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