The campus of Westview University stretched wide and green, with old brick buildings framed by trees that whispered in the wind. Lily stood just outside the admissions hall, a manila folder clutched tightly to her chest. Her acceptance letter, schedule, and student ID were inside—but none of those papers settled the thrum of nerves in her chest.
She was here.
Actually here.
Not dreaming. Not daydreaming. Not scribbling in a sketchpad about what could be.
She had done it.
The thought made her throat tighten. Not from fear. From disbelief.
The old Lily—the one who used to avoid mirrors and scroll past university posts with a sigh—would never have imagined this moment.
She pulled in a breath and began to walk. Her orientation packet had said something about a campus tour beginning at the student commons. The sidewalks were crowded with students dragging suitcases, chatting excitedly with friends or family. Lily moved quietly among them, taking everything in—the towering dorm buildings, the hum of laughter, the distant sound of music from someone's Bluetooth speaker.
She was both overwhelmed and alive.
She reached the commons just as a small group of freshmen began to gather, all looking just as uncertain as she felt. A student tour guide, wearing a "Westview Welcome Week" T-shirt and the kind of easy grin that came from comfort, greeted them.
"Alright, everyone!" the guide called. "Let's get started. If you have questions, shout 'em out. Otherwise, follow me and try not to get lost—unless you want to end up in the engineering lab with a bunch of sleep-deprived zombies."
A few people laughed.
Lily offered a faint smile and followed.
The tour moved through the library, past the bookstore, and down a shaded path that led to the dining hall. Lily lagged near the back, too busy soaking it all in to keep up.
That's when she saw him— She didn't know where she got the courage, she walked up to him and said the words. "I love your height"
Then the voice, low and easy with brown eyes looking back at her: Why thank you, your's too. He said with a smile.
She was staring and nearly forgot how to breathe.
Someone actually likes my height, not just anyone. A guy.
He was tall. Like, really tall. Broad shoulders. A not so lean frame wrapped in a simple grey hoodie and jeans. His brown eyes were warm and expressive, and his skin glowed with the kind of smooth confidence that didn't need to be loud to be seen.
His smile widened. Your new?
Lily blinked. "Ahh, Yh..yeah... Yes — A fresh man.
" Ohhk?" he teased.
She laughed softly. "Yeah"
"I'm Joe," he said, offering his hand.
"Lily." She shook it. His palm was warm. Gentle.
"Nice to meet you, Lily. So you said you're a freshman?"
She nodded and blinked like she was trying to pull herself together. "Yeah. Just got in through the early art admission program."
"Nice. Engineering student —Final year.
I'm almost out of the dark tunnel called university, infact I can almost taste the light.
She chuckled. "Good for you. I'm gonna need some tips to make it out alive and strong ."
Joe grinned. "You Bet. And I'm your man for that."
Wait. Did he just say "My Man"?.
They fell into step together, trailing a few paces behind the group.
"I didn't think I'd be talking to anyone today," Lily admitted. "I thought I'd just show up, follow directions, and try not to faint."
"Good plan," Joe said. "During my freshman, I tripped twice on my first day and accidentally walked into the chemistry building."
She laughed, genuinely this time. It surprised her how easy it was to laugh with him. How quickly the tension that usually tied up her throat began to loosen.
Still, a small part of her remained on guard. Not because Joe gave her a reason to be cautious—but because her heart still carried bruises from David. From the way people could smile and still be cruel. From the way even good beginnings could end in pain.
Joe must've noticed her go quiet, because he glanced sideways. "Sorry. Am I talking too much?"
"No," Lily said quickly. "You're not. I'm just… still adjusting to being here."
He nodded like he understood. "It's a lot. I moved from Arizona recently, Big city kid. Westview is like another planet."
"I'm from Georgia. Small town. It already feels huge."
They shared a smile.
They walked past the art building then, and Lily slowed instinctively. Her gaze traced the tall glass windows, the way light spilled through them and danced across the hallway inside.
"Home base?" Joe asked.
She nodded. "Hopefully."
He looked thoughtful. "I used to draw in high school. Mostly superheroes and Star Wars characters."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Hey, I was a nerd before I was tall."
They both laughed.
The tour ended with a few campus safety tips and a welcome packet filled with maps, flyers, and cafeteria hours. The group began to disperse.
Lily shifted on her feet, unsure of what to say. Was this it? Would she just… walk away?
Joe beat her to it.
"Hey," he said, stuffing the packet into his bag. "I know this is random , but—want to grab coffee or something? I heard campus café is open for orientation week."
Lily hesitated.
She hadn't expected this. Not so soon. Not from someone like him.
But then she remembered the girl she was back in high school—the one who doubted everything, who let her fear silence her.
She wasn't that girl anymore. Not fully.
"Sure," she said. "I'd like that."
They walked to the café, a cozy building tucked between the English and Business departments. Inside, it smelled like cinnamon and espresso. Joe ordered a caramel latte. Lily got a chai tea.
They found a spot near the window, and for the next half hour, they talked. About favorite movies. First impressions. Sibling drama. The weirdest thing they got in their orientation packets (Joe got a Westview toothbrush, during his orientation; Lily got a sticker that said "I heart cafeterias").
And somehow, the longer they talked, the more Lily realized something.
She wasn't pretending.
She wasn't shrinking herself to be liked or holding her breath to be accepted.
She was just being… Lily.
And Joe seemed to like her just like that.
When they parted ways, he gave her a soft smile.
"See you around?" he asked.
"Definitely."
And she meant it.
That night, Lily didn't sketch. She didn't scroll or weigh or wonder.
She just lay in bed with her tea, the window open to the cool breeze, and whispered two words into the dark:
"I'm ready."