THE DORM – 6:00 AM
Charlie woke up to the smell of smoke.
Not a fire. Not the good kind from the grill last night. The stale, clinging odor of someone who'd been thinking too hard with a cigarette in their hand.
Oliver was perched on the windowsill, one leg dangling over the edge, a thin white stick burning between his fingers.
"You don't smoke," Charlie said.
"Tonight I do."
The cigarette glowed. Oliver watched the campus below. The first janitors were out. A stray dog trotted across the lot. Somewhere, someone was crying.
Charlie sat up. "What happened?"
"Nothing happened. That's the problem."
The ash fell three floors down.
Wesley's bed was empty. Made. Perfect. Aaron's too. Sheets cold.
"Where is everyone?"
"Aaron left at four. Couldn't sleep. Wesley never came back."
Charlie rubbed his face. "Last night was a lot."
"Last night was nothing. Tonight will be worse."
"Why?"
Oliver stubbed the cigarette against the brick. The ember died.
"Because tonight we take finals. And after finals, everyone goes home. And home is where the masks come off."
He dropped the butt. Watched it fall.
Charlie didn't know what to say. So he said nothing.
Oliver climbed back inside. His feet were bare. His eyes were red.
"You still talking to Josephine?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah."
"She's good for you."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're not talking about her. You're just talking to her. There's a difference."
Charlie thought about that.
His phone buzzed.
Josephine (6:12 AM): Can't sleep. Meet me at the courtyard.
He was already putting on his shoes.
THE COURTYARD – 6:30 AM
The sun wasn't up yet. The sky was purple and orange, split like a bruise.
Josephine sat on the same bench. No bottle tonight. Just her. A hoodie. Hair loose.
"You look terrible," Charlie said.
"You look worse."
He sat beside her. Close enough to touch. Not touching.
"I'm scared," she said.
"Of what?"
"Of going home. Of being the person they expect me to be."
Charlie looked at her. "Who do they expect?"
"A whore. A failure. A disappointment."
"Are you?"
She turned to face him. Her eyes were wet. "I don't know anymore."
He reached for her hand. She let him.
"Then don't go home," he said.
"I have to."
"No. You don't. You can stay here. With me. We can be failures together."
She almost smiled. "That's the saddest thing anyone's ever said to me."
"Is it working?"
She squeezed his hand.
The sun broke over the buildings.
THE BIOLOGY LAB – 9:00 AM
Aaron stared at the cadaver.
The formaldehyde stung his nose. The fluorescent lights hummed. Around him, students poked and prodded, their faces young and determined.
He couldn't focus.
His phone was in his pocket. He'd checked it four times. Three texts from Vicky. One from Mandy.
Mandy (8:47 AM): Last day. Can we talk?
He hadn't replied.
The professor walked by. "Mr. Obi. The brachial plexus. Where is it?"
Aaron pointed. The professor nodded. Moved on.
Kosi was across the table, his scalpel steady. He didn't look up.
"You're going to fail if you keep checking your phone," Kosi said quietly.
"I'm not going to fail."
"You're going to fail."
Aaron put the phone away. Picked up his scalpel.
The cadaver's face was gray. Waxy. Peaceful.
This is what's waiting, Aaron thought. For all of us.
He made the incision.
THE STUDENT CENTER – 11:00 AM
Rose stood in line to pay her fees.
The girl in front of her was crying. Her card had been declined. She didn't have enough. She was begging.
Rose watched her. Felt nothing.
Kelly appeared beside her. "We have a problem."
"What now?"
"The Watchmen have a list. Names. First-years. Second-years. Someone talked."
Rose's jaw tightened. "Who?"
"Don't know yet. But the list is circulating. Three people have already been called to the dean's office."
The girl in front was still crying. An administrator was leading her away.
Rose stepped up to the counter. Paid her fees. Smiled.
"Thank you," she said. Sweet. Polite.
They walked outside.
"Find out who's on the list," Rose said. "And find out who talked."
"What if it's one of ours?"
Rose stopped walking. Turned to face Kelly.
"Then we handle it."
Kelly nodded. She didn't ask what that meant.
THE DORM – 1:00 PM
Vicky sat on Aaron's bed, waiting.
He'd texted her from the lab. Come over. Need to see you.
She'd come. Of course she'd come.
The room smelled like Oliver's cigarettes. Charlie's cologne. Wesley's expensive detergent.
She picked up Aaron's pillow. Held it to her face.
It smelled like him.
The door opened.
Aaron walked in. His hands were clean. His eyes were tired.
"You came," he said.
"You asked."
He sat beside her. Didn't touch her. Just sat.
"I've been thinking," he said.
"About?"
"About us. About what I did. About what I said."
Vicky put down the pillow. "Aaron."
"Let me finish." He turned to face her. "I lied to you. About Mandy. About her kissing me first."
The room went cold.
"What?"
"I kissed her. I wanted to. I went to her. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't the alcohol. It was me."
Vicky's hands were shaking. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you deserve to know."
"Now? On the last day of exams? When I'm about to go home for a month?"
"Better now than never."
She stood up. "You're a monster."
"I know."
"You made me feel crazy. You made me feel sorry for you. You made me doubt myself."
"I know."
She picked up his pillow and threw it at him. He didn't move.
"I hate you."
"I know."
She walked to the door. Stopped.
"When I come back," she said, "we're done."
She left.
Aaron sat alone.
His phone buzzed.
Mandy (1:15 PM): I heard what you did. Telling her the truth. That was brave.
Mandy (1:16 PM): Or stupid. I can't tell.
Aaron (1:16 PM): Neither can I.
He put the phone down.
The room smelled like her now. Her perfume. Her anger. Her absence.
THE HOSPITAL – 3:00 PM
Oliver sat in the waiting room.
Not for him. For Peculiar. Her mother was sick. Something bad. She hadn't told him the details. She didn't have to.
He could see it in her face. The way she held her phone. The way she stared at the door.
"You don't have to stay," she said.
"I know."
"You have finals."
"I know."
She looked at him. "Why are you here?"
"Because you're here."
She put her head on his shoulder.
They sat like that. Waiting.
THE GIRLS' DORM – 5:00 PM
Zuru was packing.
Clothes on the bed. Shoes on the floor. A bottle of something strong in her bag.
"You're not going to finish that before you leave," Zizi said.
"Watch me."
Zuru took a long drink. Wiped her mouth.
"You coming back next semester?" Zizi asked.
"Don't I always?"
"This time feels different."
Zuru looked at her. "How?"
"I don't know. The energy. The way everyone's been looking at each other. Like we're waiting for something to break."
Zuru put down the bottle. "Something already broke. We're just pretending it didn't."
She zipped her bag.
Ese sat in the corner. Watching. As always.
She hadn't packed.
"You're not leaving?" Zizi asked.
"No."
"Where will you stay?"
"Here."
"Alone?"
Ese looked up. "I'm always alone."
Zizi held her gaze. Wanted to say something. Didn't.
The door opened.
Vicky walked in. Her eyes were red. Her face was stone.
"What happened?" Zuru asked.
"I'm done with Aaron."
The room went silent.
Zuru waited for the punchline. It didn't come.
"Good," Zuru said.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Good. Because I don't want to listen."
Zizi hugged her. Vicky didn't hug back. But she didn't pull away.
Ese watched.
THE COURTYARD – 7:00 PM
Charlie and Josephine sat on the bench.
The sun was setting. The campus was emptying. Cars pulled out of the lot. Families honked. Students hugged.
"Last night," Josephine said.
"Last night."
"You going to miss me?"
"Are you going to miss me?"
She didn't answer. She just leaned her head on his shoulder.
They stayed like that until the stars came out.
THE PARKING LOT – 9:00 PM
Oliver's car was packed.
Peculiar stood beside him, her bag in her hand. Her mother had been discharged. Stable. Not fine. But alive.
"You should go," he said.
"I know."
"Your mother needs you."
"I know."
She didn't move.
"Peculiar."
"I heard you."
She stepped closer. Kissed his cheek.
"Don't use while I'm gone."
"I won't."
"Promise me."
He looked at her. "I promise."
She smiled. Got in her car. Drove away.
Oliver stood in the parking lot, watching the taillights disappear.
He was alone.
THE DORM – 11:00 PM
Aaron sat on his bed.
The room was half-empty. Charlie had packed. Wesley had packed. Oliver's side was bare.
Aaron's phone buzzed.
Vicky (11:02 PM): I meant what I said. We're done.
He didn't reply.
Mandy (11:03 PM): She's gone. You're free. Or are you?
He didn't reply to that either.
Unknown number (11:04 PM): You think you know who's watching. You don't.
He stared at the screen.
Aaron (11:05 PM): Who is this?
Unknown (11:05 PM): Someone who sees you.
Unknown (11:06 PM): Have a good break, Arie. Next semester will be... interesting.
The messages stopped.
Aaron tried to call. The number was dead.
He sat in the dark.
Somewhere in another building, Ese turned off her burner phone and smiled.
THE CAMPUS – MIDNIGHT
Empty.
The silence was thick. The kind of silence that presses on your ears. No music. No laughter. No arguments.
Rose stood at her window, looking out at the dark.
Kelly had sent the list. Three names. Two she didn't know. One she did.
Temi.
Her own harem. Her own girl.
Rose picked up her phone.
Rose (12:02 AM): I need to see you. Tonight.
Temi (12:03 AM): It's late.
Rose (12:03 AM): It's important.
A long pause.
Temi (12:05 AM): Where?
Rose (12:05 AM): The studio.
She put on her coat.
The garden needed pruning.
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 12:30 AM
Rose waited in the dark.
The door opened. Temi walked in. Nervous. Young. Trusting.
"You said it was important," Temi said.
"It is."
Rose stepped closer. "You talked to The Watchmen."
Temi's face went pale. "I didn't—"
"Don't lie to me."
"I didn't say anything. I swear."
Rose touched her face. Gentle. Almost loving.
"Then why are your name and my name on the same list?"
Temi was crying now. "I don't know. I didn't—"
"Shh."
Rose pulled her into a hug. Temi sobbed against her shoulder.
Rose looked over her head. At the wall. At the dust. At nothing.
"I'll fix this," Rose whispered. "But you have to trust me."
"I do."
"Good."
Rose held her tighter.
Then she let go.
"Go home, Temi. Don't talk to anyone. Don't answer any questions."
Temi nodded. Wiped her face. Walked out.
Rose stood alone.
Her phone buzzed.
Kelly (12:35 AM): Temi is on the list. What do we do?
Rose (12:35 AM): I'll handle it.
Kelly (12:36 AM): Handle it how?
Rose didn't answer.
She walked out of the studio and locked the door behind her.
THE DORM – 1:00 AM
Aaron lay in the dark, staring at his phone.
The unknown number had gone silent.
He scrolled through old messages. Vicky. Mandy. Charlie. Wesley.
He stopped on a message from Ese. Months ago. The first time she'd texted him.
Ese (DATE UNKNOWN): You don't know me. But I know you.
He'd forgotten about that.
He read it again.
You don't know me. But I know you.
His blood went cold.
The burner phone. The messages tonight. The timing.
Have a good break, Arie. Next semester will be... interesting.
He looked at the top bunk. Ese's name in his phone.
Aaron (1:07 AM): Was that you?
No reply.
Aaron (1:08 AM): Ese.
Nothing.
He called. The phone rang twice. Then voicemail.
He threw his phone on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
The water stain looked like a face.
Watching.
Waiting.
VOICEOVER (First time in a while, but kept short and used sparingly)
The campus was empty now. The dorms were quiet. Everyone had gone home to families who didn't know them, beds that felt too small, rooms that smelled like childhood. Everyone except Ese. And Rose. And the secrets they carried.
First semester was over.
The game had just begun.