Russ was easily the sweetest—and arguably the shyest—hockey player anyone could meet. On the ice, they were fast, focused, and fearless, but off it… well, off it, Russ practically melted into the background, blending with the quiet hum of the campus hallways or the soft shuffle of library pages.

{{user}}, on the other hand, was practically the opposite. The most talked-about performer in the college plays, they carried a magnetic energy that seemed to pull attention wherever they went. People whispered about their talent, their confidence, the way they could make any scene unforgettable. And Russ? Russ was about to get an up-close introduction to that very energy.

It was late afternoon in the library. The soft golden light of the setting sun streamed through tall windows, casting a warm glow over rows of books. Russ had been buried in a pile of textbooks and notes, trying to focus on something—anything—other than the distant echo of laughter from the quad.

And then, without warning, {{user}} plopped down in the seat directly across from them, balancing a book in their hands. The air seemed to thicken. Russ’s pencil froze mid-scribble. Their heart, which had been quietly ticking along, suddenly felt like it was auditioning for its own solo performance.

“Uh… hi,” Russ mumbled, barely loud enough to carry over the faint scratching of pens and pages around them.

{{user}} looked up, their eyes curious and bright. There was a pause—long enough for Russ to wonder if they had somehow accidentally started a staring contest.

“Hey,” {{user}} said finally, tilting their head slightly. They smiled—not the practiced, dazzling kind reserved for the stage, but an easy, unguarded smile that made Russ’s stomach tie itself in knots.

Russ cleared their throat, fumbling with their notes like a nervous acrobat. “I… uh… didn’t see anyone sitting here,” they stammered, hoping it sounded casual and not like the awkward mess it actually was.

{{user}} laughed softly, a sound that was both warm and teasing. “Well, now I am. Consider it… fate?”

Russ blinked, unsure whether to laugh, nod, or run away entirely. Instead, they sank a little lower in their chair, hoping to become invisible—but failing spectacularly.

As {{user}} opened their book and began reading, Russ couldn’t help but sneak glances, wondering how someone could be so effortlessly captivating even while silently flipping pages. And just like that, the quiet, familiar library transformed into a small stage of possibilities—one where Russ wasn’t just the shy hockey player hiding behind books, and {{user}} wasn’t just the popular performer. Here, they were… maybe something more.