Opposites in Orbit

Chasing in Circles

Ivy feels like an ensemble of the world's percussion is playing in her heart.

Why does he have to be so perfect?

She can feel her face heat up and her stomach doing a national Gold-medal-winning gymnastic routine whenever her eyes drift to Luke.

Luke Donovan, the charming and athletic star of the school's football team. Everyone loves him. In Ivy's heart she knows that Luke is akin to a God, destined to be her unattainable first crush.

Ivy doesn't know when it start. It's just suddenly she always sees him everywhere. She couldn't stop thinking about him—his warm smile, the way his brown hair shone under the sun, and his confident aura. He's the kind of guy every girl wants.

Her heart flutters as she pretends to read her worn copy of Persuasion while secretly glancing at him. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as intimidating as he seemed.

But how could I ever approach him? Luke barely knows I exist.

---

Luke was an outgoing, live-for-the-action kind of guy. Any student who doesn't live under the rock knows his usual grin as he trains on the football field or jokes with friends in the common room.

But now everyone has the same question: Why does the too-cool-for-school Luke keep coming back to the library?

For several months now, he's been frequenting the school's library whenever there is no football practice. It was so frequent that the debate team and science club were wary.

As Luke entered the library, he chuckled at the sight of Victoria from the debate team scowling at the sight of him entering the library. Relax, I'm not here to steal your trophies.

No one -- except a select few of best friends -- knew the real reason he hung around the library, pretending to study between classes. It wasn't because he suddenly developed an interest in science or Shakespeare or whatever the debate team reads.

It's because of Ivy. Ever since that day in sophomore year when he'd noticed her sitting under a tree, reading some thick novel, completely absorbed, he couldn't get her out of his head. There's something so captivating about her quiet strength, he muses, trying to shake off the spell she has on him.

After observing her for a while, Luke concludes Ivy isn't a freak or antisocial. She's just shy, he thinks, and that realization only makes her cuter. But how could I, a classmate who never talked to her, make a move without scaring her off?

He decided to play the long game and bide his time. Maybe if I just smile at her... he thinks, but her gaze darts away before his smile can fully form. Ugh, why does she run away? I just want her to notice me!

---

Ivy decided she couldn't keep hiding behind her books forever. If I want Luke to notice me, I need to be brave and actually talk to him, she thinks, her heart racing at the thought. Wasn't that what Anne did to rekindle her relationship with Wentsworth? She took risks. Maybe it's time I wrote my own love story.

She spends days trying to figure out how to approach him. Should I ask about football? No, that would sound forced. Maybe I could mention something about the classes we share? But what if he thinks I'm boring?*

Finally, Ivy settles on a plan. She knew Luke occasionally hung out in the library after school. It's a quiet space, where she won't have to compete with the noise and popularity of his usual crowd.

One afternoon, she gathers her courage and heads toward the table where he's sitting, seemingly engrossed in some textbook.

She takes a deep breath. Just be casual, Ivy. You can do this. "Um, hey Luke," she says, her voice coming out softer than she intended. Why is it so hard to sound confident?