Courtney's heart hammered in her chest as she slid quietly between the towering bookshelves of Greenwood High's library. The hum of students studying and the occasional page turning should have been soothing, but her mind was anything but calm. Every shadow, every rustle, made her pulse jump. Today was dangerous—not because of homework or tests—but because of him: Gladson Grey.
He moved through the library with an effortless grace, his golden hair catching the sunlight that streamed through the tall windows. Every step he took made her stomach twist, like a stormy sea trapped inside her ribs. Courtney had watched him from afar for months, silently admiring the way he carried himself, the way people seemed drawn to him without even trying. And yet, now, he was here, closer than ever, making her feel small and exposed.
Her fingers tightened on the strap of her bag. Don't look, don't look, don't look… she whispered in her head. But curiosity betrayed her. Courtney peeked from behind a shelf, her eyes locking onto his profile. She gasped softly as he bent to reach for a book on the top shelf. The sunlight kissed his face, making him glow like someone out of a daydream.
And then, as if sensing her gaze, he looked up. Directly at her.
Panic and exhilaration collided in her chest. The book she had been pretending to examine slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor with a loud thud. Her eyes widened, heart leaping, as she froze in place.
Gladson bent down smoothly, picking up the book. "Is this yours?" His voice was calm, yet it carried a warmth that made her stomach flutter uncontrollably.
"Yes… uh… thank you," she whispered, barely able to form the words. Her face heated instantly, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture.
He handed her the book, and for a fleeting moment, their fingers brushed. A spark, light and electric, jolted through her, leaving her breathless. Courtney pulled her hand back too quickly, her pulse hammering in her ears.
"Courtney?" a familiar voice interrupted. Miya appeared, eyes glinting with mischief. "Caught staring again?"
"I… I wasn't…" Courtney stammered, knowing she sounded ridiculous.
Gladson glanced at her briefly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. He didn't seem annoyed, just… intrigued. That look made her knees weak, but she forced herself to take a step back, clinging to her composure.
Before she could retreat further, a teasing voice rang out. "Oi! Gladson, daydreaming again?"
Dwan, his best friend, grinned as he leaned against a nearby shelf. Courtney shrank into the shadows, wishing she could disappear. She hated the way her cheeks burned under the weight of attention, yet she couldn't pull her eyes away from Gladson.
Gladson's gaze didn't flicker with annoyance. Instead, he gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, and that tiny gesture made her heart race faster than any teasing ever could. He noticed her. He really noticed her.
Miya squeezed her shoulder gently. "See? You're not invisible. Now stop staring or he might think you're completely weird."
Courtney laughed nervously, though her pulse still refused to settle. "I'm fine," she said, though even saying it made her voice tremble.
Her eyes wandered to the rows of books around her. The library smelled of polished wood and old paper—a comforting, familiar scent that somehow made her feel grounded even as her emotions spun wildly. Sunlight streamed through the windows, dust motes dancing lazily in golden beams, adding a surreal glow to the quiet space.
Courtney imagined what it would be like if she could speak freely with him. If I could just tell him how I feel… The thought made her heart ache with longing. But courage had never been her strongest suit. She had watched him from afar, silently hoping he might notice her, and now that he had, fear clamped down on her chest like a heavy weight.
Then he moved closer, picking up a notebook that had fallen near her feet. "Careful," he said softly, handing it to her. "Wouldn't want you tripping over your own feet."
Her cheeks flushed crimson. "Th-thank you," she whispered, and this time, she dared a quick glance at his face. His warm brown eyes met hers, and the genuine curiosity in them made her pulse flutter uncontrollably.
For a moment, the library seemed to shrink around them. No whispers, no gossip, no one else existed in that bubble of quiet connection. Courtney felt something she had never felt before: being truly seen.
Miya whispered from the side, "You're staring again. He'll notice you for real if you keep that up."
Courtney's fingers twitched nervously, her thoughts a whirlwind. She wanted to melt into the floor, disappear, run away—but at the same time, she didn't want to. Something about this moment, fragile and fleeting, was impossibly precious.
As she clutched the notebook to her chest, a sudden noise startled her a chair scraping against the floor, a cough echoing down the aisle. She froze. Did he notice how nervous I am?
That was all her thought.
Gladson stepped slightly closer, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's okay," he said, soft but sure. "You're fine."
Courtney's heart fluttered, heat spreading across her face. That smile, that gentle tone—it was enough to make her believe, just for a second, that maybe her quiet heart didn't have to stay hidden.
She swallowed hard, wishing she had the courage to speak, to tell him even a fraction of what she felt. But for now, she simply nodded, letting the warmth of the moment linger.
Then, without warning, a shadow passed across the aisle. Someone was watching them, someone whose presence could ruin everything. Courtney's eyes widened, her chest tightening. The library, once a safe haven, suddenly felt full of eyes and whispers, waiting to expose her secret admiration.