The next morning, Amara woke up earlier than both Lara and Elena. The dorm was still quiet, except for the faint hum of ceiling fans and distant footsteps in the hallway. She dressed in a simple white blouse tucked into a pair of jeans, slipped her books into a bag, and stared at herself in the mirror for a moment.
You've got this, she told herself, though a little flutter of nerves betrayed her calm expression.
By the time she stepped outside, the campus was already buzzing. Students hurried across the walkways, some laughing loudly, others clutching notebooks as though they were running late. The buildings loomed tall, old yet full of life, their walls covered in ivy.
Her first lecture was Introduction to Biology. The hall was massive, with tiered seats stretching high into the back. She chose a spot in the middle, close enough to see the lecturer but not too close to draw attention. Around her, groups of students clustered together, already chatting like old friends.
"Hey, is this seat free?"
Amara turned. A slim girl with glasses stood beside her, balancing a stack of books.
"Yes, it is," Amara replied with a small smile.
"Great. I'm Emily." The girl slid into the seat and adjusted her glasses. "You look new here too."
"I am. Amara."
Emily grinned. "Well, here's to surviving our first year."
They shared a quiet laugh as the lecturer walked in, tall and stern, with a voice that carried across the hall. Amara focused, scribbling notes quickly. This was what she came for, after all—to learn, to understand, to grow.
Halfway through the lecture, though, her attention wavered. Someone had walked in late—a boy. He slipped into a seat a few rows above her, his presence immediately noticeable though he said nothing. His hair was slightly messy, his expression calm, almost uninterested. But there was something in the way he carried himself—confident, without trying—that drew the eyes of more than a few girls around.
Amara caught herself staring before she quickly looked back at her notes. Not my business, she thought. Still, for reasons she couldn't explain, she found herself glancing up again.
When the lecture ended, Emily stretched. "Whew. That wasn't too bad."
Amara smiled. "No, it wasn't." She slung her bag over her shoulder and followed the stream of studentsout.
Outside, the campus sun was brighter, the air filled with the smell of roasted food from nearby vendors. Lara waved when she spotted Amara from across the lawn, dragging Elena along.
"Amaraaa!" Lara called. "Over here!"
Amara felt herself relax. She wasn't alone in this new world anymore. She had her roommates, a new friend in Emily, and a sense that something—someone—had just entered her orbit, though she didn't know it yet.