The library of Starlight Academy was usually Elena Li's sanctuary. Rows of neatly arranged bookshelves, the faint smell of paper and ink, the hush that demanded order—it was where she felt most at home.
Today, however, it was a battlefield.
The long oak table in the center of the reading hall had been commandeered by Ms. Park's newly formed "study group." Students trickled in reluctantly, clutching textbooks and notebooks, muttering complaints under their breath.
And of course, sitting at the far end, sprawled in his chair like he owned the place, was Adrian Cole.
He had one boot propped casually on the rung of the chair, his jacket draped over the backrest. His pen tapped a lazy rhythm against the table, and that infuriating smirk never once faltered.
Elena tightened her grip on her notes. Focus. This is just a study session. You can handle this.
She took her seat at the opposite end, spreading out her books in precise, color-coded order. The contrast between them couldn't have been sharper: her side a meticulous spread of pens and highlighters, his side empty except for a single battered notebook and his ridiculous confidence.
The others settled in, casting wary glances between the two. The tension was already palpable.
"Alright," Elena said, clearing her throat and sitting up straighter. As class representative, it was her duty to make this work. "We're here to prepare for next week's midterms. Let's divide the workload evenly so we can all—"
"Boring," Adrian cut in, twirling his pen.
Elena froze. "Excuse me?"
He leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes gleaming with mischief. "You sound like a robot. Lighten up, sunshine. It's just a study group."
"It's not just a study group," she snapped. "It's about responsibility and teamwork. Some of us actually care about passing."
The group chuckled nervously. A boy whispered, "Here we go again."
Adrian smirked wider. "Relax. I'll pass without even trying."
Elena's jaw clenched. "Not if you drag everyone else down with you."
She launched into a detailed plan, assigning chapters and topics. Everyone nodded obediently—except Adrian, who lounged in his chair, spinning his pen like a knife.
"Mr. Cole," she said sharply. "You'll be covering the Civil Reform Acts."
He shrugged. "Pass."
"Pass?" Elena's eyes narrowed. "This isn't optional."
"Sure it is." He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. "You can't force me to do anything, bookworm."
The room fell silent, the other students holding their breath.
Elena stood, slamming her notebook shut. "Listen here, Cole. I don't care about your ego or your rebellion. This group is about teamwork, and as long as I'm class rep, you will pull your weight."
Gasps rippled through the group. No one—no one—talked to Adrian Cole like that.
Adrian's smirk faltered for just a second, replaced by something sharper, darker. Then it returned, slower this time, almost dangerous.
"You've got guts, sunshine," he murmured, his eyes locking onto hers. "But guts don't scare me."
"Um," Mia piped up nervously from across the table. "Maybe we should just… split the work? No fighting?"
Elena exhaled sharply, forcing herself to sit back down. "Fine. We'll split. But if anyone skips their part, I'll report it to Ms. Park."
Adrian chuckled, low and amused. "You really love rules, don't you?"
"They exist for a reason," Elena shot back.
"To chain people down," Adrian countered smoothly. "Me? I prefer freedom."
"Freedom doesn't mean slacking," she said icily.
"Maybe not. But it sure as hell means not letting some self-righteous class rep tell me how to live."
The group shifted uncomfortably, caught in the crossfire. A girl muttered, "This is better than TV."
Half an hour passed in tense silence, pens scratching, pages flipping. Elena buried herself in notes, determined not to let him distract her. But every so often, she felt his gaze—lazy, mocking, persistent.
Finally, Adrian broke the silence.
"Tell you what, bookworm. Let's make this interesting."
Elena didn't look up. "I'm not interested."
"Too late. If I score higher than you on the history test, you have to loosen up for once."
Her pen froze mid-sentence. Slowly, she turned to glare at him. "Loosen up?"
"Yeah. Stop living like a robot. Maybe skip homework one night. Go to a party. Breathe."
"And if you score lower?" she challenged.
His grin widened. "Then I'll follow your precious rules for a week."
The group gasped. "No way! Adrian following rules?"
"This I gotta see."
Elena's heart raced, but she forced herself to stay composed. "Fine. Deal."
They shook on it, his hand warm and firm around hers. The moment lingered a beat too long, his smirk softening into something almost… curious.
She yanked her hand back, cheeks flushing. "You're going to lose."
Adrian leaned closer, his voice a low purr. "We'll see, sunshine."
As the session dragged on, something unexpected happened. Between the bickering and the glares, there were moments—fleeting, almost unnoticeable—when their rhythms aligned.
Elena caught him actually jotting down notes when he thought no one was looking.
Adrian noticed the way she chewed her lip when she was deep in thought, and for once, didn't tease her for it.
The group worked, but the tension between the two seatmates filled every corner of the library, sparking like static before a storm.
When Ms. Park peeked in later to check on them, she smiled approvingly. "Good teamwork, everyone. I knew pairing opposites would work."
Elena wanted to protest. Adrian just smirked.
As they packed up, Adrian slung his jacket over his shoulder, leaning close enough for only her to hear.
"You know what, bookworm? You make rules sound sexy."
Elena froze, eyes wide, heat rushing to her cheeks.
"Y-you're impossible!"
He winked, sauntering out of the library without another word.
Elena stood rooted to the spot, her heart pounding furiously.
She told herself it was anger. It had to be anger.
But the way her pulse raced… she wasn't so sure.
Outside the library, Adrian lit up with amusement, his smirk tugging wider.
Rules vs. rebellion.
For most people, rules bored him. But Elena Li? She made them a challenge.
And Adrian loved nothing more than breaking challenges apart.