The One Who Lies

Allison Dawson sinks into the worn wooden chair, her fingers brushing over the textured cover of the anatomy book. The crisp pages smell like ink and something faintly floral—perhaps from the girl who sat here last. Around her, the library buzzes with hushed voices and the occasional rustle of paper. Dim sunlight filters through the stained glass windows, casting geometric patterns of color across the dusty floorboards. Someone coughs softly two rows over.Then she feels it. A presence settling beside her . She doesn't turn immediately, but the awareness prickles along her back. When she finally looks up, there he is—Pepé Oliver, eyes warm and attentive, a hesitant smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She lets her gaze linger for just a second too long before turning back to the book in front of her , fingers still tracing the raised letters on the cover. There's something about the way he watches her —steady, without the usual flicker of distraction that most people have. He doesn't seem impatient, doesn't fidget or glance away. She can feel his presence beside her like a pressure against her skin.A cough, subtle and brief. Then—"Hey," he says. Just that one word, so soft it almost disappears into the hum of the library around them.She hesitates. Her fingers tighten around the edges of the book, its cover pressing lightly into her palms. His presence persists beside her , an unrelenting pressure in the air like the moment before a storm breaks. She can sense him watching her , his dark eyes steady, patient.Allison inhales slowly, deliberately, before turning her head just enough to meet his gaze. "Hey," she echos, quieter than his greeting but no less deliberate. The dim light catches in his eyes, turning the dark brown almost amber as he angles his face slightly.Pepe shifts in his seat, the wood creaking under his weight. "You come here often?" The question hangs between them, too on-the-nose for a first approach, but he says it with such a small, self-conscious tilt of his head that Allison feels something soften in her chest. She glances down at her book again, pretending to read a diagram of the human ribcage while her mind spins. Most guys in the freshman class seem like they're performing something—some idea of what they think a college guy should be. He doesn't. He just sits there, hands resting loosely on his knees, like he's waiting for a train that might or might not show up."Yeah," she says finally, her voice quiet. "Trying to impress my professor. Or maybe just avoid him." Pepe gives a small, unhurried laugh under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Avoiding professors. Smart move." His voice is lower, careful, like he's trying not to disturb the quiet around them. "I've been meaning to get into this section more. I keep forgetting how much I actually need to read."Allison closes the book halfway, letting the corner of her mouth twitch upward. "That's a dangerous lie to tell someone in nursing school."He looks at her, genuinely startled, then smiles wider. "You're right. Okay, maybe I don't have an excuse. I just... like libraries."The atmosphere around them shifts the moment Allison senses Lucy's presence approaching from the aisle behind her . She moves with the confident stride of someone who's claimed their territory early—loud footsteps deliberately loud, a hand firmly intertwined with Alex's as she navigates the narrow space between towering bookshelves. Lucy's voice slices through the library's murmur before Allison even see's her, that familiar blend of amusement and exasperation directed at her boyfriend."Alex, you are not allowed to rearrange the philosophy section because you think your Sports Philosophy notes are going to change the world," Lucy hisses, loud enough for half the library to hear. Alex, ever the walking embodiment of casual confidence, makes an exaggerated gesture toward the bookshelf with his free hand. "I just think we could improve the shelving system," he stage-whispers back, the words bouncing off the tall bookshelves. His dark eyes sparkle with the kind of playful defiance that usually gets him in trouble with professors and girlfriends alike. Lucy rolls her eyes so hard Allison thinks she might pop a blood vessel."They already have a system," Lucy sighs, clearly losing patience. "It's called alphabetical order. It's literally the most basic way to organize anything.""But I think a chronological approach would be more..." Lucy cuts him off with an exasperated groan, her hand still firmly wrapped around his wrist to keep him from touching the books. "Alex, I swear to god, if you make me spend another three hours reorganizing the library section because you 'had a better idea'—"She finally spots Allison and Pepe at the table. Her face brightens immediately. "Oh hey!" She nudges Alex forward, her grip on his wrist shifting to his shoulder. "Look who we found."Alex straightens up and spots Pepe beside Allison. His face shifts from playful to assessing in a blink. He studies Pepe with open curiosity, taking in his neatly pressed shirt, the careful way he holds himself. Allison knows that look. Alex grins. "Didn't know this was the hotspot for nursing students hiding from anatomy exams." He gestures vaguely at the table, then at Pepe. "This guy with you, or...?"Allison opens her mouth to answer, but Pepe beats her to it. "We were just—talking," he says, voice steady but quiet, like he's conscious of the library rules. "About the book section."Lucy arches an eyebrow at Allison, who feels her neck warm under the scrutiny. "Right," Lucy says, dragging out the word. "The book section."Pepe shifts slightly in his seat, but doesn't look away from Allison. "She's been helping me pick out some medical reading." Alex's grin widens. "Well, that's very... educational of you." His gaze flicks between them, lingering just a beat too long before he gives Lucy a sidelong look. "Lucy, I think we just discovered a brand new study group. Should we sign up?" He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.Lucy smacks his arm lightly. "God, you're impossible." But there's no real heat in it—just the familiar way she deals with Alex's antics.Pepe doesn't flinch at the teasing, but Allison notices the slight tightness in his jaw. He's not used to this—being sized up, put in a situation where he has to prove himself without even trying.Lucy and Alex pause in their banter as the distant chime echoes through the library. Allison winces as it cuts through the quiet—her stomach twisting in response. The exam wasn't supposed to be today. Or maybe it was. She can't remember, not with Pepe watching her , not with Lucy and Alex still standing there, eyes flickering between them and the clock on the wall."Oh, shit," Lucy breathes, glancing at the large digital display. "Allison, didn't you—""I know," she mutters, already gathering her books, shoving them haphazardly into her bag. Her fingers fumble with the strap, tightening it too much before yanking it onto her shoulder. Lucy shoots her a sympathetic look while Alex leans against a bookshelf, crossing his arms. "Guess you're not skipping this one, huh?" He grins. "Bad luck, partner."Pepe watches her with quiet concern, his brows drawing together slightly as she scrambles to gather her things. She can feel his eyes following her movements, but he doesn't say anything until she stands."Are you going to be okay?" he asks softly as she slings her bag onto her shoulder.She lets out a breath, forcing a laugh. "I'll survive. It's just..." she gestures vaguely at her books. "Not my favorite subject.""I could walk you," he offers, already sliding his own book into his bag. "Walk me?" She repeats, her fingers tightening around the strap of her backpack. The library clock shows ten minutes until the exam begins. Lucy and Alex exchange a quick glance before Lucy nods almost imperceptibly at Pepe."Good idea," Lucy says, stepping forward. "The science building is a maze if you don't know where you're going." Her voice is casual, but there's something protective in the way she positions herself near the exit. Alex follows, clearly eager to get out of the library and away from the quiet.Pepe stands, his height making him appear suddenly imposing in the small space between the tables. "You don't have to," Allison says, but even as the words leave her mouth, she realizes how much she wants him to come. The idea of walking alone, her nerves already frayed, suddenly seems unbearable.Pepe doesn't look away from her. "I know. But I want to." His voice is quiet but certain, and something warm and solid settles in her chest at those words.Alex nudges Lucy toward the exit with an exaggerated groan. "C'mon, let's give these two a chance to do whatever it is they're going to do." Lucy smirks, catching Allison's eye before she turns away. Allison and Pepe step out of the library into the crisp afternoon air, the golden sunlight catching on the edges of his dark hair as he walks beside her . The walkway between buildings feels different now—quieter, more intimate despite the people passing by."I don't think I've ever seen you so flustered before," Pepe says, glancing at her as she adjusts the strap of her bag. "Even in lab when Dr. Chen threw a scalpel at us."A short laugh escapes her. "Yeah, well, anatomy isn't my strong suit. And today's test covers the nervous system, which means—" she mimes a complex neural pathway with her hands, "—like this, but in my head."She pushes open the heavy door of the lecture hall, the room is already half-full, students hunched over notes and textbooks, tension palpable in the dim lighting. She doesn't have to look for an empty seat—they're all taken except for two together in the middle row.Pepe follows her up, his presence both reassuring and distracting. She slides into the chair, pulling out her notes with unsteady hands. Her pencil hovers over the blank page as Professor Chen strides in with a stack of exams. Pepe settles into the seat beside her, his knee bumping against hers under the desk. Neither of them moves away. The room quiets as Professor Chen begins handing out the blue exam booklets. Allison's heart hammers against her ribs. She can feel Pepe watching her—careful, patient, waiting to see if she needs anything. She doesn't, but she's grateful all the same.Professor Chen reaches them, dropping two booklets on the desk between them. "Twenty-five minutes, starting now." The words hang in the air like a challenge.Allison flips open her booklet, scanning the first question. Her pencil moves, slow and careful, filling in the circle. Allison's fingers freeze mid-motion, pencil hovering over the page as the airdrop notification pings onto her phone screen. The image flashes briefly before she can click away—Lucy's sister Amy, face contorted, legs wrapped around Alex as he drives into her. Allison's stomach twists violently, bile rising in her throat. Around her , students shift uncomfortably, some audibly gasping as their phones light up with the same incriminating image."Jesus Christ," Pepe mutters beside her , his knuckles whitening around his pencil. She can't bring herself to look at him. The silence in the room is suffocating now—no scratching of pencils, no hurried breathing.