The library was unusually quiet that afternoon, just the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle of pages. David sauntered in, scanning the room lazily until his eyes landed on a familiar flash of red. Betty was sitting at a corner table, her nose buried in a thick book, completely oblivious to the world around her.
Perfect.
He slid into the seat across from her, dropping his bag on the floor with a thud. The noise made her look up, her green eyes narrowing when she saw who it was.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice flat.
“Mind if I join you?” David replied, flashing his signature grin.
“Yes,” she said without missing a beat, her gaze dropping back to her book.
David leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. “You know, most girls would kill to have me sitting here right now.”
Betty didn’t even look up. “Most girls don’t know any better.”
He blinked, momentarily thrown off by the coolness of her tone. “Wow, you really don’t like me, huh?”
“Was that not clear?” she said, flipping a page.
David chuckled, the sound low and amused. “I gotta admit, you’re making this fun for me, Red.”
“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, her eyes finally meeting his.
“Why not? It suits you. Fiery hair, fiery temper. You’re like a little firecracker,” he teased, leaning back in his chair.
Betty sighed, closing her book with deliberate slowness. “David, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I’m not interested. So why don’t you go find someone else to bother?”
“Because you’re way more interesting than everyone else in this place,” he said, his grin softening into something more genuine. “You actually have a backbone.”
Betty rolled her eyes. “And you actually have an ego the size of Texas.”
The banter continued, sharp and relentless, until David found himself leaning closer without even realizing it. Her cheeks were flushed, whether from irritation or something else, he wasn’t sure. Either way, he was drawn in. Before he could think twice, he reached out, his hand cupping her face as he kissed her.
For a brief moment, everything froze. Betty’s lips were soft, warm, and completely still. And then she shoved him away, her palm connecting with his cheek in a slap that echoed through the library.
“Are you insane?” she hissed, her voice a furious whisper. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
David rubbed his cheek, trying to recover his composure. “You didn’t exactly stop me,” he said with a smirk, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.
Betty glared at him, her green eyes blazing. “Don’t ever do that again.”
She grabbed her book and stormed out, leaving David sitting there, stunned and—for once—speechless.