Chapter 39: 39.

Xander pulled back slightly, his hands resting gently on my shoulders as his green eyes searched mine. His usual sharp wit and mischief had been replaced by a rare seriousness.

“Zeph,” he began softly, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity, “how did you and Ace meet?”

The question startled me. I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected shift in conversation. For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond, the memories rising to the surface like an unwelcome tide.

“It’s not that interesting,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.

Xander tilted his head, one eyebrow quirking upward in disbelief. “Come on. There’s gotta be a story there. I mean, how does anyone end up tangled with someone like him?”

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to revisit those moments. But Xander’s patient, unwavering gaze was impossible to resist. With a deep breath, I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest as I let the memories take hold.

“It was years ago,” I began, my voice distant as I slipped into the past. “I was...different then. Quieter. A total nerd, really. I kept to myself, didn’t talk to anyone, and didn’t have any friends. I was just the weird kid who buried her nose in books and avoided eye contact.”

Xander leaned against the wall beside me, his expression softening as he listened.

“The first time I met Ace, it wasn’t anything special,” I continued. “It was in the corridor, actually. I was walking to class—English B1—when this guy stopped me. He had this confident air about him, like he already knew he didn’t belong there, like the world owed him something. I didn’t know who he was at the time, but…”

I trailed off, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips as the memory crystallized.

FLASHBACK

The first time I saw him, I didn’t think much of it.

I was in the middle of navigating the bustling corridor, clutching a stack of books to my chest while silently willing myself to disappear. It was a ritual I’d perfected over the years—head down, glasses slipping down my nose, and all my attention focused on not bumping into anyone.

“Excuse me.”

The voice was smooth, warm, and unfamiliar. I froze for a moment, startled. People didn’t usually stop me or ask me anything. My world was quiet, predictable, and—thankfully—far removed from interactions like this.

I glanced up briefly, just enough to register his presence. He was tall, with an air of confidence that didn’t match the hesitant tone in his voice. His hair was slightly tousled, like he hadn’t bothered to comb it properly, and he held a crumpled piece of paper in one hand.

“Can you tell me where the English B1 class is?” he asked, his tone almost uncertain, as if he wasn’t sure whether he should even be talking to me.

My grip tightened on my books. My heart raced for no logical reason, and my words got caught in my throat. Without really looking at him, I adjusted my glasses and gestured down the hall.

“End of the corridor, third door on the left,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

I didn’t give him a chance to respond. Turning away quickly, I resumed my path, walking faster than before. My heart was still racing, though I couldn’t understand why. Maybe it was because he’d noticed me—acknowledged me in a way most people didn’t. But I shoved the thought aside.

“Just some guy,” I told myself firmly. “Nothing to think about.”

Still, as I rounded the corner, I couldn’t shake the strange feeling in my chest. I never knew someone could really notice me, and apart from everyone; only he did.

BACK TO PRESENT

“That was it,” I said with a shrug, glancing at Xander. “It was a short, random encounter. I didn’t think much of it at the time.”

Xander leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Didn’t think much of it, huh? Sure you didn’t. Let me guess—he left you all flustered, didn’t he?”

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “I wasn’t flustered, Xander. I barely even noticed him.”

“Yeah, right,” Xander said, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. “So, what happened next? Don’t tell me that was the last time you saw him.”

I hesitated, the memory of our next meeting bubbling to the surface. “No,” I admitted, my voice soft. “The second time we met was in the library.”

Xander’s grin widened. “Ooh, the library. Very romantic. Were sparks flying between the bookshelves?”

“Will you let me tell the story?” I snapped, but there was no real heat in my voice.

Xander held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. Go on. I’m all ears.”

I exhaled, letting myself sink into the memory. “I was at my usual table in the corner, surrounded by books. I was working on a comparative essay, and I was so focused I didn’t even hear him walk up.”

“Oh, I bet you noticed him eventually,” Xander teased.

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” I said, giving him a pointed look. “He leaned against my table and asked, ‘What are you working on?’”

Xander laughed. “Classic Ace. Always finding a way to make an entrance.”

“I jumped so badly I nearly knocked over my books,” I admitted, the memory making me smile despite myself. “When I looked up, he was just… standing there, looking at me like he was genuinely curious.”

“And what did you say?” Xander asked, leaning in like he was hearing the greatest story ever told.

“I told him it was a comparative essay,” I said, mimicking my nervous tone from that day. “He smirked and said, ‘Sounds thrilling.’”

Xander laughed harder, shaking his head. “That sounds exactly like him. How did you react?”

“I asked if he needed something,” I said, crossing my arms. “I was busy, and he was just standing there, distracting me.”

“Oh, you were definitely flustered,” Xander said, his grin turning sly.

“I wasn’t,” I protested, though the heat rising to my cheeks said otherwise. “I was annoyed. He was interrupting me.”

“Annoyed, sure,” Xander said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Go on. What happened next?”

I sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “He just said, ‘No, just making conversation,’ and then walked away like it was no big deal. But the way he looked at me… it was like he saw right through me. It was unsettling.”

Xander nodded, his expression softening. “Sounds like he made an impression, even if you didn’t want him to.”

“Maybe,” I admitted reluctantly. “But at the time, I thought that was the end of it. I didn’t realize it was just the beginning.”

Xander grinned, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I’ve got to say, Zephyr, this is turning into quite the story. So, what happened after that? Don’t leave me hanging.”

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You’ll have to wait, Xander. Some stories take time to tell.”