Chapter 2 Why now?
Chapter 2: Why now?
Ocean City University – Night Class
Main Library, Quiet Study Corner
The hum of the ceiling lights buzzed steadily overhead, mixing with the faint rustle of pages and the occasional cough. Most students had already left for the night, their chairs pushed back haphazardly, their voices fading into the campus breeze.
Golden Nixon remained.
Tucked in a dim corner of the library, half hidden behind a tall bookshelf, she sat hunched over a thick anatomy textbook. A hoodie draped loosely over her shoulders, and her hair usually styled was bundled in a messy puff behind her head.
Her eyes kept darting back to the same paragraph, over and over again.
She wasn't really reading. She was distracted and for a lot of reasons, she didn't know why.
The footsteps were slow.
Golden didn't look up at first. It was probably a librarian, or maybe one of the medical students who liked cramming in the dead of night. But the footsteps stopped right at her table. She looked up and felt her stomach drop.
Allan Renshaw dressed in a plain black hoodie and jeans, stood there. His gaze briefly swept the room behind him before returning to her. He said nothing. Just pulled out the chair across from hers and sat down.
Golden stared at him, completely thrown off.
"What... are you doing?" she asked, her voice low and cautious.
Allan leaned back in the chair like it was no big deal. "Relax."
Her eyebrows shot up. "I am relaxed."
He glanced pointedly at her hand. "You're squeezing your pen like it insulted your ancestors."
Golden blinked and looked down. She hadn't realized she was clutching it that tightly. With a soft, embarrassed laugh, she loosened her grip and set the pen down.
"You don't come to the library," she said.
"Doesn't mean I don't read."
"You don't read here."
Allan gave a small shrug, then reached into his bag and pulled out a biochemistry textbook. He opened it, stared at the page blankly, then looked at her again.
"You always sit in this same spot?" he asked casually.
She hesitated. "Most times."
"You like it quiet?"
"Yeah," she said, softening slightly. "I love my space."
He looked at her longer than he should have. Then he nodded, slowly. "You work hard," he said.
Golden blinked, unsure what to say to that. It wasn't a compliment. It wasn't flirtation. It sounded like an observation or maybe an insult?
"You don't?" she asked.
"I do. Just not when people are watching."
Silence stretched between them again. Golden didn't know what to make of this version of Allan, the one who didn't have girls draped over his shoulder or a smirk glued to his lips. He looked tired, he looked sincere.
Then he said it. "Have dinner with me."
Golden's heart jumped. "Sorry, what?"
"I'm asking you out to dinner this weekend."
Her pen dropped. She stared at him, mouth slightly open. "Why?"
Allan blinked. "What do you mean, why?"
"You've known me for years," she said slowly. "We've shared classes, lectures, exam halls. You've never said two words to me. You barely looked at me. Why asking me on a date now?"
He was quiet for a second. Then he scratched the back of his neck and said, "I'm just... trying to know you."
She stared at him like he was a puzzle with missing pieces. Part of her wanted to believe him. Another part was already preparing for the humiliation.
"And what brought this sudden... curiosity?" she asked cautiously.
"Maybe I got tired of pretending I didn't notice you," he said, his voice barely above a murmur. "Maybe you're harder to ignore than I thought."
Golden didn't respond immediately. She just looked at him, trying to read between the lines of his face. His tone wasn't teasing. His eyes weren't mocking. He wasn't playing. At least he didn't seem to be.
"When?" she asked quietly.
"Friday night," he said.
She hesitated. Then gave a small, uncertain nod. "Okay."
Allan smiled. It looked small and real. Then, as he stood to leave, he looked down at her and said, "And, uh... dress sexy."
Golden's brows shot up again. "Excuse you?"
He grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. "You heard me."
Her mouth opened in disbelief. "You're silly."
"I get that a lot."
He picked up his untouched textbook and walked off, his shoulders relaxed, his hoodie slipping off slightly as he disappeared into the rows of shelves.
Golden sat there for a while, too stunned to move. Her heart was racing, her cheeks warm. She wasn't sure if she was worried, nervous or excited.
It felt good to be seen, seen by Allan Renshaw. She had never been asked on a date before by anyone in school. She had only always been made fun of. Was Allan really serious, or was he really only playing a prank on her?
He was Allan, The ALLAN RENSHAW.
What was the worst that could happen to her? Possibly he could call and cancel, or at most stand her up.
Somehow she wanted to take a chance. She wanted to know what it felt like going on a date with the guy she has always liked.
Golden smiled at herself. She smiled at the thought of sharing a meal with an actual guy. She had that smile in place as she finally got back to reading her book.
In the far corner of the library, behind the tall History section, a student adjusted their glasses and quietly slipped out of sight.