Ella sat in the small study room, the dull hum of the campus surrounding her. She was trying her best to focus on the notes spread out before her, but her mind kept wandering. The past few days had been a blur of lectures, assignments, and fleeting moments with Leo. He had that effect on her—the way his gaze lingered just a second too long, or the way he made even the dullest topics feel lighter. There was something magnetic about him.
Today, he hadn't appeared in the library like usual. Ella couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. They hadn't really talked in days, and though she told herself it didn't matter, there was this quiet ache that wouldn't go away.
Just as she was about to get back to her studies, the door creaked open. Startled, she looked up and found herself face-to-face with Leo.
"Ella," he said, his voice smooth and calm, though his eyes betrayed something more—a quiet intensity that she couldn't quite place. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"No, not at all," Ella replied quickly, sitting up straighter. She glanced at the clock. "I thought you had that seminar today."
Leo gave a small shrug, walking further into the room. "I did, but it finished early. Thought I'd come see if you were still here."
Her heart skipped a beat, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "I'm always here."
The words felt hollow even to her. It wasn't like Leo had ever made a move—nothing serious, anyway. But there was something about the way he looked at her, the way he seemed to watch her when he thought she wasn't looking. It made her feel exposed, as if he could read her thoughts.
Leo pulled out the chair next to hers, sitting down without asking. His body was so close to hers that she could feel the heat of his presence, even without touching him.
They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the soft rustle of paper and the faint clink of distant footsteps in the hallway. Ella couldn't concentrate. His proximity was overwhelming in the most unexpected way.
"So…" Leo broke the silence, his voice casual, though there was something in his eyes that suggested he wasn't just making small talk. "You ready for the big presentation next week?"
Ella took a deep breath, willing her hands not to tremble. "I guess. It's just… it's a lot of work. The group I'm in is, well… you know how it is."
Leo smiled, his lips curling slightly at the edges. "Yeah, I get it. Some groups are easier to work with than others."
She nodded, relieved that the conversation had taken a more comfortable turn. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Leo was watching her a little too intently.
"I think we should work on this together," he said, his voice lowering a little. "You and me, I mean. I could help with the presentation—get it ready in time."
Ella was surprised. She had never considered working with him on a project before, but now that he had mentioned it, the idea didn't seem all that bad. In fact, it sounded kind of perfect.
"Are you sure? You've got your own projects, right?" she asked, trying to hide the excitement that fluttered in her chest.
"I'm sure," Leo replied, his voice steady. "I don't mind."
She was about to respond when she noticed how close he was again—so close that she could see the faintest hint of stubble on his jawline and smell the faint scent of his cologne. For a brief moment, the world outside the study room faded, and all Ella could focus on was Leo. Her pulse quickened, and she fought the urge to reach out, to close the gap between them.
And then, as if sensing the change in the air, Leo leaned in slightly, his breath brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Ella…"
Her name on his lips was a soft, dangerous thing. A wave of heat rushed through her, and for the first time, she realized that maybe—just maybe—this was more than just friendly study time. There was tension in the air, something between them that neither of them had acknowledged, but that was undeniable.
Before she could respond, Leo pulled back just slightly, his gaze flickering to the papers on the desk between them. "Anyway, we should get started. Can't let all this work go to waste, can we?"
Ella's mind raced, still recovering from the sudden closeness. "Yeah, you're right."
They began to work, the conversation turning back to the project. But Ella's thoughts were scattered, her focus not entirely on the task at hand. Every now and then, she caught Leo's gaze lingering on her. When their eyes met, she felt that electric spark again, that pull that seemed to draw her closer to him, even when they weren't physically near each other.
The rest of the study session passed in a blur. They worked together, but the air between them was thick with unspoken words, and Ella couldn't ignore the simmering tension that seemed to hang between every sentence, every glance.
As the study session drew to a close, Leo stood up and stretched, glancing at the clock. "I should go. But I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
Ella nodded, though her heart was still racing from their time together. "Yeah, I'll see you."
Leo hesitated for a second, as if debating something, and then leaned in again, this time just slightly closer. He whispered, "Don't think I don't notice, Ella."
Before she could ask what he meant, he was already turning to leave, leaving her in the study room with her racing heart and a million thoughts swirling in her head. She sat there for a moment, wondering if she had imagined it all. But deep down, she knew she hadn't. Leo had noticed something—something between them.
And as the door clicked shut behind him, Ella couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change between them.