The library smelled of old paper and polished wood, thick with the quiet hum of people flipping pages, pencils scratching against notebooks. Dust floated in the afternoon light streaming through the towering windows, casting golden streaks over the dark wooden floors.
Maya sat curled up in a massive leather chair, a book in her lap—though she hadn't turned the page in at least ten minutes. Across the table, Eddie slouched in his own chair, lazily flipping through a book he had no intention of reading.
Luna and Sally sat beside her, whispering way too loudly for a library.
"You're acting weird," Luna murmured, nudging Maya's side.
"I am not," she whispered back.
"She so is," Sally grinned, barely hiding her amusement. "And we all know why."
Maya stiffened. "Don't."
Sally ignored her, leaning in conspiratorially. "You keep staring at Eddie."
Maya nearly choked. "I do not!"
Too loud. A couple of students turned in their seats—including Eddie.
His gaze lifted lazily from his book. "What?"
Sally's smirk deepened. "Oh, nothing. Just talking about how Maya has a—"
Maya slapped a hand over her mouth.
Sally laughed against her palm, eyes sparkling. Luna, biting her lip to keep from giggling, pried Maya's hand away. "You're making it worse."
Maya exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers to her temples. "I hate you both."
"No, you don't," Luna hummed. "You just hate that we're right."
Eddie, still watching them, tipped his chair back. "Are we done, or should I be concerned?"
Maya shot him a glare. "You should mind your own business."
His smirk widened. "Doesn't sound like nothing."
Sally gave Maya an exaggerated look. See? Even he knows.
Maya clenched her jaw, slamming the book shut. "I'm going to find another one."
"Running away won't save you!" Sally called after her.
Maya flipped her off over her shoulder.
—
The rows of shelves stretched high above her, endless and safe. She ran her fingers along the spines of old, worn books, forcing herself to breathe.
She was not falling for Eddie.
That would be ridiculous.
…Right?
"Find anything interesting?"
Maya flinched, spinning around. Eddie stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, smirking like he knew something.
She exhaled sharply. "Do you always sneak up on people?"
"Not my fault you're easily startled."
Her eyes narrowed. "Why are you even back here?"
Eddie shrugged. "Felt like annoying you."
She groaned, turning back to the bookshelf. "Go away."
"Nope."
Maya muttered a curse under her breath and grabbed a random book, flipping it open just to look busy. Eddie leaned against the shelf beside her, not even pretending to read.
"You were acting weird," he said casually.
Maya's fingers tightened around the pages.
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
A pause.
Then—
"You're doing it again."
Maya turned to him sharply. "Doing what?"
Eddie's head tilted slightly. He wasn't smirking anymore, wasn't teasing. Just watching her, like he was trying to figure something out.
"Looking at me like that."
Her breath caught.
Like what?
She wanted to ask, but she already knew.
Because she had been looking at him differently, hadn't she? Not just now, but before—when he laughed at something dumb, when he ruffled Luna's hair, when he caught her wrist before she could slip away.
When had that started?
And why did it feel so dangerous now?
She swallowed. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?"
His voice was softer this time. Not teasing. Not pushing.
Something in her chest twisted.
No.
No, she couldn't do this.
She shoved the book back onto the shelf. "We should get back."
Eddie studied her for a beat, then exhaled through his nose, like he was letting something go.
"Yeah."
—
They rejoined Luna and Sally at the long wooden table, but Maya felt like she was somewhere else entirely.
Sally shot her a knowing glance but, for once, didn't say anything.
Then Zeke walked in.
He scanned the library, spotted them, and strolled over, dropping into the chair beside Eddie.
Zeke squinted at Maya, then at Eddie. Then back at Maya.
"Why do I feel like I just walked into something?"
Sally beamed. "Because you did."
Luna grinned. "Maya's in love."
Maya (deadpan): "I will set this library on fire."
Zeke blinked. "Whoa, whoa—arson seems like an overreaction."
Then his gaze flicked between Maya and Eddie.
His smirk stretched slow and wicked. "Ohhh."
Eddie raised an eyebrow. "You too?"
Zeke leaned back, arms crossed. "I'm just saying, I've never seen her look at anyone like that before."
Maya's pulse jumped. "Like what?"
Zeke grinned. "Like you're either planning his funeral or his wedding."
Sally lost it.
Maya groaned, dropping her head onto the table.
Eddie, surprisingly, just chuckled. "Guess I'll find out which one soon."
—
Luna nudged Maya's notebook. "Okay, back to the game. What are the odds you go up to the librarian and ask if they have books on summoning demons?"
Maya groaned. "That's stupid."
Sally smirked. "So you're scared?"
Eddie stretched, looking at her lazily. "She's definitely scared."
Maya scowled. "Fine. One in ten."
They counted down together, then spoke at the same time.
Maya: "Seven."
Eddie: "Seven."
Silence.
Then Luna wheezed.
Sally slapped the table, barely containing her laughter.
Eddie smirked. "Looks like you're summoning demons, princess."
Maya groaned, slumping forward. "I hate you."
"No, you don't," Eddie said easily.
And she didn't.
That was the problem.
—
Later, as the game faded into quiet reading, Maya found herself sneaking glances at Eddie.
The way his fingers tapped absently against the table. The soft furrow of his brow when he actually focused. The way the light caught the sharp edges of his jaw.
She was falling for him.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
She turned a page she hadn't actually read.
Then, without thinking, she stole another glance—only to find Eddie already looking at her.
His smirk was slow. Amused. Knowing.
Heat crawled up her neck.
She ripped her gaze away, pretending to read.
Sally, watching the whole thing, grinned wide.
Maya exhaled sharply. "Not. A. Word."
Sally just hummed.
Yeah.
She was so screwed.