LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 6 : BADDEST BAD BOY

I'm surprised to find Alex already waiting for me on Friday. He is sitting at one of the large tables of the library, and in the emptiness of the room, my eyes catch his figure immediately. The sun beaming through the plate glass windows is illuminating his perfect strong features, and the play of shadows and light makes him look like an angel of darkness.

His gaze is focused on his phone between his hands, and with the silence around, I almost hesitate to disturb this aery quietness.

"Hi," I say quietly, not daring to sit up yet.

When he hears me, he quickly pulls his phone away, and his eyes light up as he meets my gaze. I don't know if it's the sun reflecting in his tenebrous irises, or if they're outshining it, but anyway, I divert my gaze, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Hi, Miss Clumsy Cookie."

I take out my things as his intense eyes are still observing me; I don't need to look up to know it because I can feel it on my skin.

"So... Er... we go back to our researches like Wednesday?" I finally lift up my gaze, fidgeting with my pen.

"How about we switch: you search online and I go look for books?" He smiles.

"Er...yes, why not," I reply with a shy smile. It shouldn't surprise me by now, but he still takes me aback.

"Don't you want to take a break?" Alex suggests, stretching out his arms, 30 minutes later.

We've finished our researches, and we are now discussing and selecting what we've found. But it's Friday afternoon, and the sun is beating down through the plate glass windows, making the library feel like a steam room. All of this makes it hard to concentrate, and after barely half an hour our brains are close to overheating. Besides, being in his presence doesn't help either, since my cheeks are constantly burning.

We're both tired and sweaty, I feel a drop of sweat down my back, and I see him wipe his forehead with his arm.

"Yeah, if you want." I put down my pen and slouch slightly back on my chair.

"I'm gonna get something to eat at the vending machine, unless you still have some cookies?" he asks, his eyes sparkling. "Cuz I'm still dreaming about them." He bites his lip, shaking his head, and his expression only brings my face closer to the overheating point.

"Sorry, there isn't any left." I offer him a small smile.

"Another time maybe?" He grins with hopeful eyes that make me nod, and then he stands up. "Do you want something?"

"No, it's okay."

"You sure?" he insists, searching for my gaze, which is already back on the pile of documents we've gathered.

"Yeah."

I refocus on my work after a few breaths, my brain less bothered by the heat when I'm alone. But something cold on the back of my neck freezes all my thoughts. I jump, and a small yelp escapes my lips at the contrast of temperature that stops my heart for a second. I turn around, and I'm met by Alex chuckling.

"You're crazy! This is not fun!" I whine.

"You should have seen the jump you made!" He shakes his head, his laugh lightening up his whole face, and even if it's in a mischievous way, it is a contagious playfulness, so I can't help but laugh lightly with him.

"Ahem!" The librarian throws us a disapproving look.

We calm down our laughs, and Alex gives me a wink, the sparkle in his eyes making me shiver more than the cold bottle.