Sophie Taylor clutched her overstuffed backpack as she stepped off the bus, the hum of the city buzzing around her like a million tiny invitations she wasn't ready to accept. College wasn't supposed to feel this overwhelming. She had pictured herself confidently striding across campus, maybe stopping to chat with strangers or sip coffee while reading in the quad. Instead, she felt like a small paper boat tossed in a stormy sea.
"First day?" a cheerful voice called.
Sophie turned to see a girl with bright red sneakers and an infectious grin jogging toward her. "Uh… yeah," Sophie admitted, tugging at the strap of her bag.
"I'm Emma! You're in Maple Hall, right? Don't worry, everyone's just as nervous as you. Mostly." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Well, except the ones who pretend they're not."
Sophie smiled, a little of her tension easing. "I'm Sophie. Nice to meet you."
Emma linked arms with her and began walking. "Come on, I'll show you around. You'll love it once you know where the good coffee spots are. Trust me, caffeine is mandatory here."
As they walked past a small campus café, Sophie's gaze was caught by someone leaning against the counter, guitar case propped beside him. He had messy dark hair, a perfectly casual hoodie, and a look like he'd just stepped out of a magazine—but there was something else too, something quiet and observant in his eyes. He smiled slightly at a student ordering a latte, then his gaze flicked toward Sophie.
She quickly looked away, cheeks warming. Emma nudged her. "Go on, say hi. You're staring."
"I… uh…" Sophie stammered. Her voice felt trapped somewhere between her brain and her throat. She had no idea why he seemed so familiar, even though she'd never met him.
Emma laughed. "No pressure. Maybe just a friendly wave?"
Before Sophie could decide, he nodded toward her—almost imperceptibly—but enough to make her heart do an extra flip. Sophie waved awkwardly, instantly wishing the floor would swallow her.
Emma snickered. "There, see? Nothing scary about him. Probably thinks you're cute or something."
Sophie rolled her eyes but felt a small thrill. Maybe this year wouldn't be so lonely after all. Maybe she could navigate this new world, one tiny interaction at a time.
She didn't know that the boy in the café would soon become a constant presence in her life, that her first nervous wave would grow into late-night conversations, shared secrets, and a tension she couldn't ignore. For now, though, Sophie just followed Emma to Maple Hall, the city buzzing around her and a tiny spark of curiosity warming her chest.