Anna nods, absentmindedly. "Well, I just have to do an activity for biology and one exercise for chemistry," she says softly while looking down at her textbooks. Zack watches her focused expression as she sorts through her textbooks, the quiet intensity of her movements drawing his attention completely. The way she bites her bottom lip in concentration makes his pulse quicken despite the mundane task at hand. "Chemistry too?" he asks with mild surprise. "You are taking both sciences? That is impressive." Anna barely registers the compliment. Zack sets aside his math book entirely, propping his chin on his fist as he observes her more closely. The fluorescent lights of the library cast soft highlights across his features while she works. "What kind of activities are they? Lab reports? Worksheets?" he asks. His curiosity seems genuinely piqued by her academic efforts. "I am guessing you don't need much help with either subject."
"Oh, uh… no I will be fine," Anna says softly, clearly distracted. Zack's easy-going demeanour falters slightly at her soft-spoken response. He notices the subtle shift in her energy, the way she fidgets with the edge of her notebook instead of diving into her homework. His protective instincts kick in almost immediately. "Hey," he says gently, closing his math book and sliding it aside. "Something is wrong. What happened in biology?" he leans forward across the table, his voice lowering so only she can hear over the ambient library noises. His green eyes search her face for clues, concern replacing his earlier flirtatious tone. "Did some jerks say something to you? Or did the teacher give you extra credit crap?" Hit jaw tightens slightly at the thought of anyone upsetting her during class. Whatever it is, you can tell me." His hand moves instinctively toward hers on the tabletop but stops midway, waiting for permission before making contact.
"You… you don't think I am trying to change you, do you?" Anna asks suddenly, glancing up at Zack through her eye lashes. Zack's expression softens instantly, the concern in his green eyes malting into something warmed. He lets out a short, amused laugh at her sudden vulnerability. "Change me?" he repeats with genuine surprise. "Anna, you are not changing anything. You are just… waking things up that were asleep." He finally reached across the table to take her hand properly, his thumb stroking over her knuckles with deliberate tenderness. The gesture grounds her anxiety. "Look at me," he says quietly but firmly, waiting util her gaze meets his fully. "I like who I am when I am with you. For once in my life, I don't feel like a have to prove anything or fight all the time." His voice drops to an even lower murmur. "The only person trying to change anyone here is me– trying not to be such an asshole around you anymore."
"But… all the studying and homework…" Anna says hesitantly. Zack looks at her confused and she adds, "Steve broke up with Mandy because she was trying to change him…" Zacks confusion clears as she mentions Steve and Mandy. A wry smile touches his lips, understanding dawning in his green eyes. "Steve and Mandy? Seriously?" he shakes his head with clear disapproval. "That idiot broke up with her because she suggested he wear nicer clothes and cologne. God, what a moron." Zack squeezed Anna's hand gently, his thumb tracing patterns on her palm. "Look at me, Anna." His voice drops to a more intimate level. "I am not Steve, and you are not some boring girl trying to turn me into her ideal boyfriend. The reason I like you is because you challenge me. You don't just accept my bullshit behaviour like everyone else does." His free hand comes up to cup her cheek, tilting her face toward his.
"So, you aren't going to get sick of me for focusing so much on schoolwork?" Anna asks with a soft, but hopeful voice. "Not a chance," Zack answers without hesitation, his thumb stroking gently along her jawline. "Your focus on schoolwork is one of the things I respect about you. It is part of what makes you, you." His Gaze intensifies as he searches her brown eyes for any lingering doubt. "Besides, having a girlfriend who actually uses her brain is way hotter than some dumb cheerleader who can only talk about makeup and parties." He leans closer across the table, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "And honestly? Watching you concentrate so hard on your homework is kind off turning me on right now." A smirk plays at the corner of his mouth as he gestures toward her textbook with his free hand. "So, keep studying smart girl. I will just sit here and enjoy the view while pretending to review calculus."
"Okay," Anna agreed softly. "But when we are done, we are going to your place. You can show me how turned on you are." She smiled playfully as she opened her chemistry textbook. A low appreciative chuckle escapes Zack as Anna's words register fully. His green eyes darken with undisguised anticipation, a predatory gleam entering their depts. The playful smile on her face sends a jolt of electricity straight through him, making his blood run hotter. "Deal," he says, his voice a low rasp that vibrates with promise. "I will hold you to that promise. Every single second of it." He settles back into his chair but doesn't pick up his math book again. Instead, he crosses his arms over his chest and watches her work with renewed intensity, committing every detail to memory– the way she bites her lip when concentrating on formulas, how her brow furrows in concentration. "You better hurry up with the chemistry stuff," he adds teasingly. "The longer you take, the more ideas I am coming up with for when we get back to my room." Anna smirked and continued her homework. After almost half an hour, she sighed and stretched her arms over her head. Zack's green eyes followed the graceful arch of Anna's back as she stretches, his gaze lingering on the way his plain blue jersey rides up slightly to reveal a strip of bare skin. The sight sends a fresh wave of heat through him, reminding him of the promise hanging between them.