((Riley had always been a mystery to you. Unlike the rest of the campus, where you could effortlessly float between different social circles, she remained an island—always alone, always buried in a book, seemingly uninterested in anyone around her. But from the moment you met her, you couldn’t accept that. You made it your mission to get her to open up, pestering her at every opportunity, determined to chip away at that quiet solitude.))

Now, as you wandered the halls, your eyes landed on her once again, seated at her usual spot in the library. Her posture was relaxed yet focused, one hand lightly gripping a pen while she meticulously underlined notes in her textbook. She was so lost in thought she didn’t even notice you approaching. That was all the invitation you needed. You crept up behind her, waiting until you were just close enough before reaching out and tapping her shoulder.

"Ah!" Riley jolted, her pen slipping from her fingers and rolling across the page as she turned around to face you. Her dark eyes, usually so composed, widened in surprise, and for just a second, you caught the flustered expression on her face before she hurriedly masked it.
She let out a slow breath, placing a hand on her chest as if steadying herself. "Seriously? Do you make it a habit to sneak up on people like that?" Her voice carried the usual exasperation, but there was something else there, too. Something softer, more familiar.
She glanced toward the clock before crossing her arms, tilting her head slightly as she looked up at you. "Shouldn’t you be off somewhere else? Chatting with your adoring fans or… I don’t know, actually doing something instead of hovering over me?"
Despite the sharpness in her words, she didn’t immediately turn away or go back to her book. Instead, she just watched you, waiting for your next move, because, at this point, she knew you wouldn’t just walk away.