"I already got one," Craig said, not fully processing, taking a fast sip of his drink, like it might help wash away his discomfort.
She reached into her purse without thinking. "Oh. Okay… Can I at least cover the cost? I'm sorry you had to go through all that trouble."
She held out the cash, but Craig's expression shifted—first confusion, then frustration darkened his features.
Does she know who I am ?
"Keep it," he said sharply. "You need the money more than I do."
Her face fell slightly at the sting in his voice, but she forced a tight smile to cover it. An awkward silence settled between them, stretching uncomfortably long.
Across the bar, Keith and Phoebe were deep in conversation, still oblivious to the tension. Megan, however, caught on quickly. She rose from her seat with a sweet smile.
"I think I'll meet up with my brother," she said, already reaching for her purse. "See you guys later."
Keith stood up too, grinning, holding Phoebe's hand, "We'll be back in a minute," he said.
Phoebe gave Merlina a reassuring glance as if to say hang in there.
"Don't leave," she said before following Keith out, leaving Craig and Merlina alone at the table.
The restaurant was quieter now. Merlina shifted awkwardly in her seat, glancing at Craig, who was absently pushing food around on his plate like it personally offended him.
"Again, I'm sorry," Merlina said, frowning. "You don't have to be so… angry about it."
Craig looked up, his face unreadable.
"Who said I'm angry?" he scoffed.
"You're… kinda giving off the vibe," she said cautiously. "Your face is practically screaming 'mad.' Did I do more than ripping your precious handbook?"
Craig let out a dry chuckle, sharp-edged.
"Well, what's worse than damaging the book of someone who practically made you write your test?"
Silence stretched again.
Craig took a long drink, hiding whatever was flickering behind his eyes. Merlina looked away, her gaze drifting toward the window, lost in thought.
Finally, Craig's voice came, lower, softer.
"It's just… I didn't expect you to be so… persistent."
Merlina turned back to him, surprised.
"Persistent?"
He grinned faintly, some of the earlier tension fading from his face. "You're apologizing like you owe me the world. It's just a damn handbook."
She let out a small, surprised laugh. Her posture relaxed a little, caught between amusement and lingering awkwardness.
"You know what?" Craig said, voice light but his eyes sharp. "You can make it up to me."
She arched a brow, suspicious but playful.
"It's not gonna cost me my life, right?"
He chuckled, low and rough.
"Can't promise."
"Well," she teased, "anything to stop you from giving me an attitude."
Craig leaned back, studying her with a narrowed gaze. "An attitude? You've accused me of a lot tonight, Merlina."
"Am I wrong?" she challenged.
Their eyes locked, and for a second, it felt like the entire bar shrank down to just the two of them.
Keith's phone buzzed on the table. Merlina instinctively reached for it, but Craig beat her to it, their fingers brushing for a second too long. A jolt shot up her spine. She pulled back quickly, face flushing slightly.
Craig picked up the phone, casual again, though his shoulders were tenser than before.
"Keith. So forgetful."
"They've been gone a while," Merlina said awkwardly, eager to move. "I should probably head back."
Craig nodded easily.
"Sure. Let me get the bill."
They stepped out into the night. The hum of the city, the fading throb of music from Barsea behind them.
Craig walked at ease. Merlina was on edge, eyes darting around. A cluster of students lingered by the exit—laughing, talking, watching.
The whispers started almost instantly.
Craig Lesnar.
And a girl.
Someone new.
Girls whispered and giggled, shooting quick glances their way. Some didn't bother hiding it.
Craig seemed unaffected. Maybe he didn't notice. Maybe he didn't care.
Merlina, though, felt the weight of every pair of eyes. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, pretending not to notice.
"Enjoying Belview?" Craig asked, voice softer than before.
She glanced up at him, caught off guard by the unguarded warmth in his tone.
"It's not hell," she said honestly.
Craig chuckled quietly, his lips twitching into a rare, shy smile. He looked away, almost like he regretted showing it.
Merlina couldn't help but tease, "Oh…he smiles."
He shot her a quick, deep look that made her heart stutter. She looked away too fast, pretending to study the sidewalk.
"Honestly, it's warmer than I expected," she said. "Everyone's been nice since I got here. Well, except you."
Craig raised an eyebrow.
"You've been cold, shut off," she said, "Is that just a me thing, or are you like that with everyone?"
He shrugged lightly.
"Believe it or not, I'm actually nicer to you."
"Wow. So Ice King mode is your version of nice?"
Craig laughed, a low sound that felt more real than anything he'd said all night.
"Why are your walls so high?" she asked, unable to keep the question from slipping out.
"It just helps drown out the noise," he said simply.
She studied his face quietly, sensing how many layers he kept hidden.
They wandered into a small park, the city noise fading to a hum behind them.
"You've got the spotlight around here, huh?" she said. "Felt like every pair of eyes was on me back there…pretty sure it has something to do with you."
"Welcome to Belview," Craig said with a casual shrug.
"If it were up to me," she said, smiling dryly, "I wouldn't even be here."
"Where would you rather be?" he asked.
"NYC. With my best friend."
Craig teased, "Ah. So Phoebe's not the best friend? Nice one." He held out his hand for a low five, playful.
Laughing, Merlina gave him the high five, their fingers brushing again—this time lingering longer than necessary before pulling away.
"What's your deal with Phoebe?" she asked, teasing.
"She's… intense," Craig said. "Loud, forward. Honestly, you and her don't seem like a perfect match. You're more… reserved."
"Maybe we balance each other out," she said, smirking.
"If you say so. Stick with Megan," Craig teased. "She's more your speed. Calm. Grounded."
Merlina laughed, a soft sound.
"You're something else," she said. "Does Belview offer classes on how to be nicer? Because you definitely need one."
Craig said nothing, but a smirk tugged at his mouth.
She bumped his shoulder lightly, unintentionally, realizing they've been walking too close, "Didn't think you'd walk me this far. Thought you'd vanish like you did the last time."
Craig glanced at her.
"Yeah, well… you looked like you could use the company."
Merlina blinked, caught off guard again by his rare softness.
"Huh. That almost sounded like you care."
"Don't get used to it," he said, smirking.
They rounded a corner, and Merlina strayed too close to the road—just as a motorcycle tore past, silent until it was almost on top of them.
Craig moved without thinking, grabbing her by the waist and yanking her back to safety. The force of it crashed her against his chest, his arms locking around her.
Her hands clutched the front of his shirt, breathless. His hand stayed firm on her waist, anchoring her. Their faces were so close, she could see the flecks of green in his eyes.
"You alright?" he asked, voice low and rough.
"Yeah…" she breathed. "Yeah. I just didn't see it coming."
Neither of them moved.
The electricity between them was blinding, his hand didn't leave her waist; if anything, his grip tightened slightly, like he was grounding himself in her. Her fingers stayed tangled in the fabric of his shirt, clinging like she might fall apart if she let go.
He stared at her like she was the only thing in the world that made sense — like all the chaos, all the noise, faded the second he looked at her.
"You should be more careful," he said, voice low and rough, the words brushing against her skin like a touch.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
You should stop looking at me like that, her mind whispered, but her body betrayed her, leaning in without thinking, breathing him in like he was the only air she trusted.
For a moment, the world held its breath, waiting to see which one of them would shatter first.