The lecture hall emptied in a steady wave of chatter and shuffling feet. Students packed away notebooks and laptops, rushing toward the exits with relief written all over their faces. Amara lingered, sliding her pen into her bag, her mind not entirely on the class. She had felt it all through the hour the quiet weight of Adrian sitting only two rows behind her.
She had promised herself she wouldn't overthink it. After all, just a few days ago, she had run into him at the restaurant, where he'd done something completely unexpected acknowledged her. More than that, he had said her name aloud in front of his friends. A small thing, maybe, but it had replayed in her mind again and again, each time making her chest tighten with warmth.
And now, as the last of the crowd trickled out, she felt that restless energy tugging at her again. She swung her bag over her shoulder and turned. Adrian was walking toward the door, his steps unhurried, his expression calm as always.
On impulse, she called out, "Adrian."
He stopped, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes landed on her, steady, unreadable, and for a heartbeat, Amara wondered if she'd made a mistake. But then, instead of walking away, he waited.
Gathering courage, she closed the space between them. "So…uhmm... the project," she began, her voice a little softer than she intended. "Do you think we should set aside more time this week? We've only had that one session, and I don't want us rushing at the last minute."
Adrian tilted his head slightly, considering her words. "Tomorrow... Library."
The simplicity of his reply made her blink, but then she found herself nodding. "Alright. Tomorrow then."
A small silence fell, but this one felt different from the ones before. Not awkward just… new. For the first time, it felt like they weren't strangers circling each other. They were speaking. Not much, but enough to matter.
Before she could say anything else, voices cut through the quiet.
"Adrian!"
Damian and Luke appeared at the top of the stairs, their energy filling the space instantly. Emily trailed just behind them, her bright smile making Amara's heart ease a little at least she wouldn't be the only girl in this sudden mix.
"There you are," Damian said, clapping Adrian lightly on the shoulder. "You disappeared after class last time. Thought we'd catch you today before you vanish again."
Luke spotted Amara and Emily almost immediately. "Hey, look who it is," he said with a grin. "The project partners."
Emily laughed, lifting her hand in a small wave. "That's us."
Adrian gave no reaction to their teasing, but Damian's grin only widened. "Perfect timing," he said, glancing between the group. "We were just talking about making plans for the weekend. A little hangout. Nothing too crazy, just food, music, maybe a game or two. You all should come."
Emily's eyes lit up almost instantly. "That sounds fun," she said. "Where?"
"Off-campus. My cousin's place," Damian explained, his tone casual but inviting. "Big enough for everyone. You'll like it."
Luke added with a chuckle, "And don't worry, we don't usually let Adrian ghost us. He's coming too."
Amara's heart skipped at the way the spotlight turned toward Adrian again. She glanced at him quickly, curious for his reaction. As expected, his expression didn't shift much, though she noticed the faintest narrowing of his eyes at his friends' persistence.
Still, he didn't refuse.
"Saturday," he said simply, his agreement quiet but firm enough to silence any doubt.
Emily beamed. "Then we'll come too."
The way she answered so quickly made Amara smile. She appreciated Emily's ease in such moments...the way she stepped in with enthusiasm where Amara hesitated. It was a shield, in a way, giving Amara room to breathe without looking unsure.
"Great," Damian said, looking genuinely pleased. "It'll be good. A break from all the stress. Besides," his grin turned slightly mischievous, "it'll give us more time to actually know each other outside class."
Luke nodded. "Exactly. And don't worry, Amara, Emily you'll be in good hands."
Amara couldn't stop the tiny laugh that slipped out, though she quickly pressed her lips together, hoping it didn't sound nervous. The truth was, her chest was fluttering with something she couldn't name.
She stole a quick glance at Adrian. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't distant either. For once, he looked… present. Maybe that was enough.
Emily leaned closer to Amara as they began walking out together. "See?" she whispered, her tone bubbling with excitement. "This will be good for you."
Amara gave her a side glance, cheeks warming. "What do you mean, for me?"
Emily's grin widened. "Come on. You've been so restless since that restaurant thing. Don't think I haven't noticed."
Amara wanted to argue, to deny, but the words tangled in her throat. Instead, she settled for rolling her eyes, though her lips betrayed her with a faint smile.
Behind them, Damian and Luke continued chatting animatedly, tossing ideas back and forth about what the weekend hangout should include. Adrian walked a little apart, quiet as usual, yet Amara noticed he didn't stray too far. Somehow, his presence felt like a steady anchor in the noise around them.
By the time they reached the courtyard, the group had already cemented the plan. Saturday. A hangout. A chance for everyone to step out of their routines and, for Amara, a chance she hadn't realized she'd been waiting for.
As the others drifted in separate directions, Emily squeezed her arm. "This is going to be very interesting."
Amara exhaled, her heart racing again, but this time with anticipation rather than nerves. She didn't know what the weekend would hold, but one thing was clear... she and Adrian were no longer just names paired on a project sheet. Slowly, quietly, something was shifting.
And that thought alone kept her walking with a lightness she hadn't felt in a long time.