Davon walked briskly across the campus, mind occupied with thoughts of how to find Elise. He hadn't seen her yet, but he knew she was here somewhere, and he refused to give up.
Suddenly, a bright voice interrupted his thoughts. "Hi there!"
He looked up and found Anastasia standing in front of him, radiating energy and cheerfulness. Her smile was wide, her presence impossible to ignore.
Davon's brow furrowed. "Uh… make it quick," he said, his tone annoyed, eyes flicking around as if wishing the crowd would vanish.
From behind Anastasia, a small, sharp voice muttered, "No need to be rude."
Davon's head snapped toward the voice. His eyes widened, and for the first time, he saw her—Elise. She stood there, calm but slightly exasperated, and he froze, staring at her in disbelief.
Anastasia, oblivious to the sudden tension, clapped her hands together. "Anyway! You two have a science project together! Come on, Elise," she said, grabbing her cousin's hand.
Elise allowed herself to be pulled along, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder at Davon, who still couldn't take his eyes off her. The air between them felt charged, unspoken recognition hanging like a fragile thread.
And just like that, the silence was broken—but the start of something new had already begun.