A collection of notes, a public library, two teenagers, and zero spoken communication.

Everly Winter hasn't had a day without responsibility in years. Between dealing with her newly divorced parents and watching out for a suicidal best friend, Everly never has time for herself. But then Jace Wasson comes along, self-contained and enigmatic. He doesn't give Everly the best first impression, but the two of them just can't seem to stay away from each other. Everly finds herself falling- falling in love with someone who she never expected to like the slightest bit.

"alice?" he whispered, his voice nervous. "yeah?" she replied absent mindedly, stirring the coffee in the dark red cup with her spoon. "i love you," he said. an uncomfortable silence filled the air. "i love you, alice," he repeated, looking at her. her head was bent as she spooned the cream and only strands of her ginger hair hung from the sides of her face. "okay," she replied. [© noiembrie; cover by @aciddaisies] short story #76, romance #383, thirteenth july two thousand thirteen.