Falling into her

Chapter 8 : These small moments

Monday morning arrived with its usual rush of chatter and energy. The weekend's party had left Brook High buzzing. Everywhere Sera turned, people recounted the wild moments—the spilled drinks, the impromptu karaoke, and, of course, the countless flirtations and hookups. But for Sera, the weekend's most memorable moment wasn't something anyone else had noticed. It was the quiet, intense exchange she'd shared with Dean.

She walked through the bustling halls, her mind distant. People greeted her as usual, and she responded with smiles and waves, but her heart wasn't fully in it. She was replaying her conversation with Dean over and over, dissecting every word, every glance. His walls were high, that much was clear, but she had caught glimpses of what lay beyond them. And those glimpses had left her wanting to know more.

"Sera!"

She turned to see her sister, Elena, waving her over by her locker. Elena had a mischievous grin plastered across her face, the kind that usually spelled trouble.

"So," Elena began, leaning casually against the locker. "You and Dean were pretty cozy at the party."

Sera's cheeks flushed. "It wasn't like that," she said quickly. "We were just talking."

Elena raised an eyebrow. "Talking? That's it? You two looked like you were having some kind of deep, soul-baring moment."

Sera sighed, knowing there was no point in denying it. "We were. Kind of. Dean's...complicated."

Elena's grin softened into something more genuine. "Yeah, he is. But I think you're one of the few people he might actually open up to."

Sera frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Because he's different around you," Elena said simply. "He doesn't put on the same front. You see the real him, Sera. And that's rare."

The words lingered in Sera's mind as she made her way to her first class. Could it be true? Did Dean really trust her in a way he didn't trust others? And if so, what did that mean for them?

Later that day, Sera found herself in the library, her usual refuge when she needed a break from the social whirlwind. She settled into a quiet corner with a pile of books, hoping to lose herself in some reading. But her focus was shattered when she heard a familiar voice.

"Didn't take you for a library person."

She looked up to see Dean standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a softer, almost uncertain expression.

"Sometimes I need a break from people," Sera admitted, gesturing to the empty table around her. "This is my quiet spot."

Dean nodded and, to her surprise, pulled out a chair and sat across from her. "Mind if I join you?"

Sera blinked. "You? In a library?"

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I'm full of surprises."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Sera flipping through her book while Dean leaned back in his chair, his eyes occasionally drifting to her. It wasn't awkward; if anything, it felt...natural.

Eventually, Dean spoke. "You were right, you know. About the walls."

Sera looked up, surprised by his sudden openness. "What do you mean?"

"At the party," he said, his voice quiet. "You said I put up walls. And you're right. I do."

Sera closed her book, giving him her full attention. "Why?"