Lila sank into the library chair, the smell of old books and polished wood settling around her. She had spread her notes across the table, highlighting scholarship programs, enrollment statistics, and interviews she'd conducted with working students.
Ethan appeared from the aisle like he always did—quiet, precise, commanding attention without trying.
"Mind if I sit?" he asked.
Lila hesitated, pen hovering. "I suppose…"
He pulled a chair across from her, flipping his notebook open. For a moment, the library's usual murmur seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet rhythm of their breathing.
"So," Ethan said, scanning her papers, "you really do know your stuff."
"Thanks," Lila said, eyebrows raised. "I take my research seriously. Unlike some people who just copy and paste."
Ethan smirked. "Not everyone's built for thoroughness. Some of us—" He tapped his chest lightly with one finger. "—excel in other ways."
Lila shot him a look. "Like what? Charming your way out of trouble?"
He leaned back, folding his arms. "That, yes. But mostly noticing things others miss." His gaze flicked to the delicate bracelet on her wrist.
She followed it. "What?"
He blinked, caught, but didn't look away. "This bracelet… it looks familiar. Where did you get it?"
"Mom gave it to me," Lila said lightly, hoping he'd drop it. "It's old. Family heirloom or something."
Ethan's jaw tightened subtly, a shadow of recognition crossing his features. "Family heirloom," he repeated. "Interesting choice."
"Interesting?" Lila leaned back, confused. "It's just a bracelet."
"Not just a bracelet," he murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "History has a way of leaving traces."
She blinked. That sounded… heavy. And wrong. But before she could question it further, Maya appeared, sliding into the chair next to her.
"Hey," Maya whispered, glancing nervously at Ethan. "Careful. School gossip spreads faster than wildfire."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Maya hesitated, then leaned closer. "Some people are already whispering about you and… him. You know, the golden boy."
Lila felt her stomach twist. "Golden boy?"
"Yeah," Maya said softly. "They're calling him… you know… untouchable. And anyone seen around him will get noticed."
"Great," Lila muttered. "So now I'm a target too."
Ethan caught the tail end of that. "Gossip doesn't concern me," he said evenly. "It shouldn't concern you either."
"I'm sure it doesn't bother you," Lila said, tone sharp. "You're rich and untouchable."
He tilted his head, expression unreadable. "I'm hardly untouchable. I just… choose my battles."
Lila snorted. "Lucky for you. Not everyone can pick theirs."
Maya rolled her eyes but smiled, sensing the subtle electricity in the room.
"So," Ethan said, opening a new page in his notebook. "Show me your findings. Let's start with enrollment numbers."
Lila leaned over, pointing at a highlighted section. "Here, see? Students from low-income families are often excluded from scholarship programs because the application process is… intentionally complicated. And the number of working students has doubled in the last five years."
Ethan nodded, jotting notes quickly. "I see. That's… staggering. And you tracked this yourself?"
"Yes," Lila said. "I talked to the students. Went to their workplaces. Spoke to families. It's all first-hand."
Ethan's expression softened. "Impressive. Most people wouldn't go that far."
A small laugh escaped Lila despite herself. "Some of us actually care about what we write."
"Some of us?" he repeated, grinning. "I think that includes both of us now."
She frowned, unsure whether to be irritated or flattered. "Don't make assumptions."
"Not an assumption," he said. "Observation."
Their shared smile was interrupted by a quiet cough. Chase stood by the table, leaning slightly against a shelf.
"Ethan," Chase said, voice low. "You need to watch your step. There's chatter about you being too close to her. People are watching."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Watching?"
"Yes," Chase said. "Nothing concrete yet. But… high school politics are alive and brutal."
Ethan's gaze flicked to Lila, who was pretending not to notice. "I'm aware," he said calmly. "I can handle it."
Chase smirked. "Maybe. But some of us just try to survive the storm."
Lila's cheeks warmed, realizing the conversation carried unspoken implications about her mother, her past, and… whatever Ethan was sensing in that bracelet.
"Ignore him," she said quietly to herself. Then, louder: "Ready to dive in?"
Ethan nodded. "Yes. Let's start with the interviews."
The hours passed with surprising ease. Lila explained her methods, field notes, and even some personal stories she'd gathered from students balancing jobs and school. Ethan asked questions, scribbled observations, and occasionally made her laugh with dry remarks.
And then, for one brief moment, he looked up, studying her wrist.
"You don't know what you're holding," he murmured, almost to himself.
Lila froze. "Excuse me?"
He didn't answer, only continued writing, brow furrowed.
Maya leaned over, whispering, "See? He's intrigued. And that's dangerous."
"Why dangerous?" Lila whispered back.
"Because when he's curious, he digs deep. And curiosity has a way of uncovering everything you thought was hidden," Maya said.
Lila's stomach tightened. She thought of her mother's stories, the ones about power, mistakes, and consequences. Was Ethan seeing more than a bracelet? More than her?
Before she could dwell, a shadow fell across the table.
Sofia stood there, hands on her hips, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Interesting," she said, voice low. "Looks like you're finally getting close."
Lila bristled. "Close to what?"
Sofia leaned in slightly, letting her words hang. "To something you probably shouldn't touch. History has a way of repeating itself, you know."
Ethan's pen paused mid-sentence. Lila's heart thudded.
"What do you mean?" she asked, forcing a casual tone.
"Oh, nothing," Sofia said sweetly, stepping back. "Just a friendly observation. Don't get too comfortable."
She walked away, leaving tension in her wake.
Maya sighed. "And there it is. Drama delivered."
Ethan rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Ignore her."
Lila stared at him, unsure why his calm annoyed her more than Sofia's sharpness ever could.
"History repeating itself…" she muttered. "Why does that feel like a warning?"
Ethan finally looked at her. "Because it is," he said quietly.
Lila swallowed. That simple acknowledgment sent a shiver down her spine.
And as they returned to their research, their laughter and shared curiosity masked something much more dangerous—an invisible thread linking the past to the present, waiting for the moment it would pull tight.