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It was hate at first sight. But, as fate would have it, he would have to endure being trapped in a dark closet for hours with her. 

“What the hell is your problem?” she snapped as he jostled her. 

“You’re my problem,” he retorted, tucking in his limbs so they wouldn’t have to touch, but seated as they were, it was inevitable. 

It had been ten years of academic rivalry, and now, on the eve of being awarded a substantial grant, that rivalry had soured to blatant hostility. 

But if there was anyone he hated more than her, it was his chatty ethics professor, so when he spotted those pink Birkenstocks, he’d fled through the nearest door, only to hear the click of it locking behind him.

“What are you even doing in here?” he demanded as her knee knocked into his thigh. The sole lightbulb dimly illuminated the highest three inches of the room, encasing them in shadow.

He felt her glare on his forehead. “That’s none of your business. What are you doing in here?” 

“That’s none of your business,” he mocked.

She shifted in what he interpreted as crossing her arms, but she remained silent. 

“What, no comeback?” he challenged. “No holier-than-thou lecture about how the world will survive its climate apocalypse because you’ve invented self-regulating building materials?” 

Still nothing. 

Something pricked at his chest, something that suspiciously felt like concern. Ridiculous. She’d bested him at every turn since they were acne-ridden teenagers — why would he care that her sharp tongue had been rendered speechless?

Then, he heard the sniffle. And another.

“Um, are you…” He swallowed. “Are you okay?” 

Rubber screeched against vinyl as she adjusted her feet. “No.” 

They were close enough he could feel her trembling, and he found himself saying, “You can trust me, you know.” 

Snorting, she asked, “You? Of all people, I can trust you? Please.” 

He shrugged. “Just because we’re rivals doesn’t mean I’m a total dick.” 

She made a sound of disbelief, but after a minute, she revealed, “My ex-boyfriend is dating my friend.” 

“What?” His brain raced at the speed of his quantum encryption program until he arrived at a coherent thought. “Well, aren’t they a bad sitcom plot twist.” 

She laughed, and he chose to shelve the attraction that bloomed in his stomach. Over the years, it had become harder to deny just how beautiful he found her. Not that he’d ever admit it. 

“Thanks for that,” she murmured. “Who knew you had a sense of humour beneath all that logic?” 

He turned his head to reply and froze as he felt her lips brush against his. 

The door flew open. 

They jumped apart, eyes on anything except each other as the janitor gaped. 

She shuffled backward into the hallway, a blush on her cheeks. “I’ll, um… Bye.” 

He watched her go, and when she snuck a peek over her shoulder to meet his eyes, he smiled.

Because he knew they were thinking the same thing. 

Interesting.