CHAPTER SIX
778 Words
CHAPTER SIX
The Library Between Us
Thursday.
The campus was unusually quiet.
The rain that had fallen before dawn left the walkways glistening beneath the morning light. Students hurried from one building to another, umbrellas tucked beneath their arms as puddles reflected the cloudy sky.
Arielle had always loved mornings like this.
Rain made the world feel slower.
Gentler.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and headed toward the library.
She had an hour before her next class.
Enough time to finish the floor plan she had been struggling with.
---
The university library was almost empty.
Only the faint sound of turning pages and tapping keyboards filled the room.
Arielle settled into her favorite seat—
The one by the window.
She spread out her drafting papers, plugged in her earphones, and lost herself in her work.
Minutes turned into an hour.
The world around her disappeared.
Until...
"...Excuse me."
She looked up.
A librarian stood beside her.
"I'm sorry, miss."
"The student who reserved this table just arrived."
"Oh."
Arielle glanced at the reservation card she had completely missed.
"I'm so sorry."
"It's alright."
She quickly gathered her things.
Just as she lifted her drafting tube—
A familiar voice spoke.
"She can stay."
Arielle turned.
Caelan.
The librarian looked at him.
"But this table was reserved under your name."
"It was."
He smiled politely.
"We can share."
The librarian nodded before walking away.
Arielle blinked.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
"You reserved it."
"I also reserved four chairs."
She looked around.
He was right.
The table was much bigger than she had realized.
"It would be a waste if I used it alone."
She hesitated.
"...Are you sure?"
Caelan pulled out the chair across from him.
"I'm sure."
---
For the next twenty minutes...
Neither of them spoke.
Arielle sketched.
Caelan typed quietly on his laptop.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It felt...
Peaceful.
Occasionally, Arielle would glance outside the window, watching the rain slide down the glass.
Every time she looked back—
Caelan was still focused on his work.
---
"You erased that line four times."
Arielle froze.
"...You noticed?"
He smiled without looking away from his laptop.
"I've been trying not to."
She laughed softly.
"It's not straight."
"It looks straight."
"To you."
He finally looked up.
"Perfectionist?"
"A little."
"A little?"
She smiled sheepishly.
"...Maybe more than a little."
"I figured."
---
A few minutes later...
Arielle frowned at her drawing.
"No..."
She sighed.
"The measurements are wrong."
She reached for her calculator—
Only to realize she had left it at home.
"...Great."
Without saying a word...
Caelan slid his calculator across the table.
She looked up.
"You can borrow it."
"You still need it."
"I already finished."
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
---
By noon...
The rain had finally stopped.
Sunlight slowly filtered through the library windows.
Arielle closed her sketchbook.
"I think I'm done."
Caelan looked up from his laptop.
"How did it go?"
"I only questioned my life choices twice."
"That's an improvement?"
"Compared to yesterday?"
She nodded.
"A huge improvement."
He chuckled.
"I'll take your word for it."
---
As they packed their things, Arielle noticed a thick novel sticking out of his backpack.
"The Little Prince."
"You've read that?"
Caelan looked down.
"It's my favorite."
Her eyes brightened.
"...Mine too."
"Really?"
She nodded.
"I read it whenever life feels too noisy."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"My grandfather gave me this copy."
"He told me to read it again every few years."
"And?"
"Every time I do..."
"I understand a different part of it."
Arielle smiled.
"I think that's what good books do."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Somehow...
The silence said enough.
---
Outside the library...
Nerisse was waiting with crossed arms.
"There you are!"
She stopped.
Her eyes moved from Arielle...
To Caelan...
Then back again.
"Oh."
A slow grin spread across her face.
"I see."
Arielle frowned.
"You see what?"
"Nothing."
"Nerisse."
"I'm just saying..."
She leaned closer and whispered,
"...Libraries are becoming very interesting these days."
Arielle felt her cheeks grow warm.
"It wasn't like that."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I absolutely was."
Caelan tried not to laugh.
He failed.
---
As they walked toward the courtyard, the afternoon breeze carried the fresh scent of rain.
For the first time in a long while...
The university didn't feel so big anymore.
Because somehow...
Among thousands of students...
There was now one familiar face she found herself looking for without even realizing it.
And perhaps...
Somewhere else on campus...
Someone had started doing the very same thing.
---
End of Chapter Six. 🤍
- Writer
