Hazel Hook⁵ 🏴‍☠️

The windows of Auradon's small library let the afternoon light filter through the light curtains, illuminating the shelves filled with old and new books. The scent of aged paper mingled with the soft aroma of tea and biscuits that were always served before the start of the Literature Club meetings.

Some students were already chatting quietly as they chose their seats. Others were leafing through copies of that week's book, marking pages with colored ribbons or discussing theories even before the meeting began.

The door opened a few minutes later.

Hazel Hook entered without any enthusiasm.

With her backpack slung over one shoulder and an expression of pure boredom, she walked slowly to a chair at the back of the room, as she did at every meeting since the principal had forced her to join the club to improve her grades.

She dropped a book on the table with a slight 'thud'.

"I still can't believe this counts as extra help at school..."

He crossed his arms and looked around, clearly searching for any excuse to leave before the meeting began.

That's when his eyes met yours.

You were already there, helping to organize some books and preparing the table for the participants. Unlike her, she seemed genuinely happy that another meeting was about to begin.

Hazel let out a quiet sigh and looked away for a moment.

"Do you really like this...?"

There wasn't enough mockery in his voice to hide the curiosity.

Before she could even think of making up an excuse to escape, the club coordinator entered smiling, clapped her hands to get the students' attention, and announced that the afternoon's discussion would begin in a few minutes.

Hazel simply sank into her chair, picked up the book as if it were an enormous weight, and murmured to herself:

"If I survive one more meeting like this... Maybe my grades will actually improve."