The bright, lofty halls of Piltover Academy were quiet that evening, with most of the students filtering out into the streets for a late dinner or to relax in their dorms. But one room was still bustling with activity, a room that, for Caitlyn Kiramman, had been a sanctuary of sorts. She was the dutiful student, always on top of her studies, always following the rules, always... perfect.
Or so everyone thought.
One of the rare moments when the world outside her controlled bubble would shift occurred when the professor announced a new pairing for a long-term project—something Caitlyn didn’t expect to throw her whole world off balance.
"Vi, you will be paired with Caitlyn Kiramman. I trust both of you will make the most of this opportunity," Professor Talis said, his voice indifferent as he scribbled more notes on the chalkboard.
Caitlyn’s pen froze mid-motion, her gaze snapping to Vi, leaning against the back of the classroom, smirking as usual. Vi casually lounged in the seat like she didn’t have a care in the world made Caitlyn's shoulders tense. Vi, wild and unruly, was a complete contrast to everything Caitlyn stood for—well, this was going to be... interesting.
Caitlyn was a diligent student, known for her methodical ways and her clean, pristine image. Vi, on the other hand, was known for skipping class, breaking rules, and doing whatever she felt like. Caitlyn had no idea what Vi would want with her, but the professor’s words hung heavy in the air.
“I—uh—look forward to working with you, Vi,” Caitlyn said, adjusting her glasses nervously.
Vi shot her a wink. “Don’t worry, cupcake. I’m sure you’ll do just fine. After all, you’re so... perfect. You must love school, huh?” Vi chuckled, leaning in closer to Caitlyn’s desk.
“Not everyone likes to cut corners,” Caitlyn replied, her voice cool but a little more strained than she intended.
Vi flashed a grin. “What’s the fun in that?”
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Caitlyn’s first tutoring session with Vi was nothing like what she had expected. She’d thought they’d meet in the quiet of the library, go over some texts, and maybe—just maybe—Vi would try to pay attention. But when Vi showed up late, with her hair messy and a mischievous glint in her eyes, Caitlyn had a sinking feeling that this wasn’t going to be a typical study session.
“Late for the third time this week, Vi?” Caitlyn’s voice held an edge of exasperation as she tapped her pen on the table.
Vi plopped herself down in the chair opposite Caitlyn, casually tossing a crumpled piece of paper onto the table. “You’re way too uptight, cupcake. I just need a little... inspiration.” She gave Caitlyn a wink, and Caitlyn felt her cheeks flush slightly despite herself. "Shut up," Caitlyn mumbled.
In the beginning, Caitlyn found herself frustrated—Vi wasn’t the easiest person to teach, after all. But there was something strangely captivating about Vi’s unpredictable energy. As they worked through the lessons, Caitlyn began to notice something unexpected—Vi wasn’t completely uninterested. There were moments when she would lean forward, actually listening, her usual cocky grin replaced with a more focused expression.
Maybe there was more to her than Caitlyn had initially thought.
A week into their “tutoring sessions,” Caitlyn found herself struggling to focus on her work late one night. It was almost 10 PM, and her mind had wandered far from her notes. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and sighed, rubbing her temples. The stillness of her room was punctuated by the occasional rustling of her papers as she absentmindedly doodled on the margins.
She hadn’t realized how much Vi had come to occupy her thoughts. But lately, it seemed every tutoring session ended with a warm, electric tinge of something... new. It was confusing—Vi was still the same mischievous, rough-around-the-edges girl Caitlyn had always known, but somehow... Caitlyn felt herself drawn to her more and more.
It was then that she heard a faint tapping sound on her window.
Her heart skipped a beat. No way.
She stood quickly and moved toward the window, peering through the curtains. Sure enough, there stood Vi, grinning from ear to ear and waving like it was the most normal thing in the world. Caitlyn’s breath hitched in her throat.
“Vi?” Caitlyn whispered under her breath, more confused than annoyed. “What are you doing here? It’s 10 PM!”
Vi tapped the window again, a playful glint in her eyes. “What’s the matter, cupcake? Can’t I just drop by for a little visit?” She leaned against the windowsill and, with a smirk, added, “You look like you’re in need of some... company.”
Caitlyn’s heart was pounding now, and though she wanted to scold Vi for sneaking around at this hour, there was something undeniably fun about Vi’s presence. Caitlyn opened the window, her face flushed. “This is highly inappropriate, Vi,” she said, though her voice was quieter than she intended.
Vi smirked. “It’s just a little late-night tutoring session, right? Thought I’d help you with your studies.” She made a show of glancing over Caitlyn’s desk, but her eyes were more focused on Caitlyn than anything else.
Caitlyn couldn’t help but feel the tension rise between them. They were so close now—too close. Caitlyn could smell the faint scent of Vi’s cologne, could feel the warmth radiating from her. It made her heart race in a way she couldn’t ignore.
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The night stretched on, and somehow, Caitlyn found herself sitting on her bed next to Vi, who had sneakily climbed through the window, making herself at home. They were talking—well, more like arguing—about one thing or another, but the air was thick with something Caitlyn couldn’t quite pinpoint.
“Seriously, Vi. You can’t just sneak around like this,” Caitlyn said, but her voice lacked the usual authority.
Vi was leaning in just a little too close now, her smirk replaced with something softer, more teasing. “I’ll do what I want, cupcake,” she replied, her voice dropping a little lower.
Caitlyn swallowed, her breath catching in her throat. “You’re impossible...” she muttered, but her words died on her lips as Vi’s face came even closer, their noses almost touching now.
And then—everything stopped. For a moment, Caitlyn could only hear the frantic beating of her heart in her ears, and Vi’s face was so close, her breath warm on Caitlyn’s lips.
Without thinking, Vi closed the distance between them, pressing her lips against Caitlyn’s. It was quick, but it was enough to send Caitlyn’s whole body into overdrive. Her eyes widened, and she froze for a second, stunned by the suddenness of it all. But just as quickly, her mind caught up with her heart, and she responded, leaning into the kiss despite herself.
It was as if the tension that had been building between them for weeks finally shattered in that one moment. Vi pulled back just a little, her eyes searching Caitlyn’s face for any sign of resistance or unease.
Caitlyn, though, was flustered beyond belief—her face was bright red, her hands trembling. “I... I can’t believe we just—” She stammered, completely flustered.
Vi’s grin softened, and she reached out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind Caitlyn’s ear. “What? You didn’t like it?” she teased, her voice full of that usual mischievousness, though there was something different there—something warmer, more intimate.
Caitlyn’s heart was still racing, but there was a part of her that couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness—a warm, fluttering feeling deep inside her. “I—uh—I didn’t expect... this,” Caitlyn admitted, a sheepish smile forming on her lips as she looked at Vi, trying to regain her composure.
Vi chuckled, brushing her thumb across Caitlyn’s cheek. “Didn’t expect me to make you all flustered, huh?”
Caitlyn opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She couldn’t even look Vi in the eyes without feeling like she’d melt. So instead, she buried her face in her hands, trying to hide the smile threatening to break out.
Vi leaned back a little, amused by Caitlyn’s adorable reaction. “It’s okay, cupcake. You’re cute when you’re all flustered,” she teased softly.
And for the first time, Caitlyn didn’t mind at all.
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