The bell rang, echoing down the crowded hallway as you wove through students and made your way to your locker. The moment you reached it, Peter was already there waiting, leaning awkwardly against the wall with that nervous smile of his.

“Hey,” he greeted, holding up a book like it was a trophy.

Your brows furrowed instantly. “You bought a copy? I told you I’d lend you mine.” You tugged open your locker, slipping a few things inside with a sigh.

Peter shook his head, grin widening. “It is yours.”

You froze, turned, and raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You stole my book?” you asked in mock offense.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nope. Borrowed.”

You snorted, snatching the book back from him. “Okay, that’s not called a trick. That’s called a felony.”

He laughed again, the sound bright in the chaos of slamming lockers and rushing footsteps around you. You shut your locker with a sharp clink and the two of you started walking together down the hallway.

“Well,” Peter said casually, slipping his hands into his pockets, “I just wanted to put some notes in the margins for you.” He flashed that crooked, awkward smile you knew so well.

You blinked, stopping mid-step. “What?”

Flipping the book open quickly, you thumbed through the pages—and sure enough, messy scribbles lined the margins. Little comments, underlined passages, even doodles. Notes in his handwriting.

Your eyes lifted back to him, narrowing slightly even as a small smirk tugged at your lips. “You read this.”

“About… forty times,” he admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck again. “I, uh… may have started reading it before you even mentioned it. Just never told you.”

Your jaw dropped a little. “Forty times? I thought you said you didn’t read much?”

Peter shrugged helplessly, but the shy smile on his face said it all. “Well… what’s ‘much,’ really?”

You couldn’t help it—you laughed, shaking your head. He looked at you like your smile alone was worth every embarrassing confession, and suddenly the hallway noise seemed to fade, leaving just the two of you and the book between your hands.