"Imogen Fairchild!"
Ginny jolted, snapping out of her thoughts as her professor's voice echoed through the room. Her notebook slipped off her desk, hitting the floor with a loud slap that drew glances from half the class. A few students muffled their laughter, eyes darting her way.
"Did I lose you there?"
"Oh, uh… no, Professor, I was just..." She fumbled, gathering her notebook in one hand, hoping not to cause another disturbance. "Totally following along."
A small ripple of chuckles moved through the room, and the professor chuckled too, shaking his head.
"Good to hear, Miss Fairchild. I wouldn't want you to miss my comparison of nested code structures to, say, a perfectly constructed web. You see," he said, "Every layer of code surrounds the last, connecting each function like threads on a spider's web. Efficient code is like a network, branching into every corner but keeping things solidly centered. Any distraction or any loose ends—"
He shot her a playful look, "and the whole thing starts to come apart."
She nodded, managing a smile, but her focus drifted once more. She couldn't help it; knowing that the Thorne twins would be waiting outside made it hard to concentrate on, well, anything.
As the lecture finally ended, Ginny gathered her things and slipped out the door, her heart fluttering in anticipation.
Cassian and Lysander were right where they always were, leaning casually against the wall.
Cassian and Lysander were waiting right where they always were, leaning against the wall, their figures unmistakable in the crowded hallway.
Cass stood with his arms crossed, dark eyes sweeping over the exiting students. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth when he spotted her, and he straightened, looking ready to make his usual quip.
"Finally! Ginny emerges from her world of code and into the world of the living." He grinned, shaking his head with mock disappointment. "I was worried you might've forgotten about us."
She rolled her eyes, though a smile played on her lips. "Please, Cass, I wouldn't miss your ugly face for anything."
He wasn't ugly—far from it—but there was no way she was about to tell him that.
Beside him, Lyle let out a quiet laugh, offering her a warm, easy smile.
"Ignore him, Ginny. He was just getting bored waiting."
"Oh, is that what I was doing?" Cass raised his eyebrows, pretending to look offended. "Here I thought I was being polite, keeping Lyle company while he looked at the same lecture slides on repeat."
"Oh, is that what I was doing?" Cass raised his eyebrows, pretending offense. "Here I thought I was being polite, keeping Lyle company while he looked at the same lecture slides on repeat."
Lyle shrugged, still smiling.
"Just making sure I understand everything before I show up to class." He cast Ginny a glance. "I think you're rubbing off on him."
"If Cass could actually stand coding long enough to rub off on him, it would be a miracle."
Cass held up a hand in surrender. "Okay, okay, maybe coding's not my thing, but I'm still waiting to hear what on earth kept you so distracted that your professor had to call you out twice."
Cass held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, maybe coding's not my thing, but I'm still waiting to hear what was so interesting that your professor had to call you out twice."
"Oh, he did not," she protested, though she laughed despite herself. "Maybe once."
"Caught daydreaming in class?" Cass gasped, clutching his chest in exaggerated shock. "Ginny Fairchild, distracted from her beloved code?"
She opened her mouth to retort, but Lyle's calm voice cut in, sparing her from Cass's teasing.
"Cassian, give her a break." His tone was serious but playful. "I'm sure even Ginny's allowed to let her mind wander once in a while."
Lyle's gaze met hers, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Maybe she was thinking about the lovely autumn weather."
"Or maybe," Cass interrupted, leaning closer with a conspiratorial grin, "She was thinking about us. Me, specifically."
"Right, Cass," she said, rolling her eyes but feeling her cheeks warm a little. "Nothing gets me through advanced coding like imagining you."
Cass slung an arm over his brother's shoulder, shooting her a smug look.
"See, Lyle? She totally has a crush on me. If only she'd finally man up and admit it."
Lyle shrugged off Cass's arm, laughing. "Or maybe she just imagines you tripping over your own two feet trying to impress her."
"Excuse you," Cass replied, feigning offense. "I don't trip. I'm too cool for that."
"Definitely way too cool," Ginny said, nodding along with a smirk. "But don't get a big head about it."
They strolled across campus together, Cass chattering away about everything from campus gossip to the strange smell of coffee that seemed to haunt the library's second floor. Somehow, he had a knack for making even the smallest details sound important.
As they passed a row of yellowing trees, Lyle gave her a sideways glance.
"So, Ginny, did the whole 'web of code' metaphor make any sense, or was he reaching a bit?"
"It sort of made sense," she replied, catching the teasing glint in Cass's eye. "But honestly, it sounded more like he was talking about getting tangled up in your own ideas. I mean, I could see him visualizing it. Next thing, he'll be showing us diagrams of actual spider webs."
Cass burst out laughing. "I'll take your word for it. Just the idea of some old professor rambling about spider webs almost makes me glad I dropped that class."
Lyle shook his head with a quiet smile. "Somehow, I don't think you would've enjoyed the diagrams."
"Yeah, no thanks," Cass replied, smirking. "But Ginny, you're a good sport for putting up with it. And hey, if the web analogy gets too much, you know who to call."
"Mm-hmm," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Because you're such a pro at coding."
Cass shrugged, unfazed.
"I know how to debug. Just give me an hour… or three."
Lyle chuckled, nodding as he caught Ginny's eye, his gaze warm.
"Hey, I could actually help if you need it. Unlike my brother, I know what I'm talking about."
"Sure, let me think about it."
The breeze carried the faint aroma of roasted coffee from a nearby café, its pumpkin-colored door and tiny patio tables inviting them in. Cass held the door open with a small flourish, giving an exaggerated bow.
"After you, fair lady."
"Oh, so chivalrous."
Inside, the scent of fresh coffee and pastries filled the warm space. The walls were lined with chalkboards covered in cheerful handwriting advertising drinks like Mocha Dream and Pumpkin Brulée.
"Dark roast," Cass announced, giving the barista a decisive nod. "Extra shot. Hold the sugar, hold the cream. Just give it to me straight. Black."
"I'll have the matcha latte," Lyle said, "With almond milk, please."
Ginny went for her usual chai tea latte with a hint of cinnamon.
They settled into a table by the window, the warmth of the cups seeping into their hands. Cass leaned back in his chair, coffee untouched, his eyes on Lyle.
"So, what's this scoop you were talking about earlier?" Cass asked, folding his arms. "Didn't know the student council was busy making headlines."
Lyle sighed, though his smile was good-natured.
"It's the school newspaper—they want me to sign off on a feature they're planning. Apparently, they think there's something big happening on campus that could even get national attention." He shrugged, giving a faint smile as he took a sip of his latte. "They haven't told me much, but they seem certain it's going to be groundbreaking."
Cass scoffed, tapping his fingers on his cup. "Only at our university would the student council president have to sign off on a scoop. What do they think is going to happen?"
Ginny leaned in, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Did they give you any hint, Lyle?"
"Just that they're doing some kind of deep dive," he replied. "I think they're banking on the mystery to get people talking."
Cass rolled his eyes, shooting Ginny a mischievous look. "Meanwhile, the real mystery? How Ginny Fairchild survives her world of code without a single romantic distraction. Almost... tragic."
"Oh, tragic?" She laughed, shrugging. "Just because I'm not running around campus in a soap opera—"
"Hey, who said I was talking about me?" Cass grinned, tapping her cup playfully. "But you, Miss Fairchild, are a case study. Most people flirt with their lab partners. You look at your laptop like it's the love of your life."
"I'd argue my laptop is loyal, reliable, and only occasionally overheats. Honestly, it's the most stable relationship I have."
A few minutes later, Lyle checked his watch and sighed, standing up and smiling apologetically.
"Time for me to go play responsible student council president," he said, shaking his head. "Duty calls."
Ginny lifted her cup in a half-salute, smiling.
"Good luck. Try not to let them turn the interview into an interrogation."
Lyle laughed softly, giving them a small wave as he left.
"I'll do my best, Ginny. See you both later."
As the door swung shut behind Lyle, Ginny glanced down at her drink, realizing she'd barely touched it. With a sigh, she stood, adjusting the strap of her bag.
"I'm going to have to take this to go."
Cass rose and followed her out of the café. The chilly autumn air prickled her skin as she tried wedging the cup into her bag, but the lid was too wide.
Cass chuckled, reaching out. "Here, give it to me. I'll toss it for you."
"Oh, thanks."
Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket, the screen lighting up with a message. Ginny pulled it out, her heart skipping when she saw the sender: Mom.
Cass glanced down at his own phone at almost the same moment. His casual expression tightened as he read the notification, his mouth pressing into a line. Probably his mother, too.
"Let me guess," Ginny said, holding up her phone with a wry smile. "Family summons?"
Cass sighed, rolling his eyes. "They have a knack for timing, don't they? I swear, they wait until we're together to tag-team us."
"When?"
"Tonight," he replied, pocketing his phone with a sigh. "What else did Auntie say?"
Ginny glanced down, reading the text.
"Bring Lyle."