Celine regretted agreeing to the group project the moment George Lawson sat across from her in the library's quiet zone coffee in hand, smirk in place, and absolutely no intention of being quiet.
"This seat is taken?" he asked, already dropping his bag beside hers.
She didn't bother looking up. "Obviously."
"But you didn't say no," he said with a grin, pulling the chair out anyway.
Celine inhaled slowly through her nose, reminding herself she was mature, composed, and definitely not going to let a guy like George get to her.
"We're supposed to be working, not flirting," she said sharply.
George leaned in slightly, his tone casual but his eyes teasing. "Who's flirting?"
"You are."
"You wish."
Her pencil paused mid-sentence. "Excuse me?"
George shrugged, unfazed. "Don't flatter yourself, Thomas. I'm just being friendly."
"Friendly?" she repeated, turning to face him now. "You hijacked my number. You keep calling me Sunshine when I've made it clear I'm not a fan. And you've been conveniently bumping into me every day this week."
He blinked. "You noticed."
She bit the inside of her cheek. That wasn't the point.
"Look," she said, rubbing her temples. "I don't have time for games. I have a lot going on."
Something flickered in George's expression—something quieter than his usual confidence. But it disappeared just as fast.
"No games," he said. "Just… conversation. Have you ever tried that?"
Celine looked at him then, really looked. Beneath the carefree posture and cocky attitude was someone who didn't seem quite as unbothered as he liked to pretend. There were faint shadows under his eyes. Tension in his jaw. Like he was tired of pretending too.
Before she could say anything, the librarian coughed pointedly from behind the desk, reminding them both where they were.
Celine sighed. "Let's just focus on the assignment."
George nodded and pulled out his laptop. But a moment later, he asked, quieter this time, "What's your deal anyway?"
She glanced up, brows raised. "My deal?"
"Yeah. You're always so… closed off. What are you afraid of?"
The question caught her off guard. Her first instinct was to snap at him, shut him down, and keep her armor on. But instead, her voice came out softer than she expected.
"Some people build walls to keep others out," she murmured. "Others build them to survive."
George looked at her for a long moment, and for once, there was no smirk, no joke at the ready.
"I get that," he said finally. "More than you know."
Something shifted in the silence between them. Not quite understanding, but the beginning of it. Like a thread pulling taut, connecting two people who didn't want to admit they were alike.
Then her phone buzzed again.
Another unknown number.
But this time, it wasn't George.
Blocked Caller: You can't hide forever, Celine.
Her stomach dropped.
And just like that, the warmth between them froze. Her fingers trembled slightly as she locked her phone screen and shoved it into her bag.
George noticed. "You okay?"
She forced a smile. "Fine. Just tired."
But she wasn't.
Because the past she thought she'd left behind…?
It was catching up.
And if George kept pushing his way into her life, he might just find himself caught in it too.