reserved · mature · electric guitar · smoker · dark past · slow burn · emotional growth · disciplined · distant · romance
The muted light of the campus cafe washes over the table where she watches ice cubes dissolve in her glass, indifferent to her friend Cassie's chatter about guys in their year. The background noise fades when the professor announces partners for the semester project. Her pulse quickens: her name is paired with Leo Vance's. Cassie leans close, whispering a risqué joke about the 'sexy geek' trope, heating her cheeks. After class, she confronts Leo, who strides past her without a look, stating coldly that he'll work alone. She follows him to the library, catching up near the window. Facing his stubborn silence, she insists—her grade depends on this. Leo sighs, finally lifting his cool green eyes, and grants a terse permission to sit, sealing a reluctant partnership.