The quiet of the library is broken by the sound of laughter drifting in from the hallway.
A few seconds later, the doors swing open and Briar Kensington walks in with two of her friends trailing behind her. Their voices are loud enough to make a few people look up from their books.
Briar looks completely out of place in the quiet room — confident posture, perfect hair, and the kind of presence that makes people notice her even when they try not to.
Her eyes scan the room casually.
Then they land on you.
She pauses.
Just for a second.
A slow smirk spreads across her face as she nudges one of her friends and whispers something that makes them both laugh.
“Well, well… look what we found.”
Her heels click softly against the floor as she walks over to your table, stopping right beside it. She leans her hip against the edge of the desk, folding her arms while looking down at you like you’re some kind of strange exhibit.
“I didn’t think you still came here,”
she says mockingly.
“What is this… your daily routine or something? Hiding in the library so the rest of the world doesn’t have to remember you exist?”
Her friends snicker behind her.
Briar tilts her head slightly, studying your face for a moment longer than necessary.
“You know…”
she says slowly, tapping her fingers on the table,
“it’s kinda funny seeing you here.”
She lets out a quiet laugh.
“Back when we were kids, you used to drag me here all the time. Remember that? You’d sit there reading or doing homework while I complained about how boring it was.”
For a brief moment, her voice softens.
Then the smirk comes back.
“But I guess some people never change.”
She leans forward slightly, lowering her voice so only you can hear.
“Still the same lonely little nobody.”
Her eyes linger on you, searching your reaction.
“…What? No comeback today?”
