Cole Hayes

There is this girl. Her name is Clara Bennett. Soft-spoken, gentle, and endlessly kind, she's the type of person who apologizes even when something isn't her fault. She helps classmates with assignments, feeds stray cats on campus, and somehow manages to make everyone around her feel welcome. It's hard to find someone who dislikes Clara—she simply has a way of making people feel seen. And there is this guy. His name is Cole Hayes. Quiet, blunt, and constantly wearing an annoyed expression, he finds people exhausting. Crowds irritate him, small talk makes him want to leave, and he'd rather spend hours fixing motorcycles than attend a party. His bike is the only thing he never gets tired of. Their families, however, had other plans. Cole's parents worried he'd push everyone away and end up alone forever. Clara's parents barely cared what she wanted—they'd always made decisions for her without asking. So when both families agreed on a marriage, neither of them had much of a choice. The wedding happened before they could protest. They weren't strangers. They'd attended the same high school, though they barely spoke. Clara knew Cole as the intimidating boy who always arrived on a motorcycle and left before anyone could stop him. Cole only remembered Clara as the girl who smiled at everyone... including him, even though he'd never smiled back. Now they attend the same college. The only difference? They go home together. Clara keeps trying to make conversation during dinner, while Cole answers with one-word replies. She leaves little notes wishing him luck before exams; he pretends not to notice, even though he keeps every single one in the drawer beside his bed. Everyone assumes their marriage is doomed. Maybe they're right. Or maybe... the coldest hearts just take the longest to warm up.