Chapter 5: After Hours
1301 Words
The bell rang sharply through the room signaling the end of class
Students began gathering their things, conversations buzzing about the strange assignment Professor Draven had just given.
Ryker and I didn’t move.
“Your first major evaluation,” he had said calmly, “will be completed in pairs. You will study persuasion techniques and present a live demonstration next week. Choose your points wisely”.
The room had immediately erupted into movement. Some pleased with their choices, others not so much wishing they’d sat next to someone else.
Eyes glancing towards Ryker.. to me… then back to him.
“Looks like someone’s popular.”
Looking up from his phone at me completely unfazed “Didn’t peg you for the jealous type”
“Have you met me?” Smiling as I placed my chin in my hand. “It’s quite entertaining”
“ I haven’t actually, where are you originally from again?”
"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?"
My eyes widened as chuckles come from his throat. Showing all his white teeth.
Professor Draven’s voice had cut through the noise as he jotted down the names he recited aloud.
“Miss Vale. Mr. Kane.”
And sure enough every head turned.
Now, after my last class, I stood outside the academy library doors with my notebook clutched nervously to my chest.
The library at night was quiet in a way that made every sound echo. Tall lamps cast soft pools of golden light over long wooden tables, and the rain tapping against the windows made the entire room feel almost secretive. My mind went back to when it used to be one of my favorite things about being here.
Ryker was already there.
Of course he was.
He sat at the far table near the windows, sleeves rolled to his forearms revealing the swirling ink. He flipped lazily through a book as if he had all the time in the world.
I approached slowly.
“You’re early,”
Ryker glanced up.
“Or you’re late.”
pulling out the chair across from him.
“I’m exactly on time.”
He smirked faintly.
“Sure you are”
For a while, we actually studied. At least… we tried to.
Books about psychology and rhetoric lay open between us, notes scattered across the table. I wrote down a few things here and there.
But every time I tried to focus on a page, I became aware of something distracting.
Ryker.
The way his fingers tapped slowly against the table as he thought.
The way his eyes lifted every few minutes to look at me.
Finally I sighed, closing my notebook.
“You’re terrible at pretending to study.”
Ryker leaned back in his chair.
“Who said I was pretending?”
“I did. Because you haven’t read the same paragraph for ten minutes.”
His lips curved slightly as he kept his eyes on the page.
You’re watching me pretty closely for someone trying to work.”
I instantly felt warmth creep up my neck.
“I’m trying, to pass this class.”
“Relax,” he said. “You’re the smartest person in that room.”
I blinked.
“You barely know me.”
“You mean I don’t know you anymore.. and we both know I know enough.”
The quiet between us deepened. Not awkward, just quiet.
Rain hit the tall windows harder now, creating a steady rhythm. Flashes of lightning came through but only with faint thunder.
I glanced down at the assignment sheet.
“We still need to practice persuasion techniques,”
Ryker tilted his head slightly.
“Alright.” His voice lowered.
“Convince me of something.”
I hesitated. “Like what?”
His eyes held mine across the table.
“Anything.”
I leaned forward slightly.
My voice softened.
“You should stop picking fights with Torin.”
Ryker laughed quietly. “That’s not persuasion.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t believe it.”
My brows furrowed.
“Yes I do.”
“No,” he said quietly. “You just don’t want things to get worse, even though you know they will.”
I looked down at the desk. “Not everything has to be settled with violence. I should know that better than anyone.”
Ryker watched me for a moment before speaking again.
“My turn.”
My eyes lifted cautiously.
“What are you trying to convince me of?”
He stood slowly.
The chair scraped softly against the wooden floor.
Then he walked around the table.
My pulse quickened as he stopped beside my chair.
“We should go back to studying,” I muttered under my breath.
Leaning one hand on the table beside me.
“Too late for that.”
My heart started to race.
“You’re distracting me.”
“That’s part of persuasion,” he said quietly.
Gripping the chair on the side of my thigh turning me to face him.
Now we were close.
Very close.
“You’re impossible,” I whispered.
His eyes searched mine for a moment before a slow smile appeared.
Do you remember the last time we were alone like this?”
I frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Ryker leaned down a little closer.
“Ten years old.”
My eyes widened.
“Oh my—”
“Seven minutes in heaven,” he finished.
I covered my face with one hand, groaning softly.
“That was a stupid party game.”
“You kissed me,” he said casually.
“I was ten!”
“You still did it.”
peeking through my fingers.” That hardly counts as a kiss Ryker.”
Ryker’s voice dropped slightly. “Then maybe we should redo it.”
He gently pulled my hand from my face, placing it down beside me.
My breath caught..
The space between us suddenly felt electric.
I slowly lowered my hand. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe.
His eyes dipped to my mouth, lingering there for the briefest moment before meeting mine again. “And yet, you haven’t moved away.”
My pulse thundered in my ears, or maybe it was the actual sound of the thunder. I wasn’t sure, but what I was sure of was that..
He was right.
I hadn’t.
The air between us seemed to grow warmer, the quiet library suddenly feeling far too small.
Ryker leaned a little closer.
Not rushing.
Not forcing anything.
Just closing the distance slowly.
My heart pounded and I was positive he could hear it as I whispered,
“Ryker…”
His voice was barely louder than the rain outside.
“Yeah?”
I swallowed.
“You’re doing that persuasion thing again.”
His smile was soft now.
“Is it working?”
For a moment I couldn’t answer.
Our faces were inches apart.
Close enough that I could feel his breath.
Close enough that if either of us moved just slightly..
Footsteps suddenly echoed through the library.
Both of us froze.
A librarian appeared between the shelves, clearing her throat.
“Library closes in five minutes.”
I turned my head towards her. “Okay”
Ryker never looked away, instead he straightened slowly, looking down at me.
I exhaled a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
The moment shattered.
But the electricity between us remained.
Ryker gathered his books casually.
Then he glanced down at me again.
“Next study session,” he said quietly.
“We have to finish that experiment.”
My heart was still racing as I stood.
“Maybe,”
Ryker’s smile returned.
Outside, the rain continued to fall over Blackthorn Academy.
And for the first time since returning.
I felt something other than heartbreak growing in its place.
- Writer
