Chapter 253 - Approaching From The Shadows

Melanie walked on one side of the book racks, glad to be away from both the boys as she doubted she would be able to handle any more stares and glares that were being passed at the table. She ran her fingers through her hair, picking up a book, she placed it back in its place. 

"Do you need help in picking up books?" asked someone from her side. Melanie turned and noticed a girl standing there, with a polite smile on her face. "I apologize, it just seemed that you were having trouble picking up the right book. I am Nylah." 

"Melanie," she introduced her name. "I have seen you around in the university campus," she revealed, and Nylah looked surprised. 

"You have? I didn't think I was that popular," she lightly laughed, and Melanie smiled. "What book are you looking for?" 

"Just regular biology," lied Melanie, even though the book she needed, she had already picked it up. Coming here was only been an excuse. "Are you from the science department too?" 

"Guilty as charged," smiled Nylah, and she walked to where Melanie stood. "I used to reference one book last year and it was quite helpful. Let me check if they still have it." 

"Oh, you don't have to trouble yourself with it," Melanie was quick to refuse, but the senior year student seemed too keen to help her out. 

While Nylah was busy going through the books, Melanie took a closer look at the girl, who had beautiful, wavy black hair that cascaded down her shoulders and reached to her waist. Freckles dusted below her eyes and near her nose, and she looked beautiful with her full lips and long eyelashes. 

"Here it is," Nylah pulled a book from between two other books and handed it to Melanie. "There you go." 

"Thanks," replied Melanie and the girl nodded. 

"Don't mention it," she smiled before asking, "I hope you are done with your studies quickly, the professor isn't generous when it comes to grading papers and passing the students. If you want," and while the girl spoke, Melanie couldn't help but look in the depth of the girl's eyes which was hazel in colour, "I have some notes with me—"

Melanie snapped from the dazed look because a little dust particle entered one of her eyes that made her blink her eyes. 

Nylah stared at Melanie with a grim expression on her face.. She was in the process of compelling the human girl, but at the same time, the human had decided to close her eyes and was now busy rubbing her eye. 

"Aw shoot, something went inside my eye. Thanks for the book, Nylah. I will be going back to my table," Melanie informed the girl and made her way back to her table. 

Conner had left the table for a moment, leaving Simon all by himself. Melanie noticed Simon writing something on her book, and she quickly pulled it from him. She demanded, "What do you think you were doing?" 

"Writing our children's names," came the straightforward reply from Simon and Melanie gritted her teeth. Why was this person this frustrating?! 

As if in suspicion, she pulled the book to take a look at the page on what he was writing. And unlike last time, where he had written and hearted their names together, this time it were two stick figure drawings. Their names were written at the top of the stick figures, 'Simon' and 'Melanie' and below it was written 'Melon' with their hands holding each other. 

"Isn't our ship name cute?" asked Simon with an enthusiastic tone. 

"It's terrible. Worse than titanic," replied Melanie, and she quickly tore the page before someone would notice it, especially Conner. 

"So you agree that we are having a ship," stated Simon, turning his upper body to the side and placing one hand on the edge of the chair. 

Melanie didn't want to stoke the fire and encourage him. The sooner Simon would get bored, the sooner he would stop hovering around her and find a new target to play darts on. She pointed, "You drew stick figures and for Conner, you drew an actual portrait."

"Don't be jealous, Mel. It is the intention and thought that counts. Moreover, I don't think your beauty could be captured on this little flimsy paper, you are like the moon," Melanie wondered how she ended up getting stuck with this person. She could feel goosebumps forming all over her skin at the amount of cheesy words. She shivered and looked for where Conner had gone. 

A sigh escaped from her lips, and she then said, "Don't touch my stuff. I don't like people touching my stuff without my permission." She opened the textbook she had picked up recently with a small glare. 

Simon tapped on the table with his fingernail like a clock ticking, and he leaned back before continuing to do so. 

"Why is it hard for you to sit quietly?" asked Melanie with a sigh. 

"I had something to ask you," came the quick words from Simon. 

"If you are going to ask for a book, no," she outright refused before he could draw and write something. 

Melanie wondered how she had slapped Simon just less than a week ago, and he was now back to annoying her. He was like a boomerang that came back to her with a much more force than she had thrown him away from her. 

Simon's smile widened, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. He said, "No, I wasn't going to ask for that. I want to ask for something else." 

"What?" she frowned, looking at him in wariness.

Simon adjusted himself in his seat before leaning towards her, "I was wondering if I could touch your lips again." 

Melanie's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to scold him at his audacity. "Do you want to die, Simon?" 

"Today doesn't seem like a good day to do that, but once I free up my schedule, I will let you know about it," he tilted his head to the side. 

She would wring his neck with her bare hands!

"I was actually going to write our children's names, but then I thought this should be something we should both sit down and decide. Any names you would like to chip in?" he asked her. 

After returning the book, Conner, who was walking back to the table, noticed how Melanie blushed over something Simon said. Since he had started to acknowledge Melanie's feelings seriously, looking at her no more as just a friend, he didn't like the closeness the two of them shared. His best friend was someone who never blushed and saw her cheeks turn red.

"Strange, isn't it that the two of them have suddenly grown close?" one of the girls asked in a hushed whisper that Conner caught in ease. 

"Indeed it is," replied another girl. "Looks like he really likes her and she must have feelings for him too. I heard Simon was the one to first confess that he liked her."

"And here I thought the girl would be the one to pester him to get into a relationship." 

Conner's hands clenched into fists, and he walked straight there and said, 

"Mel?" 

Melanie, who was glaring at Simon, snapped her eyes away from him and turned to look at Conner. "Yes, Conner?" 

"I was planning to leave the library. You coming?" 

"Yeah, I guess I am—" Melanie's words were cut short by Simon, who replied for her, 

"Aw I thought you guys would be staying here longer. I mean Melanie can stay if you are done with your studies," his words were directed to Conner with not a hint of malice in his voice. 

Melanie quickly snatched her books and said, "You should go to your dorm and study. We will be doing the same." 

"I didn't know you were coming to my dorm to study," replied Simon, he stood up after picking up his books while Melanie's mouth was left agape. How did he decide that was what it meant?

Luckily for Melanie, Conner came to her rescue and said, "Melanie meant all of us will study in our respective rooms, Simon," this time, his words were serious. 

"Of course, I was wondering if Melanie meant something more," chuckled Simon, and Melanie sent a quick glare at him. "I will be here reading. I have some more things to catch up…" his voice trailed. 

Before Melanie left, her eyes lingered on the bruise on Simon's face, something she had noticed a while ago but hadn't commented on it.