Chapter 51: Library Hours and Lingering Looks

[LUCAS – POV]

Ms. Adunni didn't play.

"Books go alphabetically by author's last name, not by title. And no flirting," she added with a look that could slice stone.

Jasmine smirked beside me as we pushed a cart stacked with dusty textbooks.

"I think she ships us," Jasmine whispered.

I coughed to cover my laugh. "She ships order, not chaos. Which is what we are."

We worked side by side for an hour in near silence—stacking, sorting, occasionally bumping hands. Each accidental touch lingered longer than it should have.

By the time Ms. Adunni left us alone to handle the back shelves, Jasmine leaned against the wall and sighed dramatically.

"I feel like I've inhaled a whole forest."

"Guess that's what knowledge smells like," I teased, stepping closer.

Her eyes flicked up to mine—mischievous, but soft. "You're dangerously close to getting us expelled again."

"Correction," I said, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, "we weren't expelled yet."

She didn't back away. Neither did I.

And right there, between dusty encyclopedias and old yearbooks, she whispered, "You make it hard to focus."

"So don't," I murmured, before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips—quick but enough to send her cheeks blazing.

The sound of Ms. Adunni's shoes snapped us apart like guilty toddlers.

"Chapter break," Jasmine whispered.

I grinned. "To be continued.