They spent the night in the belly of the stone building, flashlights cutting through the dust of a century. They didn't find a secret society, but they found a stash of old theater programs. Under the glow of a single LED beam, Ally started reading the melodramatic stage directions aloud, her voice filled with mock tragedy.
Leo had been "studying" for three hours, which was really just a cover for watching Ally navigate the stacks. She didn’t just walk; she moved with a quiet, frantic energy, her fingers trailing over book spines as if she were searching for a secret door. She was a journalism major with a reputation for asking questions that made professors sweat and a laugh that sounded like wind chimes in a gale. He was hopelessly, quietly in love with her. In Love with Ally Barker
Leo knew he should say no. He had a midterm at eight. But Ally was already standing, her backpack slung over one shoulder, looking at him like he was the only person who could possibly keep up with her. They spent the night in the belly of