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Wanda watched as Carlisle walked away with a purpose, still a little flustered from their playful exchange. Her heart fluttered, and she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. It was a relief to know that the lunch wasn’t just a casual invitation, even if it was a little awkward. She smiled to herself, biting her lip as she returned her attention to her notebook.
As she finished jotting down a few more notes, her phone buzzed with a message from Carlisle: “Thanks for helping me earlier. I’ll make it up to you with lunch.” Wanda’s heart skipped a beat. His words were simple but felt more meaningful than she expected.
Outside, Carlisle quickly took care of Sean’s immediate needs. Sean’s cheerful reaction to the hundred-dollar bill made Carlisle smile, though he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of worry. Sean had always been unpredictable, but Carlisle cared for him deeply, like the brother he never had.
“You’re welcome,” Carlisle said with a small smirk, making sure Sean tucked the bill away safely. “I’ll meet you here later. Stay out of trouble, alright?”
“Trouble? Me? Nah,” Sean replied, feigning innocence as he pocketed the money. He was quick to adjust his mood, the promise of food enough to change his whole demeanor.
Carlisle shook his head, amused by his friend’s antics. As he turned to leave, he looked back to see Sean already heading inside, no doubt planning to grab a meal and maybe kill time with the internet. It was funny how Sean’s mind worked—his friend was smart but too easily distracted by anything shiny.
Wanda stood outside the classroom, waiting for Carlisle. She had never been the type to get overly attached or caught up in the small things, but something about the way Carlisle had spoken to her earlier left her feeling unexpectedly warm. A quiet laugh bubbled up from her chest. She had to admit, Carlisle was charming in his own way.
When he finally returned, his expression was unreadable as usual, though there was something softer in his eyes when they met hers. “All taken care of,” he said, offering her a slight grin. “Let’s go grab that lunch.”
They walked toward the campus cafeteria, the air still warm from the midday sun. The conversation flowed easily, with Wanda asking about his plans for the semester and Carlisle telling her a bit about his business aspirations.
Despite the tension of their earlier interactions, there was a new sense of ease between them. For the first time, Wanda found herself looking forward to the days ahead.
