"Hey, Michael," Sarah's voice floated through the line, soft and sweet. "I am sorry for not calling sooner. I plan to return the book you wanted. Are you free to meet up tomorrow at the library?"
Excitement bubbled up inside him. "Absolutely! I would love that. Let us meet at the checkout counter."
After they confirmed the time, Michael hung up, and a huge grin spread across his face.
The next day, he arrived at the library way too early; his heart was buzzing with anticipation. When Sarah finally showed up, she caught his eye immediately. She looked stunning in a sky-blue silk dress that made her stand out in the sea of books.
"I brought the book for you," she said, handing him the novel with that gentle smile that always made his heart skip a beat.
"Thanks!" Michael whispered, barely able to contain his excitement. As he took the book from her, their fingers brushed. A spark coursed through him. Looking into her eyes seemed to bring him home, just like they first met. Everything around them seemed to glow a little brighter.
Weeks flew by, and those library meetups became the highlight of Michael's day. They talked about everything—books, movies, childhood stories, and dreams for the future. With every conversation, he felt himself drawn to her increasingly. Sarah, still a bit shy, started to open, surprising him with her sharp wit and quiet humor that always made him laugh.
He could not help but wonder—was this just a friendship, or could it be something more?
As Michael and Sarah continued to meet in the library and the movie theatre, Michael's best friend, David, and Sarah's roommate, Mia, developed a more profound friendship, too.
One sunny afternoon, as they lounged in their dorm room, Michael casually mentioned Sarah to David. "Do you remember the girl from the library I told you about?" he asked, trying to gauge David's reaction.
"Yeah! The one who loves reading? What is going on there?" David leaned back in his chair with a mischievous grin on his face.
Michael shrugged, feeling slightly bashful. "I like her, man. She has this whole vibe about her that is just… different."
"Being different is good! You are not the type to chase just anyone. What makes her stand out?" David leaned in, intrigued.
"It is hard to explain. She is not loud or flashy. But when we talk about books, her eyes light up. It is like I am seeing a different side of myself." Michael paused, recalling their conversations. "And she has the amazing ability to make you feel understood. We talked about everything—books, life, our dreams about the future."
David chuckled, "A love bug has bitten you, my friend! It sounds like you need to ask her out on a proper date. What are you waiting for?"
Michael muttered, sipping his drink. "But it is not that easy. What if I scare her away? What if she does not feel the same? "
David laughed, shaking his head. "Man, you must stop overthinking! Just tell her. Life is too short for all the guessing."
David noticed Michael's hesitation and added, "Look at Mia and me. I did not waste time. I went for it. I told her I enjoyed being with her. I was straight to the point. And here we are."
David continued, "Mia is a lovely girl. As soon as I felt a crush on her, I asked for her phone number right away. As I said, life is short. Just go straight and simple, with everything, everyone!"
"Yeah, she is," Michael admitted, thinking about how Mia seemed to light up on other occasions when she joined in. "What is she like when she is not cheering for you at the basketball games?"
"Mia is a whirlwind of energy. She is a dancing queen, so she is always moving, always vibrant. We first met at a dance party, and she pulled me up to dance like I knew what I was doing," David laughed. "At first, I was a total disaster, but she just twirled around and laughed. The joy she had was contagious."
"Sounds like she is a perfect match for you," Michael said, smiling.
"Exactly! At least for now" David said, then continued thoughtfully, "Sarah sounds like someone you could get close with."
"I was going to express my feelings towards her, but I didn't know how to bring it up," Michael replied, scratching his head.
"Just be honest. Girls like that. I mean, it worked for me with Mia," David nudged. "You must leap, friend! Let me know if you need any help."
Taking his friend's advice to heart, Michael decided to find a moment to let Sarah know how he felt about her. But there was something about Mia that sparked Michael's curiosity as well. Whenever David and Mia were together, their playful banter was infectious. It made Michael wonder how their relationship had developed and whether Sarah and he could create something similar.
As time passed by, Michael, Sarah, Mia, and David started hanging out more for casual study sessions. One evening, after wrapping up their group project, Michael felt this warm, comfortable vibe as he watched Sarah and Mia chat and laugh. Mia, now sitting on David's lap, giggled at his jokes, and their laughter filled the room, making everything feel light.
For the first time in a while, Michael felt a sense of hope about the future. The way Mia and David clicked so naturally made him jealous. Just maybe, he could open up to Sarah soon.
After the study session ended and everyone had left, Michael found Sarah sitting on the couch, lost in thought. "Hey, let's take a walk in the garden," he said.
They walked through the campus garden, the scent of roses lingering in the air. The evening was calm, and Michael felt his heart race, knowing what he wanted to say but unsure how to say it.
"Mia and David appear to be pretty happy, don't they?" Michael said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Sarah agreed, her voice soft. "They fit together. It is nice to see."
Michael hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I have been thinking a lot lately... about us." He paused, watching her reaction carefully. "I like you, Sarah. I mean, really like you."
He whispered, his heart racing as he lowered his head, afraid to look at her.
Sarah blinked, her face flushing as she processed his words. Her heart was pounding too, but it was not a bad feeling. She had been feeling the same connection but had been too nervous to admit it.
"Oh, really?" she said, her voice soft and a bit surprised. "I... I like you too, Michael." A shy smile spread across her face. "I've been waiting for you to say something."
Relief washed over Michael, and without thinking, he reached out and took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that," he said, his voice steady but full of emotion. "Do you know how long I have been nervous about this? I was so scared of messing things up between us."
Sarah smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "I am glad you told me. I was scared, too."
They shared a quiet smile before leaning into a hug. Without thinking, Michael leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, tentative kiss. At that moment, as if the world outside had disappeared. It was just the two of them in this world. Their connection, something they had danced around for so long, finally felt real.
As they pulled apart, Michael smiled. "So... does this mean we're officially...dating?"
"Yeah," Sarah whispered, her heart full of affection. "I guess so."
They walked back hand in hand, filled with excitement about what the future would unfold. Michael could not help but think about what was ahead for them, for David and Mia, for all of them.