To The Library

With the last remaining drops of sweat drying on his skin, Blake turned on the shower, the cold water plummeting against his skin. It stung, but it was a welcome relief from the heat of the gym and his nerves.

Once out, he grabbed a towel, rubbing it roughly over his hair before wrapping it around his waist. The locker room was empty, the echo of his teammates’ laughter and the clank of lockers fading into the distance. He pulled on a fresh shirt, the fabric sticking briefly to his still-damp skin. The scent of fabric softener and the faint hint of his deodorant filled the air as he dressed.

As he exited the locker room, he waited by the parking lot for Vivi to finish practice. He couldn’t hear any noise from the football field, but he heard chatter in the girls’ locker room.

Blake leaned against the cool brick wall, his eyes drifting to the morning sky. It was a great sunny day he had to admit. He sent a quick text to Vivi: "I'm out by the parking lot."

The response buzzed back almost immediately. "Be there in 2."

Two minutes later, Vivi emerged from the locker room, in a green top and white linen pants, her slightly wavy copper hair freely cascading past her shoulders.

“Hey, look at this rare occurrence” Blake said, “a person who is punctual”

Vivi rolled her eyes, “You know, I was taught to be punctual. My family doesn’t like being lte for important dinners”

“Well, it’s appreciated.”

“Your car or mine?” he asked

“Let’s go in yours. Mine’s too fancy to go to the library.” she said pointing to her Maserati Gran Turismo.

They both chuckled as they climbed into Blake’s beat-up, but reliable, Volksagen Golf. The engine rumbled to life and Blake backed out of the parking spot, the tires crackling against the gravel.

"So, what’s your fancy taste craving today?” Blake asked as they pulled out of the school parking lot.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, smirking. “You’re the one with the fancy taste, Hartley. I can eat anything that doesn’t taste like cardboard or school lunch meat.”

Blake’s eyes lit up. “How about Basil & Crumb? They’ve got that perfect blend of comfort food and actual flavor.”

Vivi’s smile grew. “Now, you’re speaking my language. Let’s go, I’m starving.”

Basil & Crumb was a haven of comfort and familiarity. The scent of garlic and warm bread wafted through the air as they opened the door, mingling with the low murmur of conversations and the clink of silverware. The walls were a warm honey color, lined with shelves of books that no one ever seemed to read, and the mismatched furniture looked like it had been picked from a series of garage sales. It was a place where everyone knew your name, or at least your order.

In the café, they order at the counter, their voices mingling with the clatter of pans and laughter of the regulars. Blake opts for a grilled cheese with a side of chicken soup, while Vivi selects a chicken avocado sandwich. They grab their drinks, a glass of water for him and a peppermint tea for her. The bell above the door jingles as they find a cozy table by the window, the sun casting a warm glow over the seats. The café's buzz surrounds them, a comforting white noise that lets them be themselves for a while.

They eat in a companionable silence, the occasional laughter from the kitchen punctuating their chewing. The tension between them is palpable, a dance of avoiding the topics that could lead to an argument. Instead, they talk about school — classes, teachers, and the upcoming group project they've been paired together for: analyzing Baroque themes in Romeo and Juliet. It's a strange balance, their rivalry and shared history, but the need to work together forces a tentative peace.

Finally, their plates are empty, and Vivi pushes back her chair with a contented sigh. "Ready to hit the books?" she asks, the corner of her mouth quirking up.

Blake nods, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Let's get this over with," he says, trying to keep his voice light. The thought of diving into Shakespeare with Vivi, of all people, is less than appealing, but the promise of getting closer to understanding her is too tempting to resist, plus he has to admit she's an absolute bombshell. They bundle up their trash and head out, the bell chiming again as the door swings shut behind them.

The library is a bastion of quiet in the otherwise bustling town. The smell of old books and the faint scent of coffee grounds greet them as they step through the arched entrance. The high ceilings and stained glass windows make the space feel both vast and intimate, a sanctuary for lost thoughts and forgotten stories. They make their way to a study table at the back, where the light is best, and spread out their books and notes.

Vivi pulls out a sleek, leather-bound copy of Romeo and Juliet, her finger tracing the gold embossed letters as she opens it to the table of contents. "So, where do we start?" she asks, her voice echoing a bit in the quiet. Blake watches her for a moment, noticing the way the light hits her red hair, setting it aflame.

"Where have you found that?" he asked, pointing to the book.

"At Ashbourne Manor's library, of course" she responded.

They start working on the project, the tension between them as palpable as the dust on the ancient tomes surrounding them. Blake grabs a pen, his hand hovering over a page of notes. He’s not a fan of poetry, and even less if it's hard to understand, but he has to protect that valedictorian position, so he has to get this over with. They begin to dissect the Baroque themes in the play, discussing the grandeur and the tragedy, the lightness and the darkness that dance together in Shakespeare's verses.

The library's silence is a stark contrast to the café's bustle. The only sounds are the occasional shuffle of papers and the distant murmur of a librarian. Vivi’s green eyes flit from her book to Blake, then back again. She’s the picture of focus, but there’s a hint of something else — a curiosity that seems out of place in their usually antagonistic dynamic.

Blake flips through the pages of the dusty textbook they've borrowed, his steel-gray eyes scanning the dense print for anything that might make their project shine. The words blur together, but he's determined to find the perfect angle to impress Ms. Keane. Vivi’s laugh catches him off guard — a rare and unexpected sound. He looks up to see her grinning at a footnote that's apparently hilarious.

"What's so funny?" he asks, unable to resist the tug of her amusement.

Vivi smiles, tucking a stray strand of red hair behind her ear. "Just a footnote. It's like the scholar had a bit of a sense of humor." She reads it out loud, and Blake can't help but chuckle too.

The tension between them starts to ease as they delve deeper into their research. They uncover layers of metaphor and symbolism that neither of them had noticed before. It’s strange, working so closely with Vivi. They’re from rival families, and yet here they are, bonding over poetry and plot points.

Blake’s steel-gray eyes scan the text, his mind racing. He’s used to reading plays for their strategic potential on the court, but here, in the library with Vivi’s sharp green eyes peering over her own book, he’s **** to appreciate the art of words. Her finger traces a line of text, and she looks up.

"You know, I never really understood why they had to die," she muses, flipping a page with a delicate touch. "Couldn’t they have just talked it out?"

Blake looks up from his notes, a smirk playing on his lips. "It’s a tragedy Vivi, the point is for it to not end well"

"I know, I know," she sighs, leaning back into the chair.

Their laughter fills the quiet library, drawing a few curious glances from nearby students. For a moment, the weight of their family names and the town's expectations seem to lift. They dive back into the project, their heads bent over the table, the only sound the rustle of pages and the occasional click of Vivi's pen.

Blake's finger stops on a line of text, a sudden revelation dawning on his face. "Vivi, check this out," he says, leaning over to show her. "This sonnet, right here. It's got this baroque twist I think you missed." He points to the elaborate language, the play of light and dark in Shakespeare's words. "See how it mirrors the tension between love and ****?"

Vivi, caught off guard by his enthusiasm, leans closer to see what he's talking about. She reads over the words, her sharp eyes narrowing in concentration. "You're right," she murmurs, a hint of surprise in her voice. "It's like he's painting with words."

Her gaze lingers on the page a moment longer, then flicks back up to meet his. "You know, you might not be that bad at this English stuff," she teases, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Blake raises an eyebrow, his voice a low drawl. "Might not be?" He leans back in his chair, arms crossed. "I'll have you know, I'm not just a jock, Vivi, and you know I have a higher GPA than you."

Vivi laughs, the sound echoing softly in the library's quietude. "I'm aware, Hartley," she says, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "But let's not forget who's captain of the cheer squad and who's just captain of a bunch of sweaty dudes with a ball."

Blake rolls his eyes, but his grin gives him away. He leans back in his chair, the legs scraping against the floor. "Fair enough, but you've got to admit, I've got a point here. This is deeper than just a love story gone wrong." He taps the book with a finger. "It's about the extravagance of love, the grandeur of their passion — and how it all crumbles under the weight of their families' pride."

Vivi nods, setting her pencil down. "You're right," she concedes. "It's like... they're dancing on the edge of a cliff. They know they could fall, but they just can't stop."

The library clock chimes twice, and Blake checks his watch. "It's two already?" He's surprised at how quickly the time has flown by.

Vivi nods, glancing around the now almost-deserted library. The sun has moved, casting shadows that stretch like fingers across the floor. "We've been here for 2 hours," she says, closing her book with a gentle thud. "But it feels like we've barely scratched the surface."

They pack up their books and notes, the quiet rustling echoing through the empty aisles. As they walk out, the cool autumn air greets them like a slap on the cheek. Blake squints against the sudden brightness, the sun glinting off the leaves. "Maybe Ms. Keane had a stroke of genius pairing us," he says, joking.

Vivi laughs, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah, maybe she knew we'd either kill each other or actually learn something."

Blake insisted on driving Vivi to her car. The silence between them was less taut than before, filled instead with the gentle hum of the engine.

"We should do this again," he said, keeping his eyes on the road. "Meet up, I mean. For the project."

Vivi turned to him, a hint of surprise in her expression. "Yeah," she agreed, her voice a bit softer than usual. "We actually got a lot done, but still a long ways to go if we want that perfect grade"

Blake pulled into the lot beside the sleek black sports car that was as much a part of her image as her perfectly tied ponytail. He put the car in park and leaned over to grab his bag from the back seat. "See you at the game later?" he said casually, not quite making eye contact.

Vivi nodded, unlocking her car with a beep. "Yeah, and good luck out there," she said, her voice a touch more genuine than usual. She slid into the driver's seat, the engine purring to life like a predator stretching its legs.

Blake watched her drive off, the sun glinting off her car's chrome trim. He took a deep breath and cranked up the volume on his favorite indie rock playlist, letting the music fill the space between them. The drive to his house was familiar, a route etched into his muscle memory from years of back and forth between school and home.

As he pulled into the driveway he thought about the game. He wasn’t nervous, he was determined. Determined to win.