THE TROUBLE I FELL FOR

5- Step One

My phone lit up again.

I didn't rush to check it this time. I knew exactly who it was from.

Eventually, I picked it up and unlocked the screen.

Cole:

You looked cute when you were trying to stay all serious earlier. I almost felt bad for messing with you. Almost.

I blinked at the message.

There it was again, that effortless confidence, the teasing tone laced with something warmer underneath.

I hated how my pulse reacted.

I had typed out a dozen responses in my head, none of which I'd actually send. He'd probably enjoy the fact that I was even thinking this hard about it.

I put the phone down and stood up to grab water. Maybe ignoring him was the smarter move.

But a small part of me wondered... what would he text next if I didn't? I wanted to slap myself for even thinking that.

Yeah I definitely needed some sleep.

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It was a new day, but apparently, her nerves hadn't gotten the memo.

Their first official 'study session' was scheduled for the afternoon, after his classes wrapped up at school and her's ended at the college. She hadn't expected to feel anything about it, but there was a strange flutter in her stomach, that she, herself couldn't figure out, as she checked the time and packed up her things. The sun was softer now, casting a warm golden hue as she made her way to the school grounds.

He spotted her before she saw him.

Alyssa walked through the school gates with her bag slung neatly over one shoulder, her steps calm and unhurried like she hadn't rushed straight from a college lecture to be here. The late afternoon light kissed the edges of her brown hair giving it a warm caramal color, and Cole found himself watching her longer than he probably should've.

He was leaning against the railing like he didn't have a care in the world. His uniform shirt was rolled at the sleeves, the neck tie hung loosely around his neck, a cigerette hanging loosely on his lips. He plucked it out with two fingers and crushed it under his shoe.

The thing which surprised Alyssa was that he didn't have his usual smug smirk on his face, instead his face was neutral when he stared at her, like he was thinking very hard about something.

"You're late," he called out, pushing off the wall he'd been leaning against.

Her eyes met his, steady as always. "By two minutes."

"That's two minutes I could've spent doing something else," he said, falling into step beside her as she passed him, making her way through the courtyard.

"Then you should've," she replied softly, without missing a beat. Not annoyed, not sarcastic, just honest. Like she meant it.

He tilted his head, grinning. "But I didn't. Guess you're more interesting than you think."

She didn't answer, just gave him a look and kept walking through the hallway towards the library, the spot they'd chosen yesterday for their first real planning session.

And damn if he didn't find that silence more satisfying than any comeback.

Cole followed a step behind, watching the subtle way her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. She wasn't flustered, not exactly, but he could tell she felt his words. She always did. She just didn't know what to do with them yet.

He dropped onto the seat beside her, stretching his legs out in front like he had all the time in the world. "So, Alyssa," he drawled, deliberately leaning back far enough to catch her glance. "What's the grand plan today? Gonna make me read textbooks until I cry or something?"

Alyssa took out her notebook, flipping it open with practiced ease. "We're going to look over your assignments and set a routine. That's what we discussed."

"That's what you discussed," he said, voice light. "I mostly just admired how serious you looked while talking."

She glanced at him, a small sigh leaving her lips, but her cheeks were just a little pinker now. "Cole."

"What? I'm being honest." He turned slightly, resting one arm behind her on the chair, not touching her, just enough to make her aware. "You've got this whole focused, put-together thing going on. It's impressive."

She blinked at him, eyes narrowing slightly, unsure if he was mocking her or not.

He smiled.

"I mean it."

This time, she looked away first. "Let's just get started," she murmured.

And Cole, for once, didn't push. Because even in that short sentence, he'd won something, just a flicker of emotion, a c***k in her perfectly calm surface.

And for now, that was enough.

He didn't respond right away. Just leaned a little closer, peering at the list she'd scribbled in her planner.

"Hmm," he hummed, his breath brushing her temple. "You've got my entire week planned out like I'm a failing science project."

She straightened, shifting an inch away, not too obvious. He was too close and she could smell his scent. Cole smelled like sandalwood, with a warm trace of musk and just enough smoky vanilla to pull you in.

There's a faint smell of mint, like he just stepped out of a shower, but layered beneath it is that addictive, lingering scent of cigarettes. Not harsh. Just enough to make you want to lean closer, even when you know you shouldn't.

He noticed that she shifted away from him very subtly, "You are a failing science project," she said, tone quiet but firm. "I'm just trying to make sure you don't explode before finals."

That made him laugh, a low sound that rumbled from his chest. "Didn't think you had it in you to say something like that."

"I wouldn't have to if you didn't keep provoking me," she muttered, flipping to the next page.

He watched her hands move, neat handwriting flowing down the lines, and something about it made his smile soften. She was serious. Dedicated. Not just because the school asked her to be, but because she cared, even if she wouldn't admit it.

"Hey," he said suddenly, voice a notch lower.

She paused altogether, mid-sentence, but didn't look up. "What?"

Cole tapped the page. "Thanks for not giving up on me before we even started."

Alyssa glanced up, startled, and there was something in his eyes now. Not teasing. Not smug. Something different.

Sincere.

It threw her off.

"I didn't... think about giving up," she said, quieter now.

"Yeah," he murmured, watching her face, fighting the urge to caress her soft cheek. "That's kind of what scares me."

She blinked, unsure what he meant, but he didn't explain. Just leaned back, stretching like the moment hadn't happened.

And just like that, the playful mask was back on his face. But Alyssa couldn't shake the feeling that, for a second, she'd seen something real, something raw beneath it.

And it unsettled her more than his flirting ever could.

"Do you always stare this hard at your planner?" he asked lightly after a while, head tilted as if trying to decipher her next thought. "Or am I just that distracting?"

Alyssa looked up at him, her pencil pausing mid-scratch. Her voice stayed even, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm trying to concentrate. You should try it sometime."

He grinned. "Oof, that's harsh."

She went back to her notes, pretending not to notice the way he casually turned his chair to face her more directly. He was still watching her, elbows resting on the table like he had nowhere else to be.

"Tell me something," he said after a beat.

She didn't look up. "What?"

"Why'd you say yes?"

Alyssa's pencil slowed.

He didn't elaborate. Just waited.

She finally met his gaze. "Because they asked me to."

"No," he said, voice quiet but certain. "That's the reason you gave. Not the real one."

Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't seem to find a response.

He leaned in a bit, eyes searching hers. "I think you're not nearly as distant as you pretend to be. You care. Even if it makes things harder."

Alyssa's spine stiffened. She wasn't used to being herself read like that, she wasn't used to people seeing through her composed exterior. Especially not him.

And yet, there was no mockery in his tone.

"I care about doing things right," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "That's all."

Cole's smile was faint now, less playful. "That's not all. But okay. I'll take that, atleast for today."

Alyssa looked away, hoping he didn't see the small shift in her expression.

He already saw too much.

And if she wasn't careful, he'd end up seeing everything. He didn't push after that. Just leaned back in his chair, arms folded loosely across his chest, as if satisfied with the silence that followed. But Alyssa could feel it, the tension that wasn't quite uncomfortable, just... charged. Like he was waiting again, watching her, trying to figure out what goes through her head.

She focused on her planner. Or tried to.

"Do you usually plan every hour of your day?" he asked eventually, his tone lighter again but still holding that underlying curiosity.

"Yes," she said without looking up. "It keeps things on track."

"What happens when things don't go according to plan?"

She finally looked at him. "Then I adjust. But that doesn't mean I stop planning."

He hummed. "Control freak."

She blinked, taken aback for a second, not by the words, but by how lightly he had said them. Not playful, not mean. Just... stating.

"I prefer 'disciplined,'" she replied.

He smirked. "Tomato, tomahto."

She exhaled, but didn't argue. There was no point. Not when he kept throwing out comments like that with such perfect ease.

Cole looked away then, eyes drifting across the courtyard outside the window. "You know," he said, almost to himself, "it's weird."

"What is?"

"This place," he said with a casual shrug. "I've never....they have always treated me like I'm a project that needs fixing."

Alyssa stayed quiet for a moment. Then softly, "You're not a project."

He glanced at her again, brow raised in surprise.

"I'm not here to fix you," she sighed, then added. "I'm just supposed to... guide you."

He tilted his head. "You sound disappointed."

She met his gaze again. "I'm not."

He smiled, and it was honest this time. It was softer. Quieter.

"Good," he said. "Because I don't think I need fixing."

"And I don't think I'm capable of fixing someone," she replied honestly.

Another silence stretched between them, this one oddly comfortable.

Maybe, Alyssa thought, this wouldn't be as impossible as it first seemed.

Or maybe it would be worse, because somewhere, deep down, a small part of her wasn't just nervous about failing the assignment. She was nervous about him.

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"So," she began, "I've broken this week into four sessions."

Cole raised an eyebrow. "Of course you have."

She ignored the interruption and continued, "Today, we'll go over your current progress, your attendance, assignments, how you've been doing overall."

"Disastrously," he said under his breath.

She did her best not to react. "Then tomorrow, we'll focus on organization. I'll help you build a timetable based on your school schedule and study needs."

Cole leaned back, stretching his legs out. "You mean you're going to make me a clone of you?"

"No," she said plainly. "I'm going to help you figure out what works for you. But that requires some structure. Whether you like it or not."

He tilted his head, looking oddly thoughtful for once. "Alright. Fair."

She took that as a small win.

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