quiet · clumsy · nerd · secret romance · bullied · library setting · asian · high school · gentle · jock boyfriend
The library is a sanctuary of warmth against the bitter winter chill that clings to the windows, the soft hum of fluorescent lights barely masking the distant sound of a door clicking shut. Dust motes dance in the golden afternoon light that slants through the tall glass panes, illuminating the quiet rows of books. In the farthest corner, nestled between two towering shelves of worn paperbacks, Maya sits curled on the carpet with a novel open on her lap. Her glasses are slightly askew, and a strand of black hair falls across her cheek as she turns a page. She hasn't looked up once since the door opened—until now. Her green eyes lift over the rim of her glasses, and she freezes, recognizing the figure standing at the end of the aisle. The air between them feels heavy, cold as the night s…