Chapter 15

                                    

                                          
As I settled into my usual corner of the student lounge, the noise of chatter and laughter swirled around me, forming a backdrop to my thoughts. I was deep into a project on historical interpretations of magic—how ironic was that?—when the door swung open, and in walked Dan Smith.
He had that classic bad-boy vibe down to a T: tousled hair, a leather jacket that seemed to carry a scent of mischief, and an easy grin that made him look like he just stepped off the set of some coming-of-age movie. Honestly, he was the last person I wanted to work with.
"Hey, is this seat taken?" he asked, plopping down at my table without waiting for a response.
"Isn't it obvious?" I shot back, not bothering to hide my annoyance. "I'm trying to work here."
"Right, right. But you look like you could use some fun." He leaned back, completely unbothered, his posture relaxed and inviting. "What's the project about?"
"History of magic," I said, emphasizing each word. "Not exactly your speed, I'd imagine."
He chuckled, folding his arms with a confident smirk. "You'd be surprised. I have a wild imagination. Tell me about your magic."
For a second, I considered snapping at him again, but there was something strangely disarming about his attitude. Maybe it was the way he didn't seem to take himself too seriously, or perhaps it was just the distraction I didn't know I needed.
"Okay, Mr. Wild Imagination," I said, rolling my eyes. "Magic isn't all wand-waving and potions. It's about understanding energy and harnessing it—something I know a bit about."
"Sounds boring. Where's the excitement in that?" He leaned forward, a playful challenge dancing in his eyes.
I couldn't help but smirk. "Well, why don't you tell me what you think excitement is?"
"I don't know, maybe battling mythical creatures or going on quests to find ancient relics?" He grinned, clearly enjoying this banter, and I couldn't help but feel a flicker of amusement at his enthusiasm.
"Right, because that's totally realistic," I shot back. "How about a trip to the library instead?"
"Now you're talking!" he laughed, leaning back in his chair. "We can totally find the 'lost scrolls of history' there."
Rolling my eyes again, I began flipping through my notes. "Just don't touch my stuff."
As we dove into the project, I started to realize Dan wasn't half bad. Sure, he cracked jokes at the most inappropriate times, but he also had a knack for tying together ideas in ways I hadn't considered. It was irritating how quickly I got used to his presence.
Meanwhile, I kept in touch with Angel, who was diving deeper into his research on spirits. Whenever we had our late-night chats, he would share what he found, and his passion was contagious. It was fascinating, and while I had my own issues with spirits, hearing Angel's excitement about them softened my stance, if only a little.
One afternoon, as I walked into the lounge for another study session with Dan, I found him sprawled across the table, a smug grin plastered on his face. "You're late!"
"Excuse me?" I shot back. "You can't be serious. I was here first."
He pretended to check a non-existent watch on his wrist. "It's called fashionably late. Get with it."
"Right, because that's a thing." I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling despite myself, a warmth blooming in my chest that I quickly brushed aside.
We settled into our routine of studying, and I started to notice the little things about him: the way he tapped his pencil when he was deep in thought, the way his eyes sparkled when he made a joke, and how he leaned in just a little too close when he was excited about an idea. I had to admit, he was growing on me. It was an unsettling realization, and I shook it off like a pesky fly buzzing around my head.
"Hey," Dan said, breaking my train of thought. "We should grab coffee after this. I'll treat."
"What's with everyone and coffee?" I asked, genuinely baffled. "It's just brown water."
He laughed, clearly not taking my sarcasm to heart. "You'll thank me when you need a caffeine boost. Trust me."
As much as I wanted to refuse, there was a part of me curious about this spontaneous offer. So, with a resigned sigh, I nodded. "Fine, but only because I'm out of snacks."
And so, we ventured out together, our project momentarily forgotten in the chaos of college life. I could feel my resolve softening, just a little. Maybe having someone like Dan around wouldn't be the worst thing after all.
But deep down, I still knew I was on a mission, and this mundane distraction could only last so long. I was determined to uncover the truth behind the spirits Angel kept sending me updates about. Even if that meant enduring Dan's incessant jokes along the way.