Emerald hearts

Clash of Titans

The library was unusually quiet that afternoon, the only sound the soft rustling of pages as students poured over their textbooks and notes. I scanned the crowded room, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched for any sign of Oliver.

And then, I saw him.

He was sitting at a secluded corner table, a stack of books piled high in front of him as he poured over his notes with a furrowed brow. With his tousled brown hair and intense gaze, he looked every bit the brilliant scientist he was studying to become.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether to approach him or not. But before I could make up my mind, Oliver glanced up from his books and our eyes locked.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as we stared at each other, the weight of our shared history hanging heavy in the air between us.

Finally, Oliver broke the silence with a wry smile. "Amalie. Fancy seeing you here."

I forced myself to return his smile, my pulse quickening at the sound of his voice. "What brings you to the library? Last I heard, you were too busy unraveling the mysteries of the universe to bother with textbooks."

Oliver chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in amusement. "Touché. But even a genius needs a break every now and then."

I rolled my eyes, unable to resist the urge to tease him despite the tension crackling between us. "And here I thought you were too busy saving the world from nuclear apocalypse to have time for leisurely activities."

Oliver's smile faltered slightly at the mention of his research, a shadow passing over his features before he quickly masked it with a casual shrug. "Just trying to do my part, you know?"

I nodded, my heart aching at the familiar walls he had erected around himself. Despite our shared history, there were still so many secrets between us, so many wounds left unhealed.

But before I could delve any deeper into the abyss of our complicated relationship, Oliver cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over us.

"So, how have you been?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral. "How's engineering treating you?"

I shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his penetrating gaze. "It's... challenging, to say the least. But I'm managing."

Oliver nodded, his expression unreadable. "That's good to hear. And your brother? How's he doing?"

I stiffened at the mention of my brother, a bitter taste rising in the back of my throat. "We don't really talk much these days."

Oliver's eyes softened with sympathy, his gaze lingering on mine as if trying to convey some unspoken message. "I'm sorry to hear that. Family drama can be tough."

I nodded, unable to meet his gaze as a wave of guilt washed over me. If only he knew the true extent of the rift between me and my brother, the secrets I had been forced to keep hidden for so long.

But before I could dwell any further on the painful memories of the past, Oliver cleared his throat, his voice suddenly hesitant.

"Listen, Amalie," he began, his words carefully measured. "I know things between us haven't always been... great. But I was hoping we could start over, put the past behind us and move forward as friends."

I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his unexpected olive branch. "Friends?"

Oliver nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yeah. Friends."

I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing as I grappled with the implications of his offer. Could we really put aside our differences and forge a new path forward? Or were the wounds of the past too deep to ever truly heal?

But then, I remembered the spark of hope flickering in Oliver's eyes, the vulnerability lurking beneath his confident facade. And in that moment, I made a decision.

"Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Friends."

And with those words, a new chapter began in the tumultuous saga of me and Oliver.

Little did I know, our journey was only just beginning.