Golden Strings

The warmth of the late afternoon sun bathed the campus in a golden glow, filtering through the autumn leaves as Elara made her way to the library. She wasn’t avoiding Theo, but she wasn’t seeking him out either. The tension from their first encounter still lingered in her mind, a confusing mix of irritation and something she refused to name.

As she reached the library’s entrance, she exhaled sharply. It’s fine. You won’t even run into him again. This is a big campus.

Inside, the scent of old books and fresh paper filled the air, and she relaxed. The library was her favorite place, a haven of quiet corners and stories waiting to be unraveled. She found an empty table by the window and pulled out her notebook, determined to focus on her work.

Minutes passed. Then an hour.

And just when she was starting to get lost in her work, the chair across from her scraped against the floor.

Elara looked up, expecting another student, but her heart dropped when she met a familiar pair of warm brown eyes.

Theo Lancaster.

“Do you always take up a whole table by yourself, Sinclair?” he asked, setting his coffee cup down with an easy confidence that made her bristle.

“Do you always intrude on people who are clearly busy, Lancaster?” she shot back.

Theo smirked, unbothered. “I was here first.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “You absolutely were not.”

“I was. Mentally.”

She groaned. “You are insufferable.”

“And yet, here I am, keeping you entertained.”

She huffed, snapping her notebook shut. “What do you even want?”

He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping rhythmically on his coffee cup. “Maybe I just enjoy getting on your nerves.”

“Well, congratulations. You’re succeeding."

Theo laughed and something about the sound which was warm and genuine caught her off guard. It wasn’t the smug and taunting tone she was used to.

“I like you, Sinclair.”

Elara blinked. What?

Before she could react, Theo leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table.

“As an academic rival, of course,” he added with a teasing glint in his eyes.

Elara exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes. “Of course.”

“But seriously,” Theo continued, his voice turning softer. “You’re interesting. Most people either try too hard to impress me or stay out of my way. You? You fight back.”

Elara crossed her arms. “Maybe that’s because you give me a reason to.”

“Maybe.”

A brief silence fell between them. The golden light outside had started to fade, the quiet murmur of students flipping pages, and typing filled the space around them.

Elara sighed, deciding that fighting him was exhausting. “Fine. You can sit here. Just don’t bother me.”

Theo grinned, as if he’d won something. “No promises.”

And somehow, despite herself, Elara didn’t entirely mind.

++++++++++

The weeks that followed were filled with a strange pattern—Theo showing up in unexpected places, Elara pretending to be annoyed, and yet, never truly pushing him away.

He was everywhere. In the library. At the coffee shop she liked. Even in the campus garden, where she often went to clear her mind.

"Are you following me?” she asked one day when she caught him sitting on her bench.

Theo, sipping from his ever-present coffee cup, raised an eyebrow. “I think you’re following me.”

She scoffed. “This has been my spot since freshman year.”

“Interesting. Because I’ve been coming here for the past few weeks and you’re the one who just showed up.”

Elara narrowed her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” Theo said, smirking, “you’re still standing here talking to me.”

She wanted to argue, but he had a point.

It didn’t make sense. The constant banter, the playful rivalry, the way her heart stuttered whenever he looked at her too long.

She didn’t like him.

…Right?

++++++++++

One evening, a storm rolled in, drenching the campus in cold rain. Elara had been caught without an umbrella, huddling under the awning of the library.

She cursed under her breath. Great. Just great.

A familiar voice broke through the sound of raindrops. "Need help?"

She turned to find Theo standing beside her, holding an umbrella. His jacket was slightly wet and his hair was messier than usual.

"I'll walk," she said stubbornly.

"In this?" He gestured toward the heavy rain.

"I've handled worse."

Theo tilted his head, as if assessing her. Then, without another word, he stepped closer and held the umbrella over her.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Walking you home."

"I didn't ask you to."

"And yet, here I am."

She should've pushed him away, but the warmth of his presence was something she had not realized she needed.

As they walked, their steps synchronized, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

Maybe, just maybe, getting tangled in golden strings wasn't the worst thing after all.