In the Library

"Sex? Interesting choice," Simon remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as he held the book out to her.

Stella's cheeks flushed crimson, heat radiating from her face as embarrassment washed over her. "NO! I just wanted to look at the book because it looked interesting!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of defensiveness and mortification. She quickly snatched the book from his hands, avoiding his piercing gaze.

Simon chuckled, clearly amused by her reaction. "Sure, sure. Just a 'coincidental interest,' huh?" He leaned against the shelf, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised in mock disbelief. 

Stella groaned inwardly. This wasn't happening. Why did it always have to be Simon who caught her in the most awkward moments? Trying to salvage what little dignity she had left, she hurriedly stuffed the book back onto the shelf, her cheeks still blazing.

"Look," she sighed, feeling the weight of his gaze on her, "I was just trying to clear my head, okay? I've been staring at those damn numbers for hours, and I swear my brain was about to melt. Not everyone is a natural-born genius like you."

Simon's smirk grew, the amusement clear in his dark eyes. "You make it sound like math is impossible," he said, his voice smooth and calm, as if solving complex equations was something anyone could do in their sleep.

Stella rolled her eyes, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "That's because for me, it is! I swear, I've stared at those formulas so long I'm seeing them in my dreams." She glanced down at the stack of books in her arms, all math-related, none of which seemed likely to help. "I'm seriously considering just dropping out at this point."

"Maybe you just need a tutor," Simon suggested, his tone casual but with a spark of interest that made Stella glance up at him. There was something in his expression she couldn't quite place.

"And where exactly am I supposed to find a tutor on such short notice?" she grumbled, clearly not convinced. "Besides, knowing my luck, whoever it is won't be able to explain anything in a way that actually makes sense to me. I mean, I need a miracle at this point, not a tutor."

Simon took a slow step closer to her, his tall frame suddenly making the already narrow space between the shelves feel even more claustrophobic. His voice dropped a notch, low and suggestive, as he leaned in close to her ear. "A good tutor doesn't just explain things," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin. "They connect with you… find your wavelength."

Stella's heart did a somersault, and she instinctively stepped back, only to find herself pressed against the bookshelf. His nearness was overwhelming, and she was suddenly acutely aware of the space—or lack thereof—between them. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned in even closer, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And I'm pretty good at finding wavelengths," he added, his lips dangerously close to her ear.

Stella's eyes widened, her pulse quickening. "You could say that without standing so close, you know," she muttered, her voice coming out much weaker than she intended. It was like her body had betrayed her, reacting to his proximity in ways she hadn't expected.

Simon smirked, clearly satisfied with her reaction as he leaned back just enough to give her some breathing room. "Yeah, but where's the fun in that?"

Stella crossed her arms, trying to regain some semblance of control, but she could still feel the heat radiating from her face. "I am not dumb, it's just I don't get the interest when I open the books, I need a study part- Wait… are you actually offering to tutor me?"

He shrugged, looking nonchalant as if the whole situation was no big deal. "Yep."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Seriously? You're already my coach. If I start depending on you for tutoring too, I'll end up owing you for everything. I don't like being in anyone's debt."

Simon's expression shifted slightly, though his smirk never left his face. There was a glint in his eyes, something darker, more intense. She already owes me—her presence in my head, the way she's taken over my thoughts without even realizing it, he thought, though he kept his feelings hidden behind that same cocky grin.

He straightened up, stepping back as if to let her process his offer. "Tomorrow. Six p.m.," he said, his voice firm and leaving no room for argument. "No excuses, Stella."

Before she could respond, Simon turned and disappeared down the aisle, leaving her standing there, still pressed against the bookshelf, her heart racing and her mind spinning. Stella watched him go, her thoughts jumbled, as she tried to wrap her head around the fact that Simon—of all people—had just volunteered to be her tutor.

She clutched the book tighter, her mind racing with questions. Was he serious? Why did he even care? And why did she feel so flustered every time he got close?

Shaking her head, Stella tried to focus, but all she could think about was the way Simon had looked at her, how his words had wrapped around her like a spell, making her heartbeat race and her thoughts spiral. Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

Later that night, after finishing her training session with Simon, Stella returned home. She slipped into her cozy nightdress after a long bath, her body still tingling from the exhaustion of the day, and made her way to the kitchen for dinner.

Stella sat down at the dinner table, the delicious aroma of creamy garlic and spinach tortellini filling the room. As she picked up her fork, her mind drifted to the events of the previous night, but something else caught her attention—Mallory, sitting across from her, seemed distracted. She wasn't eating, just absently flipping through a book.

"Did Gigi go to bed already?" Stella asked, trying to ease into the conversation. She needed to ask something more pressing, but she wanted to start with something simple.

Mallory nodded without looking up from her book. "Yeah, she's asleep. She's been tired lately," she said, her voice quiet.

Stella hesitated for a moment, then set her fork down. "Where were you yesterday, Mal? Gigi said you had some important business, and you didn't come back until this morning. Even Gigi wasn't home last night."

At that, Mallory froze, her hand stilling on the book's page. Slowly, she looked up, meeting Stella's eyes. For a moment, she said nothing, her expression unreadable. "Like Grams said, I had something important to do."

Stella frowned. She knew Mallory well enough to sense when something was off. "Mallory, you've been acting strange lately. I just… I wish you'd talk to me. You know I'm here, right?"

Mallory exhaled softly, setting the book down and leaning back in her chair. "It's nothing you need to worry about, Stels," she said, though her tone didn't do much to convince Stella.

Trying to shift the mood, Stella added, "By the way, Gigi's birthday is coming up. I was thinking we could sing her favorite song. You play the guitar, and I'll sing. What do you think?"

Mallory's expression softened, the tension easing as she nodded. "That sounds perfect. Grams would love it."

"Send me the song, and we'll practice tomorrow." She quickly diverted her attention back to the book in front of her, as if she couldn't wait to change the subject.

Stella narrowed her eyes, noticing how quickly Mallory was escaping into her studies again. She reached across the table and snatched the book from her friend's hands. "Focus on your food while you eat, Mal. There's plenty of time to worry about exams later."

Mallory blinked at her, surprised by the sudden move, but she smiled despite herself. "Alright, alright, you win," she said with a grin, picking up her fork again. 

After they finished eating, the two cleaned up and made their way to their rooms. Stella stopped outside Mallory's door, watching her friend as she slipped inside. "Night, Mal," she called softly.

"Goodnight, Stels," Mallory responded before gently closing her door.

Stella retreated to her own room, sliding under the covers. As she lay there, the questions and concerns about Mallory faded just a little, replaced by thoughts of Simon and their study session tomorrow.

Eventually, sleep claimed her, and the house fell quiet as both girls drifted into their dreams, keeping their secrets for another day.