Chapter 6

"I was trying to get your attention! You had your AirPods in, you heathen!" she said, crossing her arms defensively—though the corner of her mouth betrayed her with a twitch. "Oh gosh, let it go!"

His grin widened. "You could've, I don't know, tapped me on the shoulder? Used your words?"

"I did! Twice! You ignored me!"

"I didn't ignore you—I couldn't hear you."

"Excuses," she declared, like she'd just won a trial. "Desperate times, desperate measures."

Julian ran a hand through his hair, laughing. "I remember turning around and thinking, 'Who the hell throws breakfast food at strangers? What kind of country is this?'"

Sloane snorted. "Yeah, and then you glared at me like I'd personally offended your ancestors."

"I was startled! You don't expect a bagel to become a projectile weapon at eight a.m. outside the admin office."

They both burst out laughing, their voices echoing off the porch beams, breaking the soft rhythm of crickets outside.

Julian glanced at her with that lazy half-smile. "But, to be fair... it worked. You got my attention."

She side-eyed him. "Don't sound so proud of that. I was mortified afterward."

"Really? You didn't seem mortified. You looked me straight in the eye and said—what was it?—'You dropped this, handsome.'"

Her eyes widened. "Oh my god, I did not say that!"

"You did," he said, grinning. "And for the record, I was this close—" he held two fingers a sliver apart—"to ask for your number right there. But you vanished before I could."

"I had class!" she said quickly, hiding a blush creeping in her cheeks, then muttered, "And also zero survival instincts when it comes to talking to attractive people."

Julian raised a brow, smirk tugging at his lips. "Attractive, huh?"

She froze. "I meant—uh—objectively speaking. Like... in a general, new-face-on-campus kind of way."

"Ah. Right. Totally objective," he said, suppressing a grin. "Don't worry, I won't let it go to my head."

Sloane rolled her eyes, turning back toward the dark stretch of trees. "I can't believe you're teasing me for trying to do a good deed."

Julian leaned back, still watching her. "You know what's funny? After that, I couldn't stop wondering who you were. You didn't tell me your major, or your year, or anything. Just a name."

"Sounds like me," she admitted with a shrug.

"But," he continued, tone soft but playful, "when I walked into the club meeting and saw you again, I honestly thought I was hallucinating. Like the bagel incident had followed me."

Sloane smirked. "That's karma. For glaring at me like that."

Julian laughed, unguarded and warm. "I wasn't offended, I was impressed. Most people don't have that kind of arm. I was, what—twenty meters away?"

"I wasn't aiming! It just—flew!"

"Sure, sure. Next time, you could use your legs instead."

She shot him a look.

"I meant to run after me," he quickly added with a grin. "Your mind always jumps to the funniest conclusions, you know that?"

Sloane's breath caught for half a second—not that she'd ever admit it. She turned back toward the woods where fireflies blinked through the trees pouting in annoyance, pretending she didn't notice the warmth in his voice.

Then Julian glanced sideways at her, mischief sparking in his eyes. "You're awfully rude for someone who was flirting with me so hard the first time we met."

Sloane's head whipped toward him so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash. "I was not flirting with you!"

He didn't flinch. If anything, his grin grew wider, like she'd said exactly what he'd wanted to hear. "You sure about that?" He tilted his head, eyes narrowing playfully. "Because you kept staring at me. Like this—" he exaggerated a wide-eyed, lovesick stare that made her burst into laughter.

"I was definitely not staring at you like that," she said, arms crossing tighter.

"Then what were you doing?"

"I was trying to figure out if I recognized you from somewhere," she countered, chin lifting.

Julian hummed thoughtfully, still twirling the lollipop in his mouth. "Oh yeah?" he said finally, his grin turning smug. "Can't imagine where. It's not like I'm a pop star or something."

Sloane couldn't help laughing. "Please. You're basically a mini pop star. A world-ranked athlete? You have some fans, interviews, sponsorships—people literally scream your name at meets."

"Mini pop star, huh?" he echoed, laughing for real this time—a warm, easy sound that settled into her chest like a low melody. He looked at her again, his expression softening, the teasing gentler now. "Guess that explains the bagel assault, then. Couldn't resist throwing something at your celebrity crush."

She groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

"Not a chance."

They stood there grinning at each other, fireflies drifting lazily through the trees, the summer night humming softly around them. It was awfully romantic.

"Well, I should probably go back inside and humiliate myself trying to hit the high notes at karaoke," Sloane said at last, having soaked in the night air long enough. She turned toward the tavern, the laughter and music spilling out from the open door, not really waiting for a reply.

"Hey, Sloane."

Julian's voice stopped her mid-step. He hadn't moved, still leaning against the wooden post, the glow from the porch light catching the edge of his jaw.

"Yeah?" she asked, glancing back over her shoulder.

"Wanna be my friend?"

She blinked at him—then let out a short laugh through her nose. "What are you, five?" she teased, one eyebrow raised.

Julian shrugged, the lollipop shifting to the side of his mouth, pressing a round bump into his cheek. "I almost don't know anyone here," he said simply. "And I like you. Wouldn't mind seeing you again."

Sloane stared at him for a beat longer than she meant to, her mind caught somewhere between is he serious? and why does that sound kind of nice?

The porch light flickered, and for a second, he didn't look like the confident golden boy everyone talked about—just some guy trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Okay," she said finally, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Let's be friends."

Julian's grin widened, slow and unbothered. "See you around, then."

And with that, she turned and slipped back inside, heart still beating a little too fast for a conversation that simple.