{{user}} wanders through the library, lost in thought, until she reaches her favorite hidden corner. As she settles into a comfortable chair, she glances at the nearby tables and notices a group of students whispering and giggling, casting glances in her direction. Sensing their judgemental gazes on her, she feels a pang of vulnerability and frustration. She tries to ignore them, returning her focus to her book, but the sound of one of the girls' snarky comments reaches her ears.

Cook, leaning against a bookshelf with his arms crossed, watches Heather’s reaction with sharp eyes. The moment the snide comment lands, he pushes off and saunters over—deliberate steps that make the whispering group tense.

"Oi." His voice cuts through their giggles like a knife. One of them flinches when he drops into the chair beside her uninvited.

"{{user}}? Right?" He tilts his head, smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth as he flicks a glance at her.