Inevitably Me

Chapter 8: Unlikely Connections

The library was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of papers or the muffled sound of footsteps. Allora sat across from Xander, a pile of books stacked between them. They were supposed to be working on their literature project—an analysis of recurring themes in classical novels—but for the past fifteen minutes, neither of them had said much.

It wasn't that Allora didn't want to work. It was just that every time she looked at Xander, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye. Aiden's warning still echoed in the back of her mind, but as the days had gone by and Xander had proven to be more charming than menacing, her initial wariness had started to fade.

"You don't look like someone who's really into books," Allora said, flipping through the pages of one of the novels they were studying. "How did you end up in this class?"

Xander looked up from his own book and grinned, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief. "Looks can be deceiving. I'm actually a huge literature nerd."

Allora raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Really? You don't exactly strike me as the bookish type."

Xander chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, I get that a lot. But trust me, I've read more books than I care to admit. My mom's a huge reader, and she kind of passed it down to me. It's one of the few things we bond over."

Allora smiled, feeling her curiosity grow. Xander didn't seem like the shallow, carefree guy she'd initially thought he was. There was more to him, and the fact that he enjoyed literature made her feel like they had something in common beyond just being paired for a project.

"You should've told me earlier," she teased. "We could've knocked this project out in half the time."

He shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "Where's the fun in that? I like to keep people guessing."

Allora couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "Well, you're definitely full of surprises."

As they continued working, the conversation between them became more fluid, natural. Xander had a way of making her feel at ease, and she found herself laughing at his jokes and getting lost in discussions about their favorite books. It was easy, almost too easy, to forget about the little warning signals Aiden had given her.

After a while, Xander closed his book and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Hey, why don't we finish this at my place? It's quieter there, and we have way more books to work with. Plus, my mom always has snacks."

Allora hesitated for a moment. Visiting his home felt like a big step, like crossing into a part of his life she wasn't sure she should be involved in. But then again, Xander had proven to be a good partner so far, and she was genuinely enjoying their time together. Besides, it was just for a project.

"Sure," she said with a small smile. "Why not?"

Xander's house was tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, the kind of place where everything seemed picture-perfect from the outside. As they pulled into the driveway, Allora couldn't help but feel a little nervous. There was something intimate about seeing someone's home, and she hadn't quite expected to feel that way about Xander.