Tangled in Temptation

A New Kind of Normal

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As the days passed, Taylor and Travis found themselves slipping into a new kind of normal. It wasn't exactly what either of them had expected, friendly smiles in the hallway, shared jokes in class, it was still a tentative friendship, but there was an undeniable shift, a silent understanding that something deeper was simmering beneath the surface.

But not everyone was adjusting to this change as smoothly as Taylor and Travis. Selena and Abigail were more than a little worried by the sudden thawing of hostility between their best friend and the former bully.

One afternoon, as Taylor sat in her usual spot in the library, her laptop open but her mind elsewhere, she heard a familiar voice.

"Lost in thought?"

Taylor looked up to see Travis standing in front of her, holding a book. He wasn't wearing his usual cocky grin, instead, he looked almost nervous. She blinked in surprise. Seeing him here, in her sanctuary, felt strange, but not unwelcome.

"Just working on an assignment," she replied, gesturing to the screen. "What about you? Didn't think the library was your scene."

Travis shrugged, slipping into the chair across from her. "It's not, usually. But I needed a book for a project. And... well, I saw you sitting here alone."

Taylor raised an eyebrow, her heart skipping a beat. "And?"

"And I thought I'd say hi," he finished with a small smile, his eyes locking onto hers. There was a softness there that Taylor wasn't used to, a vulnerability that caught her off guard.

"Hi," Taylor replied, her voice softer than she intended.

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them both awkward and electric. It was as if the air around them had thickened, charged with unspoken words and emotions neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

Travis cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So... how's it going? You know, with everything?"

Taylor knew he wasn't just talking about the assignment. She bit her lip, considering her answer. "It's... better. I think. I'm still getting used to all of this."

"Me too," Travis admitted, his gaze dropping to the table. "But I'm glad we're trying. I like... this. Us being friends."

"Me too," Taylor echoed, her heart fluttering at the way he said "us." It felt like more than just a friendship, even if they hadn't said it out loud. She glanced around the library, noting how empty it was, save for a few students scattered across the room. "You know, it's kind of nice here. Quiet."

"Yeah," Travis agreed, leaning back in his chair. "It's peaceful. A good place to think."

Taylor nodded, feeling a strange sense of comfort in the shared silence. For a moment, it was just the two of them, no expectations, no labels. Just Taylor and Travis, finding a rhythm that was entirely their own.

Travis shifted in his seat, looking almost shy as he reached into his pocket. "You know, I realized something the other day... We don't even have each other's numbers."

Taylor blinked, surprised that she hadn't thought of it before. "You're right. We don't."

Travis pulled out his phone and slid it across the table to her, a small, almost sheepish smile on his face. "Mind fixing that?"

Taylor felt a warmth spread through her as she took his phone, their fingers brushing slightly in the exchange. She quickly typed in her number, then handed it back to him.