THE SPACE BETWEEN US

Chapter Two

The library was unusually quiet that afternoon, filled with nothing but the soft rustle of turning pages and the occasional scratch of pencils against paper. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, dust floating lazily in its golden beams.

Sarah sighed dramatically and dropped her pencil onto the table.

"I officially hate science."

Across from her, Ace looked up from his notebook, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"You said the same thing yesterday."

"Because it's still true."He laughed quietly.

"I thought math was your favorite."

"It is." She rested her chin on the table. "Math makes sense. Science just invents new ways to confuse me."

Ace shook his head with a smile.

"Come on. Let's figure it out together." Sarah groaned but slid her notebook toward him.

"Fine. If I fail this exam, I'm blaming you."

"I'll take that risk."

For the next hour, the two of them worked through formulas and diagrams. Every time Sarah got frustrated, Ace patiently explained the lesson again without making her feel embarrassed.

Finally, her eyes widened. "Wait..."

She grabbed her pencil and quickly scribbled an answer across the page.

"If I move this here... then this becomes..." Ace leaned closer.

"Keep going." A few seconds later, Sarah slammed her notebook shut with a grin.

"I got it!"

"You did."

"I actually got it!"

Without thinking, she threw her arms around him.

Ace froze.

His heart skipped so hard he thought she might hear it.

For one perfect second, everything else disappeared.

Then Sarah suddenly realized what she'd done.

She immediately stepped back, her cheeks turning bright pink.

"Oh my gosh..." She covered her face. "I'm sorry. I got carried away."

Ace rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide the smile threatening to appear.

"It's okay." His voice came out softer than he intended.

"I'm glad you figured it out." Before Sarah could answer, someone cleared his throat.

"Well..."

Both of them turned toward the entrance. Will stood there with a stack of books tucked under one arm and an unmistakable grin spreading across his face.

"Either I walked into the wrong library..." He looked between them.

"...or I missed something interesting." Sarah groaned. "Don't start."

"Oh, I'm absolutely starting." Will pulled out a chair and sat beside them.

"So..." He leaned forward dramatically.

"How long have study sessions included hugs?"

"They don't," Sarah said quickly.

"It was an accident."

"People accidentally drop books." Will pointed at Ace.

"They don't accidentally hug him." Ace sighed.

"Will." "What?"

"I'm just making observations."

Sarah rolled her eyes, though she couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"You are impossible."

"I've been told."

Will reached for one of her snacks.

"So... who's explaining chemistry now?"

"You are," Ace answered, pushing Sarah's notebook toward him.

Will looked at the page for two seconds.

"...Actually, never mind. I suddenly remembered I have homework."

Sarah burst into laughter.

Ace couldn't help laughing with her.

For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Yet as Sarah returned to her notebook, she found herself stealing quick glances at Ace.

The memory of that brief hug lingered in her mind longer than she wanted to admit.

And although neither of them said another word about it, something between them had quietly begun to change.