Chapter Two : A Warning and a Cookie

Callum wasn’t sure if the note was meant as a threat, a joke, or some kind of cryptic mafia-flavored icebreaker.

He kept it.

Pressed it flat between the pages of his notebook and stared at it in the library until the clock ticked past midnight. The words weren’t romantic—but they made his heart flutter anyway.

Don’t trust anyone.

It was either incredibly paranoid… or heartbreakingly honest.

The next lecture, Callum arrived exactly on time—early felt too desperate, late felt like surrender.

Rhett was already there.

Same posture. Same hoodie. Same stillness.

Callum hesitated, then sat beside him without a word.

He caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. Rhett’s hand paused over his notes.

"...You came back," Rhett muttered under his breath, just low enough that Callum nearly missed it.

Callum turned, startled. "Was I not supposed to?"

No response. Just a sideways glance. Cold, unreadable eyes.

Then: “You’re not like the others.”

Callum blinked. “That’s… not a compliment, is it?”

A silence followed. And then—so faint it might have been imagined—Rhett’s lips twitched.

A nearly-smile.

Later that day, Callum did something reckless. Reckless for someone soft. Someone who listened more than he spoke.

He baked.

Because that’s what he did when emotions ran high—muffins, cookies, banana bread.

This time? Chocolate chip.

He wrapped one in napkin, tucked it in a little paper pouch, and sealed it with a blue sticker that said "Thank you."

It wasn’t for anything in particular.

Just… for the note. For not being cruel. For maybe, possibly not hating him.

The next day, before class started, Callum placed the cookie on Rhett’s desk without a word.

Rhett stared at it like it was a grenade.

“What is this,” he said flatly.

“A cookie,” Callum replied.

Rhett looked at it again. “Why?”

Callum flushed. “Because I thought you might be the kind of person who hasn’t had a homemade one in a long time.”

More silence. Measured. Stifling.

Then, with that same clinical slowness, Rhett picked up the cookie, broke it in half, and took a bite.

He chewed. Swallowed.

Then, almost inaudibly: “…Not bad.”

Callum smiled.

That was the first time Rhett didn’t look away.

That evening, when Callum returned to his dorm, there was another note folded between the pages of his notebook.

This one said:

|“Next time—less sugar.”

And beneath that, smaller:

|“But I finished it.”

𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨

This is it for today. Hope you like it. Like, Comment, Share and Subscribe. I will be honored to get support from you guys. Let's meet again in the next chapter of '𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝑳𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔' where we'll get to know a little more about Callum and Rhett's relationship.

Do tell me if you want longer chapters, I will try to get everything in line and make the story unforgettable for all of us.

Thank you .

.......-\`ღ´-.......

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***