The air in the library felt thick with silence, only the faint rustle of pages turning breaking the stillness. Elena sat at a table near the window, the light filtering through the blinds and casting long, striped shadows across the wooden floor. She had opened her textbook but couldn't focus. Instead, she traced the rim of her pencil with her fingers, her thoughts swirling in circles.
Liam was sitting across from her, scribbling notes in his notebook, his brow furrowed in concentration. The soft scratch of his pen was oddly soothing, and for a moment, Elena allowed herself to get lost in the rhythm of it.
"Hey, are you okay?" Liam's voice broke through her thoughts. She looked up to find him watching her, his eyes sharp with concern.
Elena forced a smile, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."
Liam didn't look convinced. His gaze lingered on her, like he was trying to figure out something she wasn't saying. He was good at that—at reading between the lines.
"It's Danielle, isn't it?" Liam said quietly, his voice almost as low as a whisper.
Elena's stomach twisted. She didn't want to admit it, but the memory of Danielle's sharp words earlier that day still stung.
"I'm just tired of her always…" Elena trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence. How could she explain the weight of years spent being picked at? The cruel jokes, the glares, the subtle ways Danielle made her feel invisible, or worse, inferior?
"She's not worth your time, Elena," Liam said, his voice firm, and there was something comforting in the conviction behind his words. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locked onto hers. "You don't have to let her get to you. You're stronger than that."
Elena's heart gave a quiet flutter, the sincerity in his tone striking a chord deep inside her. She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Before she could respond, the library door swung open with a sharp bang, and the loud chatter of students filled the space. Elena stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. There, standing in the doorway with an unmistakable air of superiority, was Danielle.
"Look at this," Danielle drawled as she walked over to their table, her eyes flicking from Elena to Liam, and back to Elena again. Her smile was almost predatory, like a cat stalking its prey.
Elena's pulse quickened. She felt the familiar wave of discomfort wash over her. But she didn't want to show it. She didn't want to give Danielle the satisfaction of knowing she'd gotten under her skin again.
"Working together, huh?" Danielle's voice was sweet, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "How nice," she added, leaning casually against the table as if she owned the space.
Liam didn't flinch. He simply stared at Danielle with a look that could have frozen water. "We're just studying," he said flatly, the tone in his voice making it clear he wasn't interested in engaging in her game.
Danielle smirked, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Right," she said, drawing out the word like it was a joke she didn't need to explain. She then turned her gaze back to Elena, her expression narrowing. "It's so nice to see you trying to fit in. Always trying so hard."
Elena clenched her fists beneath the table, the anger bubbling up inside her. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words got caught in her throat. Danielle always knew exactly what to say to make her feel small.
Liam, however, wasn't going to let this slide. He pushed back his chair with a sharp scrape and stood up, his eyes never leaving Danielle's. "You're being rude," he said, his voice cold, his jaw clenched in a way that told Elena he wasn't playing around.
Danielle blinked, taken aback by his sudden defiance. For a moment, the smugness faltered, and Elena felt a rush of gratitude. She wasn't used to anyone standing up for her, especially not like this.
But Danielle quickly regained her composure. "Whatever," she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. "I've got better things to do than waste my time with you two." With a dismissive flick of her wrist, she turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Elena watched her go, her heart still pounding in her chest. She hadn't expected Liam to step in like that. She didn't know why, but it meant more than she could explain. Maybe because, for once, someone saw her—not as the target of jokes or the quiet girl in the corner—but as someone worth defending.
Liam sat back down across from her, his expression softening. "You okay?"
Elena swallowed hard, the knot in her throat threatening to tighten again. "Yeah," she whispered, her voice shaky. "Thanks. For that."
Liam gave her a small smile, his eyes sincere. "No one should talk to you like that. Ever."
Elena felt a blush creep up her neck, and she quickly looked away, trying to hide the warmth spreading through her chest. She wasn't used to people being this kind, this considerate. It was like Liam had peeled back a layer of her defenses and found something she hadn't even realized she needed—someone who cared.
Before she could say anything else, the library door opened again, and this time, James walked in with his usual casual swagger. He tossed a glance around the room before his eyes landed on Elena and Liam.
"Well, well," James said, grinning as he strolled over to their table. "What do we have here? The quiet girl and the rebellious guy working together? This is either going to be really productive or a disaster."
Liam rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips. "You're always so dramatic, James."
James plopped down beside Elena, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place. "Hey, I'm just here for the entertainment. You two trying to make this whole studying thing exciting or are we just going to sit here and pretend this is school?"
Elena couldn't help but laugh, the sound light and easy. James always had a way of making things feel less serious, less heavy.
"Maybe a little bit of both," Elena said, feeling her shoulders relax. She glanced at Liam, who was shaking his head but smiling despite himself.
James gave them both a knowing look. "So, what's the deal with you two? Anyone else getting the vibe that you're starting to… I don't know, actually like each other?"
Liam froze, his hand hovering over his notebook. Elena's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at him, unsure of how to react. James had a way of cutting through tension, but sometimes his teasing crossed a line.
Before she could respond, the door opened again, and this time, it was someone Elena didn't expect.
Hamly.
Elena's breath caught in her chest at the sight of her best friend. Hamly looked different today—serious, quieter, almost distant. She didn't even glance at the trio of friends sitting by the window before she walked past them and sat down at the table opposite theirs.
Elena's heart dropped. She'd never seen Hamly like this. Usually, Hamly was loud, unapologetic, always the center of attention, but today—today there was a quiet sadness in her eyes that made Elena's stomach twist with concern.
She turned to Liam and James, but they were already giving each other cautious glances, sensing the shift in the room. Elena stood up slowly, the unease settling deep in her chest.
"I need to talk to her," Elena said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam nodded, his face softening. "Of course. We'll be here."
As she walked toward Hamly's table, Elena felt a lump form in her throat. What was going on with her? Hamly was usually the one who kept her strong. Now, Elena wasn't sure how to fix the unspoken distance that had appeared between them.
When she reached Hamly's table, she hesitated for a moment.
"Hamly?" Elena said, her voice trembling slightly.
Hamly looked up, her face unreadable. "We need to talk," she said softly.