The bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture. Ishitha gathered her books, already debating whether she should head to lunch alone. Her phone buzzed.
We'll wait for you outside your class. Let's go eat together! — Sofia.
For a second, Ishitha hesitated. Normally, she preferred her own company. But something about these two girls… they didn't seem like attention-seeking types. They carried a quieter aura, one she found less suffocating. And whether she liked it or not, she would eventually need allies here.
Fine, she thought, slipping her phone back into her pocket. A few friends won't hurt. Besides, I'm a good judge of character. They seem harmless enough.
Sofia and Emma were waiting just outside, waving when they spotted her. Together, the three of them walked to the cafeteria, collected their trays, and settled into a quiet corner—thankfully away from the chaos.
The girls chattered about professors and first-day impressions. Ishitha listened silently, focusing more on her food, occasionally nodding when required.
"Guess what," Emma suddenly said, her cheeks tinged pink. "I ran into James. The James I told you about—the one from social media."
Sofia leaned forward, grinning. "Ooooh, the James? The one who sent you that friend request?" She wiggled her brows, making Emma groan.
Ishitha shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. Teenage girls with crushes—silly, harmless, but oddly comforting in their simplicity. For the first time that day, her shoulders relaxed. Maybe this won't be so bad.