Aurora thought she was safe in the library.

The library was her favorite place in Westview High..

No loud voices.

No rushing footsteps.

Just the soft sound of pages turning and quiet whispers from students studying for exams.

She sat at a wooden table near the window, sketching in her notebook again.

Drawing helped her think.

Today, she was drawing the hallway — or rather, the memory of it.

Leonard’s face.

The way he had grabbed that boy’s shirt.

The way his voice had been calm but dangerous.

The way his eyes had found hers for just a second.

Aurora quickly shook her head slightly.

Why was she thinking about him?

She focused harder on her drawing.

Then—

A chair scraped quietly across the floor opposite her.

Aurora froze.

She didn’t look up immediately.

Because she already knew who it was.

Leonard sat down slowly across from her like he had every right to be there.

“You always hide in quiet places,” he said.

His voice was lower than usual — calmer. Not intimidating. Just controlled.

Aurora didn’t know what to say.

“I like quiet places,” she said softly.

Leonard watched her for a moment.

Up close, he looked even more intimidating. Sharp jawline. Calm dangerous eyes. Slightly messy dark hair. The kind of face that made students both admire and fear him.

“You were watching earlier,” he said.

Aurora’s heart skipped.

“I wasn’t—”

“You were,” he interrupted, but not harshly. “You looked at me when I handled that situation in the hallway.”

Aurora looked down immediately.

“I don’t like fights,” she said quietly.

“Good,” Leonard said simply.

That surprised her.

She finally looked up.

Most people would have tried to act tough around him. Or act interested in his dangerous reputation.

But Leonard just looked… calm.

“You draw people,” he said, pointing slightly at her sketchbook.

Aurora hesitated, then turned the notebook slightly toward him.

It was a sketch of him.

Not detailed.

Just his profile. His sharp eyes. His relaxed but dangerous posture.

Leonard didn’t smile.

But something in his expression softened slightly.

“You draw me like I’m trouble,” he said.

“You are trouble,” Aurora said before she could stop herself.

Silence.

Aurora immediately panicked internally.

But instead of getting angry—

Leonard laughed quietly.

Not loudly.

Just a low, surprised laugh like he didn’t hear honesty very often.

“Fair,” he said.

Then he stood up.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Aurora.”

He didn’t wait for her to reply.

He just left.

Aurora sat there quietly, staring at the empty chair.

She didn’t understand why her heart was beating faster than usual.

Leonard Sterling was dangerous.

Ruthless when provoked.

Leader of The Iron Wolves.

Party boy. Racer. Fearful reputation.

And yet—

He had walked into her quiet world like it belonged to him too.

And Aurora had a strange feeling that Westview High was about to become a lot louder.

Because sometimes, danger didn’t come with warnings.

Sometimes, it came and sat right in front of you.