Quiet Between Pages
847 Words
CHAPTER 14
Leanne couldn’t stop thinking about Adrian.
Something about yesterday’s conversation felt strange.
Too strange.
Why would the student council president personally help with her scholarship paperwork?
And why did her mother look nervous around him?
The questions stayed stuck inside her head all morning.
Unfortunately—
Chris noticed immediately.
“You’re making your overthinking face again.”
Leanne blinked while looking up from her desk.
“…I have an overthinking face?”
“Yes.”
Chris leaned dramatically across the desk toward her.
“You stare into space like a tragic movie protagonist.”
“That’s oddly specific.”
“I watch dramas.”
“That explains a lot.”
Chris grinned proudly while stealing one of her snacks.
Leanne gasped.
“You thief.”
“I’m sharing emotionally.”
“You’re eating my food.”
“Exactly.”
Before Leanne could attack him—
Their English teacher suddenly entered the classroom.
“Alright everyone,” she announced calmly. “Today’s project will be partner-based.”
Instant chaos immediately filled the room.
Chris looked horrified.
“Oh no.”
Leanne blinked.
“…Why are you scared?”
“You know what happened last time.”
Kai, sitting nearby, sighed deeply.
“You accidentally submitted song lyrics instead of your essay.”
“That was ONE time.”
“It was an essay about Shakespeare,” Ren added quietly.
Chris looked offended.
“Music is poetry.”
The teacher continued speaking.
“You’ll analyze a classic novel together and present your interpretations next week.”
Leanne immediately sensed danger.
Chris sensed it too.
He grabbed her sleeve dramatically.
“Lea. Save me.”
“You’ll survive.”
“I’ll perish academically.”
The teacher started announcing partners one by one.
Then—
“Leanne Cruz and Ren Santos.”
Silence.
Chris gasped dramatically.
“BETRAYAL.”
Ren slowly looked up from his book.
“…We’re just reading together.”
“You stole my emotional support.”
Leanne laughed softly while Ren quietly ignored Chris’s suffering.
Meanwhile Carl patted Chris’s shoulder sympathetically.
“You’ll recover.”
“I won’t.”
“You absolutely will.”
---
Later that afternoon, Leanne sat beside Ren inside the academy library.
And honestly?
The atmosphere felt completely different from being with Chris.
Quiet.
Calm.
Peaceful.
Sunlight filtered softly through the tall library windows while pages turned quietly around them.
Meanwhile Ren sat across from her with a novel in one hand and their assignment book beside him.
Leanne watched him carefully for a moment.
“…Do you ever stop reading?”
Ren blinked slightly.
“…Not really.”
“That sounds unhealthy.”
“You’re friends with Chris.”
“…Good point.”
A tiny smile appeared on Ren’s face.
Small.
But real.
Leanne noticed something quickly.
Ren barely talked around large groups.
But when alone—
He became easier to understand.
Still quiet.
Still shy.
But softer somehow.
Ren adjusted his glasses slightly before sliding a book toward her.
“You should read this chapter first.”
Leanne looked down.
“…You already finished half the novel?”
Ren looked confused.
“…Yes?”
“How fast do you read?!”
“…Normally?”
Leanne stared at him in disbelief.
Genius.
Actual genius.
For the next hour, they quietly worked together surrounded by books and soft silence.
And honestly?
Leanne liked it.
There was something comforting about Ren’s quiet presence.
He never forced conversations.
Never demanded attention.
But somehow—
He always noticed small things.
Like when her coffee became empty.
Or when she got distracted staring outside.
Or when she looked confused reading difficult lines.
Without even asking—
Ren would quietly explain things beside her.
Calmly.
Patiently.
“…You’re really good at teaching,” Leanne admitted softly.
Ren froze slightly.
Then looked away.
“…I just explain things normally.”
“Well, Chris explains things like a confused motivational speaker.”
“That’s accurate.”
Leanne laughed quietly.
Ren’s ears turned slightly pink afterward.
Cute.
Very cute.
Then suddenly—
Leanne reached for the same book Ren grabbed at the exact same time.
Their hands touched instantly.
Both froze.
Silence.
Leanne blinked.
Ren stopped breathing entirely.
Because somehow—
Their fingers accidentally tangled together slightly between the pages.
Warm.
Close.
Too close.
Leanne quickly pulled back first.
“S-Sorry.”
Ren immediately looked away while adjusting his glasses nervously.
“…It’s fine.”
His ears were completely red now.
Leanne tried focusing on the book again.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Why was the atmosphere suddenly so awkward?!
Then quietly—
Ren spoke again without looking at her.
“…Your hands are cold.”
Leanne blinked.
“…What?”
“You’re always cold.”
How did he notice that?
Before she could answer—
Ren slowly pushed his warm coffee toward her side of the table.
“…Drink this instead.”
Leanne stared at him slightly.
Then smiled softly.
“…Thanks.”
Ren nodded quietly while pretending to focus on the novel again.
But his ears stayed red the entire time afterward.
And somehow—
Leanne found that ridiculously adorable.
- Writer
