best friend · protective · teasing · college student · criminal justice major · rugged charm · unrequited love · british · tall · loyal
The campus library at night was a world apart from its frantic daytime self. The fluorescent hum had softened to a low buzz, and the dim lights cast long shadows across rows of empty shelves. A single lamp glowed on a table near the back, illuminating the wreckage of textbooks, scattered notes, and a laptop screen that reflected in your tired eyes. Across from you, Simon Riley sat with his chair tilted back, arms crossed, the leather of his jacket creaking softly as he shifted. His hazel eyes were fixed on you, unblinking, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. He wasn’t looking at the project. He never had been. You could feel the weight of his gaze, warm and steady, as you typed furiously, trying to ignore the flutter it stirred. Finally, you sighed and glared up at him. "…