Crossing Paths

ht. Sunlight streamed through cracks in the ceiling, highlighting layers of dust and cobwebs hanging from the wooden beams. Faded murals that once adorned the wa

ctural repairs, electrical rewiring, repainting, and a long list of other problems. Still, the potential

with a confident ease that made her grip her pen tighter. He carried a clipboard in

d, his tone light but

h a plan," she replied, kee

s gaze sweeping the room. "You're going to

oll her eyes. "I'm aware of

Just making sure. Don't want you getting

id, snapping her notebook shut. "Unli

Is that what you think? That I stayed here

id, though the accusation i

nearby workbench. "You've been back for what

ize someone who's comfortable stayi

rugged, the tension rolling off him like water. "Alright, Monroe. You want to think that, go a

her heart pounding in her chest. Jake Harper had always been good at getting under her skin

-

k out the noise of Jake and his team moving around the building. The library's interi

ts in his hand. "We need to talk about the structura

her sketchpad aside.

foundation. "The west wing is sinking. If we don't address it

t tearing it down?" she ask

he blueprints. "It'll be tricky, but it's doable. The que

rowed. "What

s," he explained. "It's not a quick fix. If you w

elt like a lie. Deadlines were her lifeline in Ne

hen nodded. "Alright. I'll get t

Jake rolled up the blueprints, his smirk returned.

turned back to her sketches, determined to prove that

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iration. The space was lined with dusty shelves, their contents long forgotten. A single ray of s

ace. It was a beautiful piece, intricately carved with delicate pat

e silence. "Found som

o face him. "Do you alwa

rame. "Didn't mean to startle you. Jus

the rest of the library used to look like this, I can't

k. "It's a shame, isn't it? This place used to be the heart of the t

the hint of nostalgia in his voice.

know about me," he said

y saw a different side of him-a side that wasn't all smirks and jabs. But the

desk," he said. "It's probably

u really know how to rui

nded," he said, winkin

ne thing she was sure of, it was that working with Jak

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with sketches and notes, and her head buzzed with ideas for the library's transformation.

r her in the common room, a bottle o

Lily said with a grin, p

d, sinking into the arm

guess-

"He's impossible. Always has to have th

bout right. But he's good at

aid, though her tone

evous. "You know, some people would say all that t

a glare. "Don

lding up her hands. "There's a f

er wine, shaking her head.

ed moment of vulnerability in the library. She told herself it didn't matter. Thi

houghts tangled in the web of the past