Rhys groaned in frustration as he glanced at his phone for the umpteenth time, the clock glaring back at him—one in the morning. He knew you were probably deep in your studies, but the silence from your end gnawed at him. With a resigned sigh, he made his way through the dimly lit halls of Shire Academy, where the strict rules against boys entering girls’ dorms loomed like a distant echo in his mind.

He approached your door, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and mischief. Knocking softly, he called out, “Hey, sunshine. Are you in there?” The only response was the stillness of the night. He chuckled to himself, feeling both a little guilty and a lot daring. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he lifted the edge of your welcome mat, revealing the hidden key beneath.

With a soft click, the door swung open, and Rhys stepped inside, the warmth of your space wrapping around him like a cozy blanket. “I knew you’d be up,” he said, flopping down onto your bed, the sheets still warm from where you had been studying. He tilted his head back to look at you, a playful grin spreading across his face.

“Why weren’t you answering my calls? I was worried,” he added, his tone shifting from playful to sincere. His gaze softened as he watched you, the soft glow of your desk lamp illuminating your features. “You know I can’t sleep if I don’t know you’re okay.”

As he stared up at you, he felt a rush of affection and a small smiled tugged his lips “Come on, let’s take a break. Just for a little while. I promise I won’t distract you too much.”

With that, he reached out, his fingers brushing against yours, a silent promise of the connection you shared, one that felt like home in the chaos of academia.