Chapter 11: The Study Date

Saturday couldn't come fast enough. Julie spent the whole week in a haze, replaying Noah's invitation over and over in her mind. She'd never been asked to study with a boy before—especially not one like him.

The morning of the study session, her nerves were all over the place. She must've changed her outfit at least five times before finally settling on a simple sweater and jeans. Casual, but cute. Not trying too hard.

She stood outside the library, her heart racing, her fingers clutched around the strap of her bag. Breathe, Julie. It's just studying. Just math. Nothing more… right?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest. But the moment she saw Noah waiting by the entrance, his golden hair catching the sunlight, her heart skipped. He looked so effortlessly cool, leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets, a small smile lighting up his face when he saw her.

"Hey," he greeted, his eyes warm. "You made it."

Julie swallowed, her voice coming out softer than she intended. "Yeah… I did."

He held the door open for her, and they walked inside together, the quiet hum of the library wrapping around them. Julie's nerves were buzzing, every step feeling surreal. Was this really happening? Was she really spending her Saturday with Noah Callahan?

They found a table near the back, tucked away from the other students. Julie took out her math book, trying to focus, but her hands were shaking just enough to make it difficult. She hoped he didn't notice.

Noah sat across from her, flipping through his notes with a sheepish grin. "I have to be honest… I'm terrible at this stuff. I don't know how you always get the answers so fast."

Julie's cheeks warmed. "Oh… I just practice a lot. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it."

Noah leaned in, his blue eyes twinkling. "Well, I could definitely use your help then. I need to pass this test, or my mom's gonna kill me."

Julie laughed, the sound surprising herself. "Alright… let's start with chapter four. That's where most of the questions will be from."

They worked through the problems together, Julie guiding him through each step. At first, she was nervous, stumbling over her words, but as Noah asked questions and listened intently, she found herself relaxing. He was focused, genuinely trying to understand, and every time he got an answer right, his face lit up with excitement.

"Wait… so you just move the variable to the other side and it works out?" he asked, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "That's way easier than I thought."

Julie smiled, her heart warming at his enthusiasm. "Yep. Just remember to change the sign when you do it."

Noah grinned, his eyes meeting hers. "You're really good at this, you know. Maybe you should be a teacher or something."

Julie's cheeks flushed, her heart skipping. "I… I never thought about that."

"Well, you're helping me, and that's not easy," he joked, his laugh soft and genuine. "Seriously, though… thanks. I don't think I would've gotten any of this without you."

Julie looked down, her heart fluttering. "You're not as bad as you think, Noah. You just needed a little push."

His smile softened, his gaze lingering on her. "Maybe I just needed the right person to help me."

Her breath caught, her pulse racing. Was he… flirting with her?

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted them.

"Noah?"

Julie's heart sank as Madison appeared, her perfectly styled hair and flawless makeup standing out even in the quiet library. Her eyes flicked to Julie, a flash of annoyance crossing her face before she quickly masked it with a smile.

"Oh, hi, Julie. Didn't expect to see you here." Her voice was sweet, but the underlying edge was unmistakable.

Noah's expression shifted, his posture tensing. "We're just studying for the math test."

Madison's eyes narrowed, a calculated gleam in them. "Oh, really? I thought you hated math, Noah. Since when did you become such a good student?"

Noah shrugged, his voice even. "Since I realized I needed to pass the class."

Madison's gaze lingered on Julie, her smile sharpening. "Well, isn't that cute. Julie the tutor. Who would've thought?"

Julie's stomach twisted, her confidence crumbling under Madison's piercing stare. She looked down, suddenly feeling small.

Noah's jaw tightened, his voice firm. "We're busy, Madison. Do you need something?"

Madison's eyes widened, her smile faltering. "I… no. I was just… surprised, that's all." She straightened, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Well… have fun. I'll see you later, Noah."

She walked away, her shoulders stiff, her head held high. But Julie could feel the sting of her words, the way they sank under her skin.

"Hey," Noah's voice was gentle, his eyes soft with concern. "Don't listen to her, okay? She's just… being Madison."

Julie forced a smile, but her heart was heavy. "Yeah… I know."

Noah leaned in, his voice low. "I meant what I said before. Don't let her get in your head. She's just trying to mess with you because… well, because I'm here with you."

Julie's eyes widened, her pulse quickening. "You… you think so?"

Noah's face softened, his gaze unwavering. "I know so. And I don't care what she thinks. I want to be here. With you."

Julie's heart was pounding, her cheeks flushing. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Noah's smile grew, his eyes twinkling. "Come on… let's finish this chapter. We've got a test to pass, remember?"

Julie laughed, the sound light and free. "Yeah… let's do it."

And for the rest of the afternoon, they worked side by side, the world around them fading away. For the first time, Julie felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.