The morning sun crept lazily across campus, painting the sidewalks gold as Amara tugged her jacket tighter around her shoulders. Exams had left everyone drained, yet there was a noticeable buzz in the air. Students moved in clusters, talking loudly, laughing freely, already looking forward to the long break ahead.
For Amara, though, her mind wasn't entirely on the upcoming break. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about Adrian...not since the last time they spoke, when tension had lingered between them like an unspoken truth.
When Damian had suggested a group outing to "blow off steam" after their last exam, Amara had hesitated. She wasn't exactly in the mood to party or hang out. But Emily, in her usual persistent way, had convinced her. "It'll be fun, trust me. Besides, you've been way too tense. We all need this."
So here she was now, standing outside the dorm, waiting for the others to arrive.
At the Parking Lot
Damian's car pulled up first....loud, a little flashy, with music blasting from the stereo. Luke hopped out from the passenger seat, sunglasses perched on his head despite the morning light.
"Ladies," he greeted with mock seriousness, bowing slightly. "Your chariot awaits."
Emily rolled her eyes but laughed, tugging Amara's arm. "See? The party has already started."
Before Amara could respond, another sleek car eased into the lot...a black sedan, polished so well it reflected the rising sun. Adrian stepped out, his expression calm, almost unreadable. He looked effortlessly composed, as though exams hadn't shaken him at all.
"Adrian!" Damian called out, slamming his car door. "Finally. We were starting to think you'd bail."
Adrian smirked faintly. "And leave you to get lost on the way? Not a chance."
Their friends laughed, but Amara's stomach flipped. She caught his eyes for the briefest moment, and in that second, something unspoken passed between them. She looked away quickly, pretending to adjust her jacket.
The plan was simple: Adrian would drive with Amara, while the others piled into Damian's car. The teasing had already begun before they even set off.
"Adrian and Amara, alone in one car?" Luke whistled. "I sense a love story brewing."
Emily joined in, nudging Amara playfully. "Don't worry, we'll give you two some space. Quality bonding time."
Amara's cheeks warmed, but Adrian simply raised a brow, his voice steady. "Or maybe it's just efficient. Two cars, fewer arguments."
That didn't stop the others from laughing as they pulled out of the lot, music echoing into the morning air.
On the Road
The drive stretched across winding roads and quiet highways, the city giving way to open fields and patches of forest. Inside Adrian's car, the silence was both comfortable and suffocating.
Amara glanced at him from time to time, noticing the way his hands rested easily on the steering wheel, the way his jaw tightened when he was concentrating on the road. He was calm, collected, but she could sense something deeper beneath the surface.
"So," she finally said, breaking the silence. "Do you always volunteer to drive people around?"
Adrian chuckled softly, his gaze fixed ahead. "Not really. But I don't trust Damian's driving."
Amara smiled despite herself. "Fair enough."
For a while, they fell into an easy rhythm....occasional small talk, quiet stretches where the only sound was the hum of the engine. It felt…strange, but not unpleasant. Almost as if the car was its own little world, separate from the chaos of exams and teasing friends.
At one point, Amara turned to look out the window, the scenery rushing past in a blur. A question burned at the tip of her tongue, one she wasn't sure she wanted to voice. Why do you keep pulling away from me? Why does it feel like you're holding something back?
But before she could speak, Adrian glanced at her. "You're quiet."
She shrugged. "Just…thinking."
His lips curved slightly, but he didn't press further.
The Stop
An hour into the drive, Damian's car signaled for them to pull over at a roadside diner. Everyone was starving, and the place looked inviting enough....a small, cozy building with the smell of fried food drifting out to meet them.
Inside, the group crowded into a booth, laughter bubbling as menus were passed around. The waiter, a young guy with a bright smile, lingered a little too long when he came to take their order.
"And for you?" he asked Amara, leaning just slightly closer than necessary.
Amara cleared her throat, uncomfortable under his gaze. "Uh, just the chicken sandwich."
The waiter grinned. "Good choice. I'll make sure it's perfect."
Emily smirked from across the table, but Adrian's expression barely shifted. To anyone else, he looked calm, disinterested even. But Amara noticed the way his fingers drummed lightly against the table, the subtle tension in his shoulders.
Luke caught it too, exchanging a quick glance with Damian. They didn't say anything, but their amused smiles said enough.
When the food arrived, conversation flowed easily again. Still, Amara couldn't shake the feeling that Adrian's mood had shifted, even if he tried to hide it.
Back on the Road
After the meal, they returned to their cars. This time, the silence between Amara and Adrian felt heavier. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt, trying to think of something...anything....to say.
It was Adrian who spoke first. "That waiter. Do you know him?"
Amara blinked, surprised by the question. "No. Why?"
He shrugged lightly, eyes still on the road. "You seemed…uncomfortable."
Her brows furrowed. "You noticed?"
"Of course," he said simply.
Amara hesitated, then asked, "Were you…jealous?"
Adrian's grip on the wheel tightened ever so slightly, but his expression remained composed. "Why would I be?"
She bit her lip, unsure how to respond. Part of her wanted to laugh it off, to brush aside the tension. But another part of her...one she couldn't quite ignore....wondered if there was more to his reaction than he was willing to admit.
The ride continued in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
Arrival
By the time they reached their destination....a cozy cabin near a lake....the sun was beginning to dip low, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
The friends spilled out of the cars, stretching, laughing, carrying bags inside. Amara followed, her heart beating just a little faster. The day had been long, filled with small moments that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about Adrian.
Inside, they settled into their rooms, unpacking, teasing each other about who snored the loudest, who packed too much. Amara ended up with a room opposite Adrian's, a fact that Emily wasted no time pointing out with a mischievous grin.
"Convenient, huh?" Emily whispered, nudging her.
Amara rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed all the same.
As the evening wore on, the group gathered in the kitchen, deciding to cook together. Adrian was quiet at first, observing as Amara moved around the space with surprising ease. When she chopped vegetables with practiced hands and stirred pots with confidence, he finally spoke.
"You can cook," he said, almost sounding impressed.
Amara glanced at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Surprised?....remember i did the last time.... "
"Almost forgot about that...."
Dinner turned into laughter-filled chaos, with Damian burning toast, Luke accidentally spilling juice, and Emily dancing around with a ladle as though it were a microphone. But beneath the laughter, Adrian's gaze kept drifting back to Amara, as though he couldn't quite stop himself.