The next day, I found myself lingering in the campus quad, waiting for Scarlet. I wasn't sure why I felt a little more anxious than usual—maybe it was because of how comfortable things had gotten between us. Or maybe it was because I couldn't stop replaying last night's car chase in my head.
Just as I was about to give up and head to the gym, I spotted her making her way through the crowd. She waved when she saw me, her usual easy smile in place.
"Hey, Max!" she called, jogging over. "You look like you're lost in thought."
"Just waiting for you," I admitted, trying to sound casual.
Before I could say more, Chris and Evan appeared out of nowhere, practically tackling me from behind.
"There he is!" Chris laughed, slapping me on the shoulder. "What's up, man?"
Evan followed suit, grinning. "Heard about your little joyride yesterday. Trying to impress someone, huh?"
Scarlet raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You mean the crazy chase with the cops? Yeah, I was there. Definitely impressive."
Chris glanced between us and shot me a knowing look. "So, you must be Scarlet. Max never shuts up about you."
I shot Chris a glare, but Scarlet just laughed. "Is that so?"
Evan nudged Chris with his elbow. "You're blowing his cover, man."
Chris just grinned. "I'm Chris, by the way, and this is Evan. We're the unfortunate souls stuck babysitting Max when he's not fighting or playing guitar."
Scarlet chuckled. "Sounds like a tough job."
"It is," Evan replied with a dramatic sigh. "But someone's gotta do it."
I rolled my eyes. "You two done embarrassing me yet?"
Chris shrugged. "We just wanted to say hi before heading to the gym. We'll leave you two lovebirds alone."
Before I could correct him, they'd already started walking off, throwing me teasing waves over their shoulders.
Scarlet watched them go, shaking her head. "They're... lively."
"That's one way to put it," I muttered.
As the crowd thinned out, we found a quiet bench under a tree. Scarlet sat down, stretching out her legs, and I joined her, feeling oddly nervous again.
"So," she started, giving me a sideways glance, "you never mentioned how close you are with those two."
I shrugged. "They've been around since day one. Good guys. A little annoying sometimes, but they mean well."
Scarlet smiled. "It's nice. You know, having people you can count on."
I nodded, unsure why her words hit differently. Maybe because it made me think of how I'd spent most of my school years fighting rather than making friends. Chris and Evan had been the first to actually break through that barrier.
I glanced over at Scarlet, noticing the way her hair fell over her shoulder, how the sunlight caught in her eyes. For a moment, it felt like I could almost reach out and touch that calm energy she had.
"Hey," I said softly, surprising myself. "Thanks for yesterday. I don't usually let people in... but with you, it's different."
She turned to face me, her expression softer than usual. "Different how?"
"I don't know," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. "I just... don't feel like I have to pretend. You get me."
Scarlet looked down, tracing patterns on the bench with her finger. "I feel the same way. Like I can just be myself around you."
A silence fell between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I could feel my heartbeat getting faster, and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do next. Part of me wanted to close the space between us, but I wasn't sure if that was what she wanted too.
Just then, Scarlet leaned back, resting her head against the bench, and sighed. "College is weird. One moment you're alone, the next you're sitting with someone who somehow makes everything make sense."
I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah... it's definitely weird."
She glanced over at me, a hint of a smirk on her lips. "You're not as tough as you act, you know."
"Excuse me?" I shot back, feigning offense.
She laughed. "You heard me. You put up this whole strong, untouchable front, but underneath it... you're just a guy who likes fast cars and good music."
I couldn't help but grin. "And maybe a little boxing."
Her eyes softened again. "Yeah, that too."
For a moment, it felt like we were caught in a bubble, just the two of us, the rest of the world fading away. I wanted to say something more—anything to break the tension building between us—but the words wouldn't come.
Scarlet was the one to finally break the silence, standing up and stretching. "I should get going. Got a music club meeting to prepare for."
I nodded, feeling a little disappointed. "Right. I'll see you there?"
She gave me a smile—soft, almost shy. "Yeah. And don't forget, you owe me a song."
"Only if you sing with me," I shot back.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."
As she walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing between us. Maybe it wasn't love—not yet—but it was something real.