When nothing goes right, turn left

A game of unspoken words

The library was quiet except for the steady scratch of pencils against paper and the occasional rustling of books. Veronica wasn't focused on her assignment.

She was watching Alex.

He sat a few tables away, leaning back in his chair, flipping lazily through a book—"not reading, just waiting". He hadn't spoken to her since their last conversation, yet he always seemed 'there'. Somewhere in her space, somewhere in her mind, like an unanswered question she hadn't figured out how to solve.

Bella sighed beside her."Are you actually going to work or just stare at him all day?"

Veronica stiffened. "I'm not staring."

"Please," Bella muttered. "You've been caught in some kind of weird push-pull with him since the chapel."

"There's no *push-pull*," Veronica said, flipping a page aggressively.

Bella raised an eyebrow."Right. So, if I dare you to go talk to him, you wouldn't freak out?"

"I wouldn't freak out, because I'm not playing childish games,"Veronica shot back.

Bella smirked. "Okay. Then I dare you."

Veronica glared.

Bella leaned back, smug. "Thought so."

Before Veronica could snap a retort, movement caught her attention.

Alex was watching her now.

Not just casually—fully aware, fully locked in.

She felt her pulse trip over itself, betraying her completely.

Then, **he smirked**.

Like he knew exactly what was happening. Like he saw every silent battle she was fighting in her head.

Veronica slammed her book shut."I hate him."

Bella chuckled. "Sure."

Veronica barely made it out of the library before Alex was beside her.

"You hate me, huh?" he said casually, falling into step with her.

"I don't have time for this, she muttered, gripping her bag strap tighter.

"For what?"He tilted his head, studying her with that frustratingly amused expression. "For someone who supposedly hates me, you spend a lot of time looking at me."

Veronica felt heat rush to her face. "Oh, shut up."

Alex chuckled, stepping in front of her just enough to make her stop walking. He wasn't blocking her path—but he wasn't letting her avoid him, either.

"You know, you could just say it."

"Say *what*?" she snapped.

He leaned in slightly, eyes locked onto hers. "That I get under your skin."

Veronica's breath hitched before she could stop it.

It wasn't just his words—it was "the way he said them". He wasn't just teasing her. He was "testing" her.

She clenched her jaw. "You assume too much."

"Do I?"

Silence stretched between them. The hallway had emptied, the distant murmur of students fading into nothing.

Veronica "felt" it—the shift in air, the pull of something unspoken.

And just when she thought she might say something—anything—

Clark's voice cut through.

"Vee!"

She turned, too quickly, breaking the moment like shattering glass.

Clark jogged toward them, his expression tense. "You need to hear this. Now."

Veronica exhaled sharply, stepping back. "What happened?"

"It's about Smith."Clark glanced at Alex briefly, then back at her. "We might have just found something... but it doesn't add up."

The words hung in the air, heavy.

Veronica didn't dare look at Alex again.