The midterm pressure hadn't fully subsided, but the study group's rhythm had become something Mira looked forward to every week. Meeting with Jake, Jenna, and Mark turned what could have been a grueling grind into something productive, even enjoyable. Though they all came from different academic backgrounds, they complemented each other's strengths.
As they settled into their usual spot in the library's back corner, Jenna began passing out snacks from her tote bag. "Fuel for our brains," she declared, setting granola bars and small packs of gummy bears on the table.
"Is it fuel if it's mostly sugar?" Jake teased, grabbing a pack of gummy bears anyway.
"Don't knock it. These got me through Econ last semester," Jenna replied, tossing a pack at Mira, who caught it with a laugh.
Mark leaned back in his chair, skimming his notes on constitutional law. "So, what's on the agenda for tonight? Are we quizzing each other again, or is this one of those 'everyone silently panics over their own work' sessions?"
Mira smirked. "I vote for quizzes. They're stressful but effective."
"Quizzes it is," Jake agreed, pulling out a notebook and flipping to a clean page.
The group divided their focus. Jenna reviewed multiple-choice questions for her business ethics exam, Mark prepared scenarios for legal reasoning, and Jake crafted a series of history questions that challenged Mira's critical thinking skills.
"Okay," Jake said, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. "First question for Mira: How did the Treaty of Versailles influence the rise of totalitarian regimes in the 20th century?"
Mira groaned, but a small smile played on her lips. She thought for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of her notebook. "Well, it imposed harsh reparations on Germany, which led to economic instability and resentment. That created fertile ground for extremist ideologies to take hold, like fascism under Hitler."
Jake nodded, clearly impressed. "Perfect. Ten points to what house are you in? Gryffindor?"
"Ravenclaw," Mira replied without missing a beat.
"Of course you are," Jake said with a chuckle.
Jenna rolled her eyes, but there was a teasing glint in them. "I swear, you two turn everything into a nerd-off. Mark and I can't compete."
"Hey, speak for yourself," Mark interjected, smirking. "I'd crush them both if this were about sports stats."
As the night wore on, the group's productivity was punctuated by bursts of laughter and camaraderie. Jenna insisted on playing background music softly through her phone, a mix of acoustic indie tracks that kept the mood relaxed.
At one point, Jenna nudged Mira under the table, giving her a knowing look. Mira glanced at her, confused, until she realized Jenna's eyes were darting between her and Jake. Heat crept up Mira's neck, and she shook her head subtly, hoping Jenna would drop it.
The next break came an hour later. Mark leaned back and stretched, groaning as his back cracked. "Alright, I'm calling it. My brain officially has no more capacity for legal precedents."
"Mine's fried, too," Jenna agreed, gathering her papers. "Let's pack up before we hit diminishing returns."
As they started tidying up, Jake turned to Mira. "Hey, do you want to double-check our notes for history tomorrow? We have the same lecture, so it might help to compare."
Mira hesitated. She wasn't sure if Jenna's earlier teasing had made her hyperaware of Jake's attention, but she felt a sudden flutter of nervousness. Still, she smiled and nodded. "Sure, sounds good."
"Great," Jake said. "We can grab a table over there. Won't take long."
Jenna and Mark exchanged amused glances as they said their goodbyes, leaving Mira and Jake alone.
They relocated to a smaller table by the window, where the soft glow of the library lamps illuminated their notebooks. Jake slid his notes across to her, and she did the same.
"Your handwriting's way better than mine," Jake remarked, scanning her neat script.
Mira laughed. "Years of journaling. You pick up a thing or two about keeping things legible."
"You journal?" Jake asked, his interest piqued.
"Yeah," Mira admitted, feeling a bit shy. "It's mostly just a way to process my thoughts or get ideas down for stories."
"Stories?"
"Fiction, mostly," she said. "Short stories, bits of novels that never get finished. Nothing serious."
Jake leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "I think that's amazing. You've got creativity I could never dream of."
"You're kidding," Mira said, raising an eyebrow. "You're one of the most analytical thinkers I've ever met. You could probably write the most detailed historical fiction novel ever if you tried."
He laughed. "Fair point. But I'd probably get so bogged down in making it historically accurate that I'd forget to include a plot."
They fell into an easy rhythm, discussing historical events and their favorite writers. Mira found herself surprised by how much Jake had read outside his field, and Jake was equally impressed by Mira's understanding of the social context behind the events they studied.
"Okay, here's a question for you," Jake said, leaning forward. "If you could live in any historical period, which would it be?"
Mira thought for a moment, tapping her pen against her notebook. "Probably the 1920s. The literary scene was incredible, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Woolf. Plus, I'd love to experience the fashion and the jazz culture."
Jake grinned. "Solid choice. I'd pick the late 18th century, during the Enlightenment. It'd be amazing to witness the ideas that shaped modern democracy and science firsthand."
Mira tilted her head, studying him. "You'd fit right in. You've got the curiosity and the idealism for it."
Jake's smile softened, and for a moment, their eyes met, the connection between them palpable.
By the time they finished, the library was nearly empty, and the clock on the wall read just past 10 PM.
"Thanks for sticking around," Jake said as they packed up. "This was actually fun."
Mira nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "It was. We make a good team."
They walked out of the library together, the crisp night air a welcome change from the stuffy indoors. As they parted ways at the dorms, Mira couldn't help but replay the evening in her mind.
When Mira returned to her room, Jenna was waiting, sitting cross-legged on her bed with a bowl of popcorn.
"How was it?" Jenna asked, grinning knowingly.
Mira sighed, dropping her bag on the floor. "It was fine. We just went over notes."
"Sure," Jenna said, drawing out the word. "And how many times did he look at you like you're the most fascinating person in the room?"
Mira blushed, throwing a pillow at her. "You're imagining things."
"Am I, though?" Jenna teased. "Look, I'm just saying Jake is clearly into you. And honestly? You're into him, too."
Mira hesitated, her defenses faltering. "I don't know. Maybe. But it's... complicated."
"Why?" Jenna asked, her tone softening.
"I guess I'm scared," Mira admitted, sitting on the edge of her bed. "What if I'm wrong? What if he doesn't feel the same way?"
Jenna shrugged. "You'll never know unless you take a chance. Besides, from what I've seen, he's worth the risk."
Mira smiled, her heart feeling lighter. Maybe Jenna was right.