Chapter 4 – One Kiss

FREYA.

I forgot how to breathe the second Maddox smiled at me. My heart pounded so loudly that I was sure he could hear it through the silence between us. I had spent the whole evening trying to avoid him, and now I was standing right in front of him with no idea what to say. My mind screamed at me to run, but Cassie's threats held my feet in place. If I walked away now, my nightmare would only get worse.

"So?" Maddox asked, folding his arms with a playful grin. "You came all the way over here just to stare at me?"

"I...uh… no."

He chuckled.

"Good. I was starting to think I had something on my face."

Despite everything, I let out a nervous laugh.

"No. You look... normal."

"Normal?” 

He placed a hand over his chest.

"Ouch. Most girls usually say handsome."

"I-I'm not most girls,” I told him.

"I noticed."

His smile softened, and for some reason that made me even more nervous.

I looked down at my shoes, trying to think of something that would make him follow me without making him suspicious. My palms had become so sweaty that I rubbed them against my dress. Every second that passed made me feel more trapped. I could almost imagine Cassie watching from somewhere behind me, waiting to see whether I would fail again.

"I wanted to..." I began before my voice disappeared.

"You wanted to?"

I forced myself to meet his eyes.

"I wanted to talk."

His eyebrows lifted.

"With me?"

"Yes."

"That's a surprise."

"Why?" I asked.

"You've spent years pretending I don't exist,” he replied. 

"I have not."

"You kind of have."

"I've said hello before."

"Twice."

"I've said it more than twice,” I argued.

He laughed.

"Maybe three times."

His easy laughter made it harder to remember why I was here. This wasn't the loud, overconfident hockey captain I had always imagined. Standing out here away from the music, he seemed calmer, almost... normal. He wasn't trying to impress anyone. He was simply talking to me, and somehow that made my chest feel strangely warm.

"So," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "What did you want to talk about?"

I looked around quickly.

"Not here."

He glanced toward the crowded hall.

"You don't like crowds?"

I shook my head.

"They make me nervous."

"I kind of figured."

"There... there's somewhere quieter."

He smiled again.

"Lead the way."

For a second I couldn't believe he had agreed so easily. I turned before he could see the surprise on my face and started walking across campus. The night air was cool against my skin, and the loud music slowly faded behind us. I could hear his footsteps a short distance behind me, steady and relaxed, while mine felt clumsy and uncertain. Every few seconds I wondered if I should stop and tell him the truth, but fear always won.

After a few minutes we reached the old library. It had been closed for repairs since the beginning of summer, so almost nobody came here anymore. One small light still worked near the entrance, filling the room with a soft yellow glow after I pushed the door open. Dust floated through the air, and the familiar smell of old books surrounded us.

Maddox looked around.

"I haven't been here in months."

"I used to come here all the time."

He nodded. "I remember."

I turned toward him in surprise.

"You do?"

He nodded again.

"You always sat by the window with a huge stack of books."

"You noticed that?"

He shrugged.

"I notice more than people think."

His answer caught me completely off guard. I had always believed Maddox barely knew my name. Hearing that he remembered something so small made my stomach twist in a way I couldn't explain.

"You look different tonight," he said quietly.

I instinctively pulled at my dress.

"I know."

"It's not a bad thing."

I looked away.

"I don't really wear clothes like this."

"I figured."

"I feel ridiculous."

"You shouldn't."

His voice was gentle enough to make me look back at him.

"You look beautiful."

The words stole every thought from my head.

Nobody had ever looked at me like that before. Nobody had ever said those words as if they truly meant them.

"I..."

My cheeks burned.

"Thank you."

Neither of us spoke for a few seconds. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was strange, warm, and somehow peaceful. I could hear my own heartbeat while Maddox watched me with a small smile that didn't seem forced. For the first time all night, I forgot about Cassie.

"I always wondered why you avoided me," he admitted.

"I don't avoid you."

"You do."

"I don't."

He laughed softly.

"Freya, every time I come over to your house, you disappear."

"I just..."

"You what?"

"I get nervous."

"Nervous around me?"

I nodded before I could stop myself.

His smile grew wider.

"I never knew I was that scary."

"You're not scary."

"No?"

"Just..."

I searched for the right word.

"Confusing."

He blinked.

"That's a new one."

I laughed quietly.

"You ask too many questions."

"I'm curious."

"About me?" I asked, slightly surprised by the comment. In fact, I was surprised by the flow of everything happening tonight. I had imagined things to be a bit more difficult than it seemed right now.

"Maybe,” he replied.

The way he said it made my heart skip.

I suddenly remembered why I had brought him here. My hand slipped into my purse where my phone rested. If I texted Cassie now, she would come here. She would think I had done what she wanted, and this would finally be over.

Instead of reaching for my phone, I found myself staring at Maddox again.

He was already looking at me.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"You've been staring."

"So have you."

"Fair point."

We both laughed.

The sound echoed through the quiet library.

To make this look believable, that was all this was.

I took one slow step closer. He didn't move away. I took another step, and now only a few inches separated us.

His eyes searched mine, almost asking a question he hadn't spoken aloud.

Before I could lose my courage, I leaned forward and pressed my lips gently against his.

For one second, everything stopped.

I expected the kiss to be quick, awkward and forgettable.

Instead, warmth rushed through me so suddenly that I forgot where I was. Maddox hesitated for the smallest moment, clearly surprised, but then he kissed me back just as gently. His hand lightly brushed against my arm, sending a shiver through my whole body. My heart raced so wildly that I thought it might burst from my chest.

When we finally pulled apart, we simply stared at each other.

His eyes looked just as shocked as mine felt.

"I..." he whispered. "You kissed me."

"I know."

"I wasn't expecting that."

"I wasn't either."

A small laugh escaped both of us. It felt real, too real.

For a few precious heartbeats, I completely forgot about Cassie, the dare, and every terrible decision that had brought me here.

Then the library door suddenly creaked open, and I spun around.

Cassie stood in the doorway.

A slow smile spread across her face.

"There you are," she said.

Every bit of warmth vanished from my body, and panic crashed over me instantly.

Without thinking, I stepped away from Maddox.

"I... I have to go."

"Freya?" Maddox called, confused.

"I'm sorry."

Those were the only words I managed before I ran.

I pushed past Cassie without looking at her and rushed out into the night. Tears blurred my vision as I kept running, not caring where I was going. I only knew I had to get away before anyone saw my face.