The scanner beeped. Green light flashed. For a second Hunter just stood there staring at it. After everything that morning, that green light felt like a win.
Security guard folded his arms. "There."
Hunter looked at him. "There."
"You made it."
"Barely."
Guard shook his head. "Twenty years, I've seen students forget assignments, laptops, wallets, even shoes."
Hunter blinked. "Shoes?"
"One guy came in wearing slippers."
Hunter laughed.
Guard pointed at him. "But forgetting your ID while standing in front of the gate? Still impressive."
"Thanks."
"Wasn't a compliment."
Hunter sighed, dramatic. "Everybody's a comedian today."
Guard smirked. "Go before you miss the rest of your classes."
Hunter gave him a mock salute, stepped through. Finally. Saint Rosemary University.
Students moved across campus. Some sat under trees. Some hurried toward lectures. Others gathered around benches talking loud. The whole place buzzed.
Hunter automatically looked toward the science building. Then stopped. Eyes narrowed.
"No way."
Rose still sat on the same bench near the entrance. One leg crossed over the other. Phone in hand. Blonde hair shining in the afternoon sun. Completely relaxed. Completely unbothered. Completely not in class.
Hunter started smiling. Slowly. Dangerously.
Rose glanced up. The moment she saw him, she smiled. "There you are."
Hunter walked over. Rose stood up.
"What took you so long, rascal?"
Hunter stopped right in front of her. Instead of answering, he folded his arms.
Rose immediately got suspicious. "What?"
"No."
"No what?"
"We are discussing this first."
Rose raised an eyebrow. "Discussing what?"
Hunter pointed behind her. Toward the buildings. "Class."
"What about it?"
"You didn't go."
Rose looked away.
Hunter's smile widened. "Oh my God."
"What?"
"You waited."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
Rose groaned. "I knew this was going to happen."
Hunter laughed. "You waited for me."
"I was making sure you got inside."
"That's waiting."
"It isn't."
"It literally is."
Rose pointed at him. "Stop being happy."
"You waited for me."
"I hate you."
Hunter laughed harder. A couple students nearby glanced over. Rose immediately lowered her voice.
"Can you stop announcing it to the entire university?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because this is the greatest achievement of my life."
Rose looked offended. "The greatest achievement of your life?"
"Top three."
"Top three?"
Hunter nodded. "Definitely."
Rose folded her arms. "I'm leaving."
"No you're not."
"No, seriously."
"You skipped class already."
Rose paused. Hunter grinned.
She pointed a finger at him. "You're annoying."
"You waited."
"I regret everything."
They started walking. Neither made any effort toward class. At this point, not much point.
Rose shoved her hands into her coat pockets. Hunter walked beside her.
"So," Rose said.
"So."
"Did Rachel rescue you?"
Hunter sighed.
Rose instantly started laughing. "Oh no."
"Movie voucher."
Rose stopped walking. "What?"
"Movie voucher."
"What movie voucher?"
Hunter looked genuinely betrayed. "My movie voucher."
Rose stared. Then burst out laughing. "No."
"Yes."
"No way."
Hunter nodded. "She blackmailed me."
Rose nearly doubled over. "Your own sister?"
"Exactly."
"That's amazing."
"It's criminal."
Rose wiped a tear from her eye. "I like Rachel."
"I know."
"She's funny."
"Not when she's stealing my stuff."
Rose laughed again.
As they continued through campus, students greeted Rose from every direction. A girl waved. Rose waved back. Two guys nodded. Rose nodded back. Another student smiled awkward. Rose returned the smile.
Hunter noticed.
Rose noticed him noticing. Smug expression appeared immediately. "There it is."
Hunter sighed. "What?"
"That look."
"What look?"
"The look where you're realizing how popular I am."
Hunter groaned. "Oh, here we go."
Rose flipped her blonde hair, dramatic. Hunter rolled his eyes.
Rose looked delighted. "You know."
"What?"
"Half this university is jealous of you."
Hunter looked at her. "Half?"
"At least."
"That's generous."
Rose gasped. "Generous?"
"Maybe a quarter."
"A quarter?"
Hunter nodded.
Rose looked horrified. Hunter couldn't keep a straight face anymore. A laugh escaped him. Rose immediately smacked his arm.
"You are impossible."
"You started it."
"I am the victim."
"You absolutely are not."
They eventually reached a quieter section. Tree-lined pathway stretched ahead. The noise of crowds faded. For the first time all day, things felt peaceful.
Rose glanced sideways at him. "Can I ask something?"
Hunter looked at her. "Depends."
"Depends?"
"Depends on the question."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Fine."
Hunter smiled. "Go ahead."
She was quiet a moment. Then asked, "What was it like?"
Hunter frowned. "What was what like?"
"Moving."
The question surprised him. Rose noticed immediately. "Too personal?"
"No." Hunter shook his head. "Just unexpected."
For a few seconds he thought about it. The move. The old town. The old house. Everything they left behind.
"It was weird."
Rose waited.
Hunter continued. "I lived there my whole life."
"You miss it?"
"Sometimes."
Rose nodded. That made sense.
Hunter looked ahead. A memory surfaced. Rachel sitting on top of a cardboard box. Refusing to pack. Refusing to move. Refusing to cooperate with anything.
Hunter laughed.
Rose immediately noticed. "What?"
"Just remembered Rachel."
Rose smiled. "That explains the laugh."
Hunter shook his head. "You have no idea."
"What happened?"
"She sat on a moving box for three hours."
Rose stared. "Three hours?"
"Three."
"Why?"
Hunter laughed. "Because she thought if the box couldn't be packed, we couldn't move."
Rose stopped walking. Then burst into laughter. "No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Mom actually had to bribe her."
Rose was laughing so hard she nearly lost her balance. "Please tell me she accepted."
"Two milkshakes and a pizza."
Rose covered her face. "That's your sister."
"That's my sister."
The conversation continued. One story became another. One memory became another. Before either realized it, they'd wandered all the way to the cafeteria.
Rose immediately pointed. "Food."
Hunter laughed. "You just ate breakfast."
"So?"
"You ate breakfast twice."
"So?"
"You scare me."
Rose smiled, proud. "Good."
They grabbed lunch, found a table near a large window. Cafeteria wasn't crowded anymore. Most students were in class. Which suited them perfectly.
The moment Hunter sat down, Rose stole one of his fries.
Hunter pointed at her. "No."
Rose froze. "What?"
"You just stole my food."
"No, I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"There is no proof."
The fry was literally in her hand.
Hunter stared. Rose stared back. Then calmly ate it.
"No proof."
Hunter laughed. "I can't believe this."
"You love me."
"Unfortunately."
Rose smiled. "There it is."
And for the first time that day, neither rushed the conversation. Neither checked the time. Neither worried about classes. For a little while, it was just Hunter and Rose sitting together, talking about everything and nothing at all.
And somehow, that ordinary afternoon felt better than any lecture waiting for them.
The cafeteria emptied out while they were still sitting there. Hunter noticed the clatter of trays first—someone clearing tables in the back, the metallic sound carrying across the mostly-empty room. He grabbed his backpack. Rose pulled her coat off the chair. Neither made a move toward their next class. Both clocked it. Neither said a word.
"So." Rose broke first.
"So."
"We're terrible at this."
"At what?"
"Being students."
Hunter nodded slow. "Yeah. Pretty much."
Rose grinned. "Good."
"You sound proud of that."
"I am." She stretched her arms out, lazy. "Future Rose can deal with the consequences."
"Future Rose is gonna hate you."
"Probably does already."
Outside, the sun hit different. Warm on the pathways, breeze moving through the trees just enough to make the leaves rustle. They walked without deciding where. No plan. No rush. Just... walking.
Rose glanced at him sideways. "Another question?"
Hunter groaned. "Here we go."
"You act like I'm interrogating you."
"Last week you asked if I'd still love you as a worm."
"Valid question."
"Not even close."
"Reveals character."
Hunter laughed despite himself. Rose looked way too pleased.
Then her face changed. Softer. "Your dad—what'd he do when you got into Saint Rosemary?"
Hunter blinked. Didn't expect that. Rose caught it—she always caught it.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You made the face."
"What face?"
"Thinking face. You get this line right here." She touched her own forehead.
Hunter shook his head. "You watch too close."
"Answer the question."
He looked down the path. The memory came up without permission. Kitchen table. The envelope. Rachel screaming before he even got it fully open—she'd snatched it, read it, started shrieking. Mom crying. Dad just... standing there. Silent.
Hunter felt himself smile. "Didn't say much."
"Your dad?"
"Yeah."
"That's it?"
"Shook my hand."
Rose's eyebrows went up. "That's all?"
"At first." Hunter laughed, quiet. "Later that night, caught him reading the letter again. In the kitchen. Alone."
Rose's mouth twitched. "That's..."
"Don't say it."
"...sweet."
"Please."
"He was proud."
Hunter nodded. Small. "Yeah."
"Still is."
He looked at her. "I know."
They hit the gates. Walked out together this time—no forgotten ID, no guard giving him shit. Just... normal. Felt weird.
The city opened up in front of them. Traffic, people, storefronts throwing sunlight back. They walked side by side. Close enough that their shoulders brushed once. Neither moved away.
Rose kicked a pebble. It skittered ahead of them. "Secret?"
Hunter tensed. "Why's that sound like a trap?"
"Not a trap."
"That's what traps say."
She elbowed him. Hard. "Idiot."
"Fine. What's the secret?"
Rose looked ahead. Hesitated. He'd never seen her hesitate like that. "I was nervous. When we met."
Hunter stopped. Rose kept walking three steps before realizing. Turned.
"What?"
"You." He stared at her. "Nervous?"
"Why's that hard?"
"Because you're..." He gestured at all of her. "This."
"This?"
"Confident. Like you own every room."
"Cocky," she corrected.
"Extremely."
"Fair." She looked away, almost—almost—embarrassed. He'd never seen that before. "But I was. Nervous."
"Why?"
She looked back at him. Direct. "Because I liked you."
Hunter blinked. The words landed casual, like she'd said the weather. Took him a second to catch up. "Oh."
Rose's face went pink. Actually pink. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her blush.
"That's..." He struggled. "Sweet?"
"Don't."
"Kind of is."
"Regret telling you."
"No you don't."
She sighed. "You're right."
They kept walking. City got quieter as they moved away from campus. Conversation drifted to family—his, mostly.
"Your family's interesting," Rose said.
"Normal."
"Not even close." She counted on her fingers. "Sister's a criminal. Mom fixes everyone's life. Dad works twenty-five hours daily."
"Twenty-five?"
"Hyperbole. But accurate."
Hunter laughed. Couldn't argue.
He went quiet then. Thinking about the move. The store. The hours his parents put in. Everything they gave up. Rose noticed—she always noticed.
"There." She pointed at his face.
"What?"
"That line. Thinking again."
He smiled. "You really see everything."
"I know."
The intersection came up. Their split point. Her neighborhood one way, his the other. Both slowed. Neither acknowledged why.
Rose put her hands in her pockets. "Well."
"Well."
Neither moved.
"I'm still annoyed," she said.
"About?"
"The ID."
"You're still on that?"
"Yes."
"Wasn't even yours."
"Affected me." She paused. "I waited."
Hunter smiled. Her eyes went wide.
"Don't."
"You waited."
"Don't start."
"You waited for me."
Rose groaned. "Knew this would happen."
Hunter laughed. Couldn't stop.
They stood there smiling like idiots. Cars passed. People walked around them. Sun getting low. Neither in a hurry.
Rose pointed at him. "Don't forget your ID tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am."
"Serious."
"So am I."
"Better be."
Then she smil
ed. Not the teasing one. Not the cocky one. The real one. The one she didn't show people.
"See you tomorrow, Hunter."
Something in his chest went light. He smiled back. "Tomorrow, Rose."
She walked backward a few steps. Turned. Started down her street. Glanced back once. He was still there. Watching.
She shook her head. Laughed. "Rascal."
Then she was gone around the corner.
Hunter stood another second. Adjusted his backpack. Started home.
The dream. The feeling of being watched. The factory. All of it felt far away now.
All he could think about was her smile.
He walked home with it stuck in his head.