The campus was loud and busy — people laughing, dragging boxes, calling out names. Jade stood by the car, clutching her notebook tight against her chest. Her stomach twisted.
Aria was thriving.
"Come on, Jade! You have to see our dorm! It's so cute!"
Jade gave a small smile. "O-okay…"
Before Jade could even move, a tall guy walked up, carrying a big box like it weighed nothing. He was broad, serious-looking — and definitely not smiling.
"Lucian!" Aria called out. "You found us!"
He nodded, his voice flat. "Yeah. Where do you want this?"
"Third floor! Oh—Lucian, this is my best friend, Jade."
Jade froze, hugging her notebook tighter. "H-hi…"
Lucian looked at her — really looked — then rolled his eyes a little. "Right."
Aria frowned. "Be nice."
He shrugged and started walking toward the stairs.
Jade's face was already warm. She didn't know what she'd done wrong, but she could feel he didn't like her.
When he came back down, she stepped aside to let him pass. He stopped, annoyed. "You gonna stand there all day?"
"S-sorry…" she mumbled, moving fast.
Aria tried to smooth things over. "Lucian's just tired from moving all morning."
He shot Jade a quick look. "Guess she's tired from watching."
Jade's mouth opened — she wanted to say something, anything — but no words came out. Just a tiny breath.
Lucian sighed like he'd already lost patience. "Forget it."
They finished unpacking. Aria hugged him goodbye. Jade stood near the doorway, pretending to check her phone.
Lucian looked at her once more. "You sure she's gonna be okay here?" he asked Aria.
Jade's throat tightened. "I-I'll be fine," she whispered.
He blinked, then gave a small half-smirk. "Guess we'll see."
And then he walked away, leaving Jade staring at the floor, cheeks burning.
Aria smiled, linking arms with her. "He's actually nice once you get to know him."
Jade shook her head quickly. "N-no, he's not."
But her heart was still racing, and she hated that it was.
They finally got to the dorm room. It was finally quiet. Aria was getting ready for her date, music playing softly while Jade sat at her desk, typing away on her laptop. The words came easier when the world outside faded.
She was lost in the story — a scene about two characters who couldn't admit they cared — when the door opened.
Lucian stepped in. His voice was low. "Aria, you ready?"
Aria called from the bathroom, "Five minutes!"
Lucian sighed, leaned against the wall, and noticed Jade at the desk. "You're always typing, huh?"
Jade froze. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. "I-I like it."
He crossed his arms. "What do you even write about?"
Jade's throat felt dry. "S-stuff. Stories."
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Let me guess — romance?" His tone made the word sound like an insult.
Her cheeks burned. "S-sometimes."
He gave a short, sharp laugh. "Figures."
Jade's stomach dropped. She wanted to defend herself, to say something smart or funny, but the words wouldn't come. Her pulse thudded in her ears.
Aria stepped out just then, dressed and smiling. "Okay, ready!"
Lucian glanced her way. "You sure she's not gonna write about us while we're gone?"
"Lucian," Aria warned, hands on her hips. "Stop."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm kidding."
"You're not funny," Aria shot back. "Jade doesn't bug anyone. Leave her alone."
Lucian looked at Jade again — not angry this time, just unreadable — then pushed off the wall. "Whatever."
They left together, the door clicking shut behind them.
Jade stared at the screen, the words on her document blurring. She deleted the sentence she'd been working on and typed a new one:
"Some people make you feel small without even trying."
Her fingers paused. Then she hit save, shut the laptop, and told herself she didn't care what Lucian thought.
She did, though.
It was after midnight when the dorm went quiet.
Jade was fast asleep, her laptop open beside her. The room was dark except for the soft glow of Aria's fairy lights.
Outside, Lucian had come back for Aria's purse — she'd left it behind before their movie. He didn't mean to linger, but when he stepped in, something made him stop.
Jade was tossing in her sleep, mumbling words he couldn't understand at first. Then he heard her whisper, voice trembling, "N-no… please, no…"
His chest tightened. She looked terrified, her fists clenched in the blanket.
Lucian hesitated at the door. He wasn't sure what to do — wake her? Leave? He stepped closer and said quietly, "Hey… it's okay. You're dreaming." he said as he caressed her cheek softly.
Her breathing slowed just a little. The tension in her shoulders eased.
He watched her a second longer, guilt flickering across his face. He didn't know why he cared — he just did.
Then he grabbed Aria's purse and left as quietly as he came.
The Next Morning
Sunlight spilled through the dorm window, painting the walls a golden shade.
Jade sat on her bed, laptop open but blank. Her mind kept drifting back to that strange dream — the one that had felt too real.
Her face still felt warm.
The door swung open and Aria breezed in, humming. "Morning, sleepyhead! You were out cold last night."
Jade looked up fast. "W-was I?"
"Yeah." Aria dropped her purse on the desk — the one she'd forgotten the night before — and started unpacking her breakfast. "Lucian stopped by to grab this after the movie. You didn't even move."
Jade's heart skipped. Lucian had been here.
She ducked her head. "O-oh."
Aria grinned. "You should've seen him trying to be quiet. It's weird seeing him act gentle for once."
Jade's fingers twisted in her blanket. "He… was gentle?"
Aria shrugged. "For Lucian, yeah. He didn't even slam the door."
Jade laughed softly, but it came out shaky.
A knock sounded. Aria jumped. "That's probably him now."
Before Jade could hide her face, the door opened and there he was — tall, tired-looking, eyes sweeping the room.
"Morning," Lucian said.
"Morning!" Aria smiled. "We're getting coffee — you want some?"
He shook his head. "Already had some. Just came to see if you wanted to hit the bookstore later."
Aria nodded and grabbed her bag. "Sure! Give me five."
As she left to change, the room went quiet.
Jade sat perfectly still, trying not to make eye contact.
Lucian glanced at her once, then twice. "You always look like you're about to run away."
Jade stammered, "I-I just… I'm not good at… talking."
He hummed, leaning on the door frame. "Yeah. I noticed."
Her cheeks burned.
Then Aria came out again, cheerful as ever. "Okay, let's go!"
Lucian straightened, giving Jade one last unreadable look before turning to leave.
When the door closed, Jade let out a shaky breath. She didn't know why her heart was pounding — only that it was, and she couldn't stop thinking about him.
The dorm was quiet again, but Jade was still sitting on her bed, notebook open but untouched. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the dream and to Lucian. Her cheeks were still warm.
The door burst open. "Jade! Come on! We're going to the bookstore!" Aria practically dragged her way in, energetic as ever. "You have to come. You can't just sit here all day."
Jade's mouth opened. "I-I…" She trailed off, unsure what to say.
Lucian leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, his usual scowl in place. "She doesn't have to. She can stay here."
Aria waved him off. "Nope! She is coming."
Lucian frowned. "You really think it's worth dragging her out? She clearly wants to stay in her little bubble."
"I… I-I can go," Jade stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucian blinked at her. "You want to go?"
"Yes… I-I… guess so," she mumbled, twisting her hands together.
Aria clapped her hands. "Yesss! That's the spirit! Come on, let's move!" She grabbed Jade's hand and practically tugged her toward the door.
Lucian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're impossible."
Jade's heart raced as she walked behind Aria. Her mind was spinning — excitement, embarrassment, and something else she didn't have a name for.
Aria glanced back at her with a grin. "See? This is gonna be fun!"
Jade gave a tiny nod, cheeks red, mumbling, "O-okay…"
Lucian followed behind silently, still frowning, but there was a subtle tension in the way he watched her. Jade felt herself fidgeting, but couldn't stop the small thrill running through