Close Enough to Love

Chapter 2.

Miley blinked her eyes open, the soft morning light filtering through her curtains. She lay there for a moment, letting the remnants of sleep fade, when a sudden thought jolted her awake. The library session with Jay! She had promised to meet him for study time, and if she didn’t hurry, he’d be there waiting, probably with some sarcastic remark about her always being late.

She sighed, tossing the blankets aside and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. As she got ready, her mind wandered back to the classroom yesterday—to Augustus, the way she thought he’d been looking at her, and then, of course, Nancy. The memory made her heart ache, a feeling she’d grown familiar with.

Stop thinking about him, she told herself, pulling on her jacket. Jay had been so patient with her through everything, always encouraging her, always by her side. Today’s about getting things done—and spending time with someone who’s actually here.

With a deep breath, Miley grabbed her books and headed out the door, feeling just a bit lighter as she walked toward the library, ready to start the day fresh.

Jay tapped his pen against his notebook, glancing at the library door every few seconds. He knew Miley’s habit of showing up just late enough to make him wonder if she’d forgotten, but it still made him smile. She’d better not have overslept, he thought, amused.

He leaned back, trying to focus on his notes, but his mind kept wandering. He thought about her expression yesterday in class, the way her eyes had flickered with that familiar hint of hope when she looked at Augustus. It stung, knowing she still carried that feeling, even if Augustus didn’t see her the way Jay did. But he’d made peace with it long ago, or at least that’s what he told himself.

With a sigh, Jay flipped to the next page, setting his jaw in determination. Today about helping her, he reminded himself. It wasn’t about what he wanted—it was about being there for her, even if he had to watch from the sidelines. That was enough, or it had to be.

Just then, he saw her coming through the door, a small, apologetic smile on her face. Jay rolled his eyes playfully, lifting his pen like a referee calling out a penalty. “Well, well, if it isn’t the world’s most punctual person,” he said, grinning as she took the seat beside him.
Jay watched as Miley slid into the chair beside him, setting her books down with a sheepish grin.

"Hey, I made it, didn’t I?" she said, catching her breath.

“Barely,” he replied, shaking his head with mock disapproval. “You know, they say every minute you’re late takes a year off my life.”

“Oh, please,” Miley laughed, nudging his arm. “At this rate, you’re going to outlive us all.”

Jay chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe I will. But at least I’d like to have my old age, so let’s try showing up on time from now on, alright?” He shot her a teasing glare, and Miley laughed, rolling her eyes.

He watched her settle in, a comfortable silence falling between them as they opened their notes. But Jay couldn’t help but sneak a glance at her every now and then, his heart giving that familiar tug. He’d seen this scene a hundred times, her beside him, laughing at his sarcasm, confiding in him like they had their own little world. And though it was always enough, a small part of him wondered if...
As they both settled into their study routine, Jay found himself glancing at her again, watching as she focused on her notes, chewing thoughtfully on her pen cap. She was so close—just a reach away—and yet, sometimes, it felt like there was a whole world between them.

“So, what’s on today’s agenda?” he asked, pulling himself out of his thoughts and nodding toward her stack of books.

Miley sighed, pushing back a stray strand of hair. “Mostly just notes for the upcoming exams. And probably some research... but you already know how that goes.”