Reborn: A Second Chance Through Time

Lily was more determined than ever to maintain her grades. She dreamed of going to a good school and earning a scholarship. Even though her family had money now, she believed in living frugally and saving for unexpected events. Today, she was focused on meeting her teacher to discuss her recent project before heading to the library to study with Leah and Anna.

After the meeting, Lily walked briskly across campus toward the library. As she passed the football field, she caught sight of Noah in his football uniform, standing with Emma in her cheerleading outfit. Emma was animated, talking enthusiastically, while Noah gazed at her with an adoration that stung Lily's heart.

Most of the school now knew about their relationship since they had gone public. Lily had told herself she was over Noah, but deep down, a faint ache remained. After all, she had loved him for most of her life. The sight left her feeling disoriented and distracted as she continued walking.

Lost in thought, Lily didn't notice someone in her path until she collided with them. Her books tumbled to the ground.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Lily said hurriedly, crouching to pick up her books.

A deep, calm voice responded, "No harm done."

Lily looked up and froze. Standing before her was a tall boy with striking blue eyes and a face that seemed meticulously crafted—handsome, yet stoic. He adjusted his glasses, looking at her with an expression that was hard to read. She immediately recognized him: Nathan Carter, the school's legendary genius. Everyone knew him, not just for his looks but for his intellect. He was rumored to be destined for greatness, likely to become one of the school's most successful alumni. In the future, he would go on to create a groundbreaking technology company, BlueWave Innovations.

Lily's mind went blank. "I'm… I'm sorry," she stammered, clutching her books to her chest. Panic surged through her, and before he could say anything else, she turned and bolted toward the library.

Nathan watched her retreating figure, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Cute," he murmured to himself.

At the library, Lily was out of breath as she joined Leah and Anna at their usual table.

"What happened to you?" Anna asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Were you running a marathon or something?" Leah teased.

Lily shook her head, forcing a casual laugh. "No, just… exercising a bit."

Anna and Leah exchanged skeptical looks but decided not to press her. "All right, let's start reviewing," Anna said, brushing off Lily's strange behavior.

The three friends dove into their study session, though Lily's mind kept drifting back to Nathan. She could still see his piercing blue eyes and the faint smile he had given her. She shook her head, trying to focus. The last thing she needed was another distraction.

Later that evening, Lily waited outside the library for her mom to pick her up. She had been avoiding Noah, wanting to limit their interactions to prevent any misunderstandings. She glanced at her phone, checking the time, when a tap on her shoulder startled her. She turned around, and her breath caught.

It was Nathan.

"You dropped this," he said, holding out a small bookmark.

Lily blinked, momentarily speechless. She recognized the bookmark; it must have fallen from one of her books earlier. "Oh, thank you," she managed to say, her voice shaky as she reached for it.

Nathan's lips curved into a small smile. "You seem to be in a hurry a lot."

"I… I guess I am," Lily said awkwardly, clutching the bookmark. "I didn't mean to run off like that earlier. I just…"

"Panic?" Nathan offered, raising an eyebrow.

Lily's cheeks turned crimson. "Maybe a little."

Nathan chuckled softly. "You don't need to apologize. It was… amusing."

Lily bit her lip, unsure how to respond. Up close, Nathan was even more intimidating—and undeniably gorgeous. His calm demeanor only added to his allure.

"Do you always study this late?" Nathan asked, breaking the silence.

"Not always," Lily replied, her voice steadier now. "I just… have a lot on my plate. Grades are important, you know?"

Nathan nodded. "Smart. Planning ahead."

Lily's mom pulled up at that moment, honking the car horn. Lily turned to leave, but before she could, Nathan spoke again.

"Lily," he said, surprising her. It was the first time he had said her name, and it sent a strange flutter through her chest.

"Yes?" she asked, turning back to him.

He hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Good luck with your studies."

Lily felt her cheeks heat up again. "Thanks. You too… I mean, not that you need it… but… yeah. Bye."

Nathan chuckled softly as she hurried to the car. As Lily climbed in, her mom gave her a curious look.

"Who was that?" Lisa asked as they drove away.

"Just… a schoolmate," Lily said quickly, looking out the window to hide her flushed face. Her heart was still racing, and she couldn't shake the image of Nathan's smile. For the first time in a long while, she felt something new—something different from what she had felt for Noah.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something unexpected.