ned on running into

some scrambling for seats, others pretending to be cool and unbothered. She f

she th

gh setting up her lap

lv

e hadn't even tried to look presentable. He glanced around the

enly very interested in t

she felt movem

own. Nex

the emp

a notebook and a pen like it meant nothing. Like sittin

up. Just slightly. Enough to remind her that

about the structure of academic research papers. Brianna t

on about thesis statements, Brian

ake a claim that's both arguable and specific.

nodded in appr

she felt a small flicker of some

nd, she felt Malvin g

t loud enough for anyone else to hear. Not try

ure how to respo

ne filtered out of the room, he walked besid

walking

id suddenly, like he needed to say someth

small nod

silenc

It felt like something was beginning -

llway. He turned le

goo

smi

ger like the echo of a though

t of the afternoo

a safe place. The smell of old paper, the soft hum of the air conditioner, the muffled silence betwe

written assignment in progress, and yet her

Mal

hard. But somehow, that made every wo

like he noticed things most p

en she caught herself

about. Why he always looked like h

ome mysterious guy's orbit. She'd been through enough to know how easily people could dis

hone

ge from

m screening in the

tared at

ted to

till hadn't stopped thinking about that lectur

lm? she

ds later, L

I think Malvin's goi

s chest

idn't

over the keyboard, heart making dec