Regina wasn't a morning person.
Mandy had warned her about this class: "8 a.m. Literature is a death sentence. Bring coffee. Or don't show up."
And yet, here she was. Walking halfway across campus before realizing—
She forgot her drink.
The one thing she actually needed to stay alive today.
With an annoyed sigh, she turned around and speed-walked back toward her locker, mentally preparing herself for the worst kind of caffeine withdrawal.
But when she opened it, something stopped her.
A cold Starbucks cup sat neatly on the top shelf.Her name was scrawled across the front in messy sharpie:Ragina.With a little smiley face under it.
She stared.
No one around. No footprints on the hallway floor. Just the faint buzz of vending machines in the distance and the sound of her heart kicking up for no logical reason.
She picked up the cup.Mocha chip.Her favorite.
She looked around again. Nothing.
Ten minutes later, she was sitting in the back row of the lecture hall. The drink sat on her desk. Still cold. Still untouched.
Connor walked in.
He didn't look at her.
Didn't wave.
He slid into his seat like he always did—five minutes late and completely unapologetic.
Regina stared at the back of his head, then back at the cup.
Then back at him.
She narrowed her eyes.
After class, she caught up to him by the stairwell.
"You didn't leave anything in my locker today, did you?"
Connor didn't even turn around. "Like what?"
"I don't know. A frappuccino with my name spelled wrong?"
He paused, just long enough to confirm it.
Then: "You're assuming I know how to spell your name."
She raised an eyebrow. "You follow me on Instagram."
He looked over his shoulder, the same half-smirk on his face from the first day they met.
"What if I say it wasn't me?"
Regina crossed her arms. "Then I guess I'll thank whoever it was."
He leaned in just a little. "And what if it was me?"
She blinked.
"Then I'll… thank you," she said, voice quieter than intended.
For a second, he didn't move. Didn't blink.
Then: "Noted."
He turned and walked away, hands in his pockets, head down.
Regina stood there, drink still in hand, unsure if she was supposed to smile or scream.
Was that flirting? Or just… sarcasm in a nice cup?
She wasn't sure what to do with the weird flutter in her chest.But as she took another sip, she decided one thing:
Mocha chip had never tasted better.
Connor's phone buzzed in his back pocket.He checked it, smiled faintly at something Regina had just posted.Then, almost unconsciously, he opened his Notes app.
"She likes mocha chip. Smiley face. Spells it with one 'a'."
Later that night, around 12:30 a.m., just after finishing an assignment, Regina's phone buzzed.
A sticker.
A strawberry with a smiley face.
Sent by a new contact: "The Free Spirit."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"What the hell is this?" she typed back.
On the other end, Connor jumped out of bed like a fire alarm had gone off.
SHE TEXTED BACK.
"You're still awake?"
(Sent with a suspiciously chill emoji 😎)
"You too, huh? :)"
"Couldn't sleep. Probably thinking about me, right? lol"
"Say that again and I'm blocking you."
"Okay okay! My bad :(("
"Why are there two parentheses?"
"Double chin. Obviously. 😂"
"Oh my god. Are you here to flirt or do stand-up?"
Regina stared at the screen, lips twitching.
This boy was ridiculous. But also… kinda funny.
She hesitated, then typed:
"You're lucky I like funny people."
"Wait. Hold up. That's a compliment, right???"
"Depends. You going to make me laugh tomorrow too?"
"Absolutely. I've got a whole routine ready. 10/10 comedy, 0 shame."
They kept texting.
One minute. Then another.
Until the world faded into nothing but glowing screens and secret smiles.
That night, something changed.
Like someone had drawn a faint line between them—one neither of them meant to cross, but both of them were slowly walking toward.
And when they finally fell asleep, thousands of miles apart in thought, their last shared feeling was the same:
A weird little warmth that settled somewhere between flirting and fate.
Connor's phone buzzed again.
He opened his Notes app.
She likes mocha chip. Spells it with one 'a'. Laughs at dumb jokes. Smart but dangerous smile. Do not mess this up.