaking news, and the next I was pushing open the heavy doors to a room so quiet you could literally hear a needle drop. My brain didn't know how to handle the switch.
I headed straight to my usual spot by the window, dumped my bag onto the chair, and slid into my seat. Sunlight spilled across the table, catching little dust specks in the air, and for the first time all day, I actually felt like I could breathe.
Avery and Charlotte had gone to their next classes, which left me alone. That was both good and bad. Good because no one was there to keep whispering "Adrian Hardin smiled at you" over and over like some broken record. Bad because I kind of missed having them around.
I opened my notebook, pulled out a pen, and was about to doodle something random (because who actually studies right after lunch?) when a shadow fell across my table.
I looked up.
And almost squealed on the spot.
Adrian.
He was standing there with a book in his hand, scanning the room like he was trying to pick the best seat. But then his eyes landed on me. And stayed there.
"Hey," he said casually.
"Hi," I squeaked back, way too soft.
"You always sit here?" he asked, lowering his voice like he didn't want the librarian to throw us out.
"Uh… yeah. Sometimes," I mumbled, slamming my notebook shut like I was hiding state secrets.
He paused for a second, then pulled out the chair across from me. "Mind if I sit?"
My brain screamed YES I MIND, THIS IS TOO MUCH, but my mouth betrayed me. "No, it's fine."
He slid into the chair, set his book down, and leaned back like he owned the place. Chill. Effortless. Meanwhile, I was gripping my pen so hard it could've snapped.
For a while, we didn't talk. He flipped open his book—something thick with a plain black cover—and I tried so hard not to stare at him. Spoiler: I failed.
Finally, I glanced up.
His lips twitched like he was hiding a smile. "You okay? You looked pretty stressed back there."
Oh no. He noticed.
My stomach dropped. "Y-yeah. I'm fine. Totally fine. Just, you know… cafeteria drama."
"Ah." He nodded. "The Doras."
Then he said it. "Piper is such a pretty piece of work."
Pretty? Seriously? I screamed in my head with pure jealousy.
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Of course she is."
He chuckled. "Don't take it personal. She's always… loud."
"That's one word for it," I muttered.
He tilted his head. "She thinks if she messes with people close to me—or people I might like—long enough, I'll magically fall for her or something."
That made me snort. "People close to you, or you like? Does it work?"
He raised a brow. "What do you think?"
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. "Considering you're sitting here instead of over there with her, I'm guessing no."
His smile grew, and my chest did that annoying flutter thing. He tapped his fingers against the table. "You didn't look too happy in the cafeteria."
"Oh my god, don't remind me," I groaned. "I thought maybe if I ignored them, they'd stop. But no. Piper just had to turn it into a Broadway show."
"She doesn't like competition," he said simply.
"Competition?" My voice cracked like a freshman boy's.
Adrian's eyes stayed on me. "She's been chasing me for years. Now she thinks you're in her way."
My face went nuclear. "I'm not in anyone's way! I'm just trying to survive high school without being turned into gossip material."
He laughed softly. "Too late. Everyone's already talking."
"Perfect," I muttered. "Just what I wanted—to be the star of Piper's drama show."
He leaned back, smirking. "You don't seem like the type who likes attention."
"I don't," I admitted, spinning my pen in my hands. "Attention equals people staring. People staring equals rumors. Rumors equal me wishing I could move to Alaska."
"Alaska, huh?" He smirked. "You'd freeze."
"Better than melting under Piper's death glares," I shot back.
That made him laugh. Like, a real laugh. My stomach did an actual flip.
Of course, the librarian had to ruin it by shushing us. I wanted to sink into the floor. Adrian just grinned like it was the funniest thing in the world.
After a pause, he tapped his book. "So, you come here a lot?"
"Yeah. It's quiet. No one bothers me." I gave him a look. "Well… usually."
He raised his hands. "I can leave if I'm wrecking your peace."
Panic hit me. "No! I mean—no, you're fine. Totally fine."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax, Tess. I'm not gonna bite."
Easy for him to say. He wasn't the one turning into a tomato across the table.
We sat there for a while, talking a little. He asked what I usually read ("Not boring textbooks, right?"), I joked about Piper being his unpaid PR manager, and he actually rolled his eyes so hard I cracked up.
When the bell finally rang, my nerves had calmed a little. Almost.
Adrian stood, tucked his book under his arm, and gave me this look that made my heart race. "Guess we'll be seeing each other more."
I frowned. "Because of the project?"
He smirked. "Because of the library."
And then he just walked off like he didn't just drop that bomb on me and leave me sitting there, stunned.