Two minutes to spare, even after that minor inconvenience. Finding an empty desk with two available seats near the front, I quickly claimed it, setting my bag down on one chair while I occupied the other. Students casually trickled into the room, increasing the ever growing noise level.

"Did she have a death wish back there?" "Maybe she doesn't know who he is..."

Regardless, their chatter didn't concern me. Rummaging through my bag, I gathered everything needed for class. History was one of my best subjects, but weren't they all?

Owning the fourth highest ranking GPA in my academic year was a cursed blessing.

If I hadn't received such a generous scholarship offer after high school, attending the University of Teyvat would've simply been a lofty dream. The unfortunate baggage that came with having top tier intelligence was the unnecessary mockery.

Jealous simpletons.

The wealthier ones in particular were insufferable. As if they were entitled to belittling everyone they considered 'beneath them'. Putting in the effort to actually learn something was a better use of their parent's money, rather than obnoxiously appraising us 'common folk'.

It'll all be over soon, then I'll never see them again. Never have to endure another slanderous syllable about my uniform being a size too large or derogatory comments on my intellect and personality.

At least get to know somebody, have a heart and use your brain before speaking to them. Although, a vast majority of the private school's student population had only half a brain to begin with, so maybe that's wishful thinking on my part.

Ginger locks were spotted first near the classroom's entrance and the sight of a familiar blonde soon followed. My best friend exchanged goodbyes with her towering boyfriend who planted a quick kiss to her temple before leaving. After banishing her insane blush, the short blonde walked inside, instantly spotting me.

I plucked my bag off her chair while Lumine crossed the room. Settling into the seat, she smiled brightly, "Morning, Mona!"

"Good morning." Returning her smile, a subconscious tease slipped my tongue, "So, forehead kisses huh?" Elbow propped up on the desk, chin cradled in my open palm, I playfully gazed at the girl whose been practically glowing ever since Childe officially asked her out a couple months ago.

My best friend had become the envy of many other girls, and rightly so. The blue eyed captain of the archery team was one of the few decent people I'd willingly spend time with on campus. He hasn't brandished any red flags from my perspective, and whenever I tagged along with him and Lumine, they never made me feel like an unwanted third wheel.

"Please don't." Her blush returned and light laughter left my lips at the adorable sight. Until shock raised my best friend's eyebrows, her golden gaze locked on something behind me, "Woah."

Turning around, it wasn't difficult spotting the object of Lumine's surprise. The dark haired guy from earlier crossed the door's threshold, glaring deadly daggers as he furiously walked this way. If looks could kill, I'd be a rotten corpse by now. Thick tension soaked the room, silencing every soul present as they all stared in grave apprehension.

"Good morning." Stern vocals commanded everyone's attention and Professor Dainsleif was already at the whiteboard.

"Tch." The purple haired guy scowled further than I thought possible. His incinerating glare met my slightly startled visage before he made a beeline towards the back of the classroom.

Well colour me surprised, we shared a class together. Although, I barely know half the people in any of my classes, so it's not a major shock either.

By the time I opened my own notebook, Lumine nudged my left elbow on the desk with her own book. She'd scribbled on the last page, 'Did something happen between you and Scaramouche?'

Glancing up at our apathetic teacher's back, I twirled a black inked pen between two fingers before writing my response underneath hers, 'You know him?'

'I know of him. He's one of Childe's friends.'

'Then your boyfriend has poor tastes when it comes to the company he keeps.'

'Minus you of course!'

'I've heard that Scaramouche can be a bit...abrasive, but our interactions so far have been pretty decent.'

'He's an uncultured brute.'

'What happened?'

I briefly penned my encounter with the imbecile and Lumine's final note on the matter gave some food for thought.

'Be careful around him though. Rumour has it that getting on his bad side can be messy.'

That would explain why that other guy who crossed this 'Scaramouche' was so frightened, not to mention the anxious crowd and how no one else moved in to assist. Then again, the fate of a library book was at stake. I'm not even sure if I would've intervened if not for that reason.

"Alright." Professor Dainsleif finally faced his students after jotting down a selection of book titles on the board, some foreign while others familiar, "Ladies, I want each of you to come up to the front. You'll be selecting a slip of paper from this box." The tall blond gestured to an ivory box at the upper left corner of his desk, contrasting the obsidian one at the long table's opposing end, "Gentlemen, you'll be selecting from this one."

Everyone followed Professor Dainsleif's instructions, most with curious looks. He's never done anything like this, if memory serves me right. Taking up my seat after drawing a paper, I unfurled the slip, noting the book entitled on the white sheet: 'The Chronicles of Khaenri'ah'.

I smirked at the prize, a text I've read before.

"Your final assignment for the semester will be making a presentation on one of the books listed on the board." Professor Dainsleif found his black whiteboard marker, uncapping it, "You'll also be working in pairs."

Stifling a groan, my enthusiasm suffered swift destruction. Group projects weren't exactly my cup of tea. The last time I participated in a group project, it ended in disaster. I've been scarred for life, no thanks to Amy. What was that ridiculous pseudonym of hers again?

Regardless, I simply worked better solo.

"Alright, ladies. Each of you have selected the book which you and your partner will be presenting on. They're all currently available in the library. Should any problems arise with retrieving your assigned books, feel free to let me know and I will outsource them for you." The blond man regarded a pretty brunette seated at a central table in the room, "Starting with Miss Amber, give the title of the book you've chosen please."

"Sure!" Golden eyes breezed over the slip of paper she just opened, "It's uhh...Memories of Mondstadt."

Professor Dainsleif wrote Amber's name next to her aforementioned book, inquiring from each female in the same fashion until every title displayed on the whiteboard had been claimed, "Gentlemen, in your possession should be the name of your project partner." Cerulean eyes flickered towards a grey haired guy seated near the door, "Mister Bennett, whose name did you select?"

Bright, emerald gems gleamed when the excited guy announced, "I got Lumine!"

The blonde besides me flinched. It wasn't even my name but there was no denying the second-hand sting I felt from the reveal. Giving my best friend an apologetic glance and a soothing pat on the shoulder, she responded with a smile so taut it looked like it hurt. I would gladly accept pairing up with…'Fischl' – that was it – a second time if that magnet for misfortune was the other option. Bennett meant well, truly, but working alongside him guaranteed a failure.

"I'm sure it won't be…worse than what you're thinking." I whispered, trying to reassure her.

Lumine's head fell to the desk, small fingers entangling her short blonde tresses while she mumbled, "Ugh, kill me now."

I couldn't help cracking a quiet joke at her expense, "Don't worry, your partner will." Citrine eyes glared my way and I offered a sympathetic smile, "Kidding, I'm kidding!"

"…Mona."

I perked up at the sound of my name, trying to locate the owner of that rough tenor…

Indigo eyes met my green ones and both our faces contorted in disgust on sight. Of all the students in this classroom I could've worked with…I'd even take my chances with Bennett of all people!

"You have got to be kidding me." I spat under my breath, turning back to the front where Professor Dainsleif scribbled another name besides my own.

Scaramouche.

Lumine had recovered from her brief bout of depression, wincing when she noticed my dilemma, "After what happened this morning, good luck with that."

"Think Professor Dainsleif would allow us to swap?" I groaned, sinking further into my chair.

The blonde sat up fully, sighing, "Doubt it."

Our lecturer explained the project's requirements and set the due date, allowing us the freedom to mingle with our assigned partners for the duration of the hour.

Stifling my irritation took every shred of willpower I had. Glancing back at the disinterested guy who didn't make a single move to at least meet me halfway, a long sigh left my lips as I stood. There's an empty seat right next to him, plus Bennett's waltzing over this way to start working with Lumine.

"Hey partner!" Emerald eyes shone with a sparkling exuberance that Lumine simply couldn't relate to.

The blonde's lips curved in a half smile, having accepted her fate, "Hi Bennett." Her gaze drifted towards me and I returned the same tiny smile.

"You can sit right here." I took up my belongings, meeting Bennett's eyes while gesturing to the seat.

He wasted no time agreeing to the offer, plopping down besides my best friend, "Thanks, Mona!"

Strolling to the back of the room, my feet practically dragged on the way to their destination. Dark eyes were locked on my every step until I finally made it to his table. Civil approaches were better than poking at past wounds. Ridding my thoughts of the bad blood between us, I stole the empty seat next to him.

Arms folded, Scaramouche lividly glared like the sun. What a warm reception.

"So-" "Don't. Talk to me."

My emotions simmered but I remained calm. Setting my belongings down on the spacious table, an unimpressed look overtook my entire face, "Look, I don't know what your problem is, and honestly, I don't care. Lets just work on this project so we can get it over with, alright?"

Scaramouche sneered with the nastiest glower possible, "How about I make you understand something, sweetheart."

"Don't call me-" "I'll let what happened in the hallway slide."

If my narrowed eyes were actual daggers, he'd be reduced to sliced up ribbons for interrupting me.

"But cross me again, and I will ruin you." His dark tone was heavy, weightier. Signifying that his statement was indeed a promise. One he fully intended to keep.

"Anyway," My slow eye roll made its landing on the periwinkle notebook I opened, "Have you ever read The Chronicles of Khaenri'ah?"

He deadpanned with a tasteless scoff, "Waste of my time."

Sighing, I began jotting down the logistics of the assignment which Professor Dainsleif provided on the opposite end of the whiteboard, "Well I'm familiar with it so that should make things a little easier for us."

"Of course you've read it before." Scaramouche drawled dryly and I refused the growing urge to snap at him.

Instead, a smooth alto rolled off my tongue, "I mean, if you don't have any reading capabilities, that's nothing to be ashamed of."

"You're really testing my patience you know." He hissed, his scowl almost palpable but I ignored it.

"And you," My green eyed gaze found his narrowed indigo sights, "Are meeting me in the library at three this afternoon, so we can start working on the project. The earlier the better."

Scaramouche leaned his chair backwards, "Like I'd be caught dead anywhere near you."

I smirked, he simply made it all too easy, "Yet here we are."

"Tch." The frontal limbs of his chair hit the floor.

My lips settled into a flat line as I finished writing up the final sentence, "Look, I'm not thrilled about this project arrangement either but the sooner we can get this thing done, the quicker we'll be out of each other's lives. So, three o'clock. Don't be late."

His sigh reeked of dismissive aggravation, "Whatever."

I could always propose the idea of doing everything on my own and have him read a cue card or something on presentation day. In any event, this was going to be dreadful.

We were soon out of each other's hair when class was dismissed, until the day flew by and the clock struck three.

Having already reserved an empty table for two inside the air conditioned resource center, the only thing missing was my tardy project partner. Waiting on Scaramouche had given me ample time for a quick sit down with Xingqiu to arrange his working hours based on my timetable, before the young man retired from the library for the day. I also received one final housekeeping lecture compliments Lisa, along with a spare bundle of master keys, granting access to every section of the library. The weight of my newfound responsibilities finally sunk in, but I wasn't at all fazed by the promotion. After all, who would say no to a pay raise!

"I checked on the security cameras, they're in working order. Closing time's at five, but you already knew that." The honey brunette folded her arms in thought.

"Don't worry about a thing, the library is in good hands." I assured her, confidence radiating from my smile.

Lisa smiled back, nodding in agreement, "I know. Just make sure you don't overdo it in my absence. Remember, Xingqiu will be there to help you, so make sure you share the work load with him." The head librarian strolled to her throne, propping her elbows up on her tidy desk while knitting delicate fingers, sitting her chin atop the intertwined perch, "Also Mona, unless you're relieving your little assistant, don't feel the need to spend all your time in here. You have a life outside of the library, alright?"

"Yes, of course." During most of my breaks – usually the ones where Lumine was in class – I typically came to the library. It was my safe haven. A quiet place, free of insufferable loudmouths and awkward social interactions.

"You said you were waiting on a project partner, right?" Lisa glanced at the clock and my eyes followed. It was already approaching four.

Thinking about it, I did just state a time and place without considering his schedule. Maybe Scaramouche had classes up until four, or he was taking his sweet time getting here. Should've taken his contact information too. Then again, he would've probably made a ridiculous fuss about it. I sighed, "He's probably just running late." Taking a head start would be much more proactive than waiting around for his arrival, "Think I'll start up on the reading until he gets here."

"Alright, well I'm still here." Lisa opened one of her drawers while I gave a nod.

Leaving the librarian's desk, I found the one I'd stolen near the main entrance and took a seat. Opening up one of two copies of our designated book, my eyes darted between the hardcovered volume's preface to the sealed double doors.

For fifteen minutes.

Then thirty.

Up until an hour.

Scaramouche was a no show.

"Mona?" Lisa called, shutting off the lights towards the back of the library as I packed my belongings, "I'm leaving now."

"Yeah…just give me two minutes." We were the only ones left in the room, my sigh drenching the silence.

I hurried on my way to the exit, hoping that my senior didn't catch a glimpse of my undecipherable features.

"Alright, Mona. We'll be in touch." The doorknob twisted open when Lisa addressed me.

It was a struggle, keeping my vocals in check, "Okay. Have a safe trip." Without turning back, I stepped out into the hallway, navigating through deserted corridors until the cool, late afternoon breeze slapped my cheeks.

Anger was my emotional expectation in the moment.

So why did I feel this dull, desolate ache instead?