Calista
Hey, Calista, can I talk to you for a second?
Zenith's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
“Sure,” I replied, forcing a smile. “What’s up?”
He gestured towards a quiet corner of the library, away from the main area. I followed him, feeling a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. We settled into a pair of chairs, the towering shelves around us creating a sense of privacy.
Zenith started with some small talk, asking about my day and mentioning a few books he thought I might like and asking my recent reads. His voice was gentle, but I could tell there was something more he wanted to say. I appreciated his effort to put me at ease, but the longer the conversation dragged on, the more my nerves frayed.
“Zenith,” I interrupted softly, looking dire
