Evaline:
When the final bell of the day rang, I stayed seated for a minute longer.
Just dinner. I repeated to myself like a mantra. No pressure. Just… dinner.
When I reached the Academy's front courtyard, I spotted Oscar immediately by the fountain.
He was leaning against the stone edge, dressed in space blue tshirt which was tucked in the beige pants. He had rolled his sleeves up, allowing me a view of his muscular, veiny arms. His hair was messy in the way that probably took effort, and he hadn't seen me yet.
I knew that I still had the option of walking away. That I could still turn back now.
But I didn't.
Because when he looked up and his eyes landed on me, something in his expression shifted. It was calm giving way to warmth, teasing melting into something dangerously close to softness. I didn't smile back. I couldn't. Not out here in the open.
There were too many eyes. Too many ears.
And the last thing either of us needed was for people to start talking.
