The rain had by now taken over the entire city.
The library windows were covered with water droplets. Outside, cars, houses, and people blurred into gray shadows.
Lea sat at the table and watched the weather.
She actually should have gone home a long time ago.
Noah should also have left a long time ago.
But instead, they were still sitting here.
Between books.
Between notes on the moon landing.
And somewhere between friendship and something else.
“I think the rain is winning,” said Noah.
“Definitely.”
“We could swim.”
“To the bus stop?”
“Olympic discipline.”
Lea laughed.
She noticed that she laughed much more often in Noah’s presence than before.
She liked the thought.
And at the same time, it scared her.
A library employee walked past their table.
“We close in twenty minutes,” she said kindly.
“Thank you,” they both answered simultaneously.
As the woman walked on, they looked at each other.
“Again at the same time,” said Noah.
“That’s starting to get creepy.”
“Maybe we should talk less to each other.”
“Terrible idea.”
Noah grinned.
“True.”
Lea looked at the clock.
Twenty minutes.
Suddenly that seemed far too little.
Three hours ago, she wouldn’t have even known what to talk about alone with Noah.
Now she felt like she still had a hundred questions.
At least.
“Can I ask you something?” Noah said suddenly.
Lea immediately felt the nervousness return.
“Depends on the question.”
“That wasn’t a no.”
“Just ask.”
Noah twirled his pen between his fingers.
“Why did you always think I was arrogant at the beginning?”
Lea stared at him.
“How do you know that?”
“Because you looked at me for about two months as if I regularly scared little dogs.”
Lea had to laugh.
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Maybe a little.”
“And?”
Lea thought for a moment.
“You never talked to anyone.”
“That’s not true.”
“Almost no one.”
“Okay.”
“And you always looked like you were thinking about something.”
“That’s actually true.”
“So I thought you found everyone else annoying.”
Noah laughed.
“In truth, I was just shy.”
Lea blinked.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re constantly talking to me.”
The words were out before she could think about them.
For a moment it was quiet.
This time really quiet.
Noah looked at her.
Then he smiled.
No grin.
No joke.
An honest smile.
“It’s easier with you.”
Lea’s heart skipped a beat.
A very big one.
Suddenly she didn’t know where to put her hands.
Or her gaze.
Or even herself.
“Oh,” she finally said.
It was probably not the smartest answer in the world.
Noah seemed to like her anyway.
Because he was still smiling.
“Yes,” he said softly.
At that moment, the library’s loudspeaker system began to crackle.
“Dear visitors, the library will close in five minutes.”
Lea would have liked to sue the loudspeaker system personally.
Five minutes.
That was unfairly little.
Together they packed up their things.
Slowly.
Maybe even deliberately slowly.
When they finally went to the entrance door, the rain had eased a bit.
Not much.
But enough to make the way home seem possible.
They stopped in front of the building.
The air smelled of wet asphalt.
Fine mist hung over the street lamps.
“Which line do you have to take?” Noah asked.
“The 42.”
Noah smiled.
“Me too.”
“Convenient.”
“Very convenient.”
Together they walked to the bus stop.
It was almost empty.
Only two older people were already waiting there.
Lea suddenly noticed that this moment felt different from all the previous ones.
Calmer.
More personal.
More important.
Then Noah’s phone vibrated.
Again.
Just like the day before.
His expression changed immediately.
But this time Lea looked more closely.
It was not just worry.
It was tension.
And maybe even fear.
Noah read the message.
Then he slowly put the phone away.
“Everything okay?” Lea asked cautiously.
For a moment Noah seemed to consider.
As if he had to decide.
Then he nodded.
But not very convincingly.
“Not really.”
Lea looked at him surprised.
That was the first time he didn’t just say “yes.”
The bus was just turning the corner.
The headlights reflected on the wet street.
Noah looked at it briefly.
Then back at Lea.
“I think,” he said slowly, “I have to tell you something else.”
The bus doors hissed open.
But suddenly Lea didn’t care about the bus at all anymore.