Meilin's POV
It was quiet.
The kind of quiet I only found in the garden behind the library, where the breeze smelled like grass and old bark, and the world finally slowed down. My law textbook was open in my lap, but my eyes weren't moving across the page anymore.
Not since Theo sat down next to me.
He didn't say much—just collapsed beside me, sweat still clinging to his shirt from football practice, hair messy, a little damp at the ends. Tattoos peeking from his sleeves. That lip piercing catching the sun.
I didn't need to look to know he was watching me. I could feel it. I always did.
And maybe I should've been annoyed, should've told him to go shower or at least give me space to study. But the truth was… I didn't mind when he was around. He made the world feel heavier and lighter all at once.
So I did the unthinkable.
I leaned my head on his shoulder.
He went still like I'd short-circuited him. His body was warm, tense at first, but then it relaxed beneath me—slowly, almost hesitantly.
My heart was beating too fast. I was supposed to be reading about tort law. Instead, I was memorizing the rhythm of his breathing, the faint scent of his cologne—cleaner today, not cigarettes, something deeper, like cedarwood and warmth.
His hand brushed the grass behind me.
Then, after what felt like minutes of silence, his fingers found mine—tentative, gentle, like he wasn't sure he was allowed.
I let him.
I turned my hand over and laced our fingers together.
I didn't look at him.
He didn't say a word.
But in that stillness—under the tree, surrounded by whispers of wind and the soft hum of spring—I realized something had changed. Not suddenly. Not all at once.
But it was there.
In the way he held my hand.
In the way I let him.
I'd fallen quietly.
He was falling loudly.
And somehow, we met in the middle.
---
Ava's POV
When Meilin walked into our dorm room that evening, something was off.
Her face was calm. Too calm.
She closed the door gently, dropped her bag at the foot of her bed, and started pulling out her notes like it was any other day. No dramatic sighs. No rants about professors assigning six chapters overnight. No sarcastic complaints about our cafeteria salad tasting like lawn clippings.
Suspicious.
I narrowed my eyes.
She reached for her laptop.
"Don't even think about opening that," I said, snatching it out of her reach and tossing it dramatically onto my bed.
"Hey!" she protested, lunging forward.
"No. Sit. Spill. You've got that dumb quiet look you only get when you've had a moment."
She blinked. "I always look quiet."
"No, you look like a Disney deer most of the time. This is different. This is 'I rested my head on Theo Ashford's shoulder and forgot how to breathe' energy."
She froze. Her silence was confirmation.
I gasped like I'd just solved a murder.
"Oh. My. God. YOU DID, DIDN'T YOU?"
"Ava—"
"Don't 'Ava' me! Meilin Chen, you emotionally repressed cinnamon roll—you laid your head on the Prince of Political Science and survived!" I flung myself backwards onto my bed with a dramatic arm-flail.
Meilin groaned into her hands. "It wasn't even that big of a deal."
"Excuse you, he has a lip ring and commitment issues. It's a massive deal."
"AVA!"
I sat up, grinning. "Did he say anything?"
She hesitated. Then—quietly—"He held my hand."
I screamed into a pillow. "This is worse than I thought! You're holding hands now?! What are you, married?"
She buried her burning face into her hands.
"Did he smile? Did he do that stupid thing where he squints one eye like he's better than everyone but you?"
She gave me a reluctant, tiny nod.
"You're doomed, babe."
Meilin flopped face-first onto her bed. "I hate you."
"No you don't," I said sweetly, poking her side. "You love me. I'm your therapist, best friend, and matchmaker. Now tell me everything, and don't leave out any weird romantic finger twitching."
---
Later That Night
Meilin's pov
Theo's Texts to Meilin
> Theo:
you always this soft when you read or is it just when you're on my shoulder
> Theo:
not complaining
just saying my neck still feels warm
> Theo:
also you smell like jasmine
or vanilla
or like you're good for me
which is worse tbh
> Theo:
still awake, little firecracker?
> Theo:
or passed out dreaming about me again?
> Theo:
(ps. I still have your pen)
(I'm keeping it hostage until you come get it)
Meilin reads the texts under her blanket, screen lighting up her blush, fingers hesitating to reply, heart doing that annoying flippy thing it only does for him.
And from across campus, Theo smirks at the "typing…" bubble.
Under the covers, screen lighting up her face. Heart thumping like it's late for something.
> Meilin:
jasmine??
you sure it's not just the garden we were in?
> Theo:
nope
garden didn't make my heart beat out of my chest
you did.
She stares at the message, warmth rushing to her cheeks.
> Meilin:
dramatic much?
> Theo:
honest, actually.
you always do this to me. just exist and ruin my peace.
> Meilin:
maybe I should apologize then.
> Theo:
don't you dare.
keep ruining it.
I like the mess.
She presses her lips together, smiling, trying to breathe through the butterflies.
> Meilin:
I couldn't sleep either.
maybe it's the tea
or the fact that you're still holding my pen hostage.
> Theo:
or maybe you just missed me.
admit it, firecracker.
> Meilin:
…maybe I did.
Silence on his end for a moment.
> Theo:
good.
cause I haven't stopped thinking about you since you laid your head on my shoulder.
> Meilin:
you make it sound like I climbed into your lap or something.
> Theo:
don't tempt me.
I'd hold you there and never let you go.
> Meilin:
theo…
> Theo:
yeah?
> Meilin:
bring my pen tomorrow.
and maybe
bring you too.
> Theo:
I'm already yours.
just say the word.
Her hand flies to her face. She's grinning now. Helplessly.