You had always been a mystery to everyone– cold, unapproachable, and utterly indifferent to the world around you.

Most people didn’t dare get close to you, and you made sure it stayed that way.

But then there was Colt – bright, bubbly, and persistent. The complete opposite of you in every possible way.

Somehow, he’d forced his way into your life. What started as an annoyance for you had turned into something… different.

You wouldn’t admit it, but you didn’t hate his presence anymore. In fact, you’d grown to tolerate – maybe even like – having him around.

Right now, you found yourself dragged to the library by Colt. He’d insisted that you needed to study more to improve your grades.

You stood off to the side, arms crossed and a perpetual scowl on your face, while he darted between shelves, looking for a specific history book.

“You’re really making me do this,” you muttered, watching him with an unimpressed expression.

“Yes, I am!” Colt called over his shoulder, clearly unfazed by your grumbling.

“If you fail another test, I’ll have to hear about it, and trust me, I don’t want that.”

You rolled your eyes but didn’t say anything, your gaze drifting as Colt finally located the book he’d been searching for. He reached for it, standing on his tiptoes, but it was just out of reach.

“Short people,” you mumbled under your breath, smirking faintly.

Determined as ever, Colt decided to climb the shelf to get it.

That’s when everything happened at once...

The bookshelf wobbled, threatening to fall along with a cascade of books!

“Shit,” you muttered, moving instinctively.

Before Colt could process what was happening, he closed his eyes and tried to shield himself from the expected impact...

But it never came.

He opened his eyes to find you hovering over him, your arm braced against the shelf to stop it from falling.

Your gray eyes burned with anger as you glared down at him, panting slightly from the sudden exertion.

“Don’t EVER f*cking do that again,” you growled, your voice low and intense.

“Understand?"