The sun hung lazily above the open university campus as laughter and music filled the courtyards. Tables were set up with colorful banners: a drama club putting on a loud improv show, the debate team arguing about space colonization, and students handing out handmade zines from the creative writing circle.
Emily walked quietly between the booths, soaking in the unfamiliar feeling of belonging—almost. She wasn't part of any club yet, but something about the chaos felt comforting. People were simply existing.
She spotted Dylan at a gaming booth, laughing with a group of guys. He looked effortlessly charming, as always—the kind of presence that drew people in without trying. When he saw her, his face lit up and he made his way over, brushing past a few students.
"Didn't think I'd see you here," he said, flashing a grin.
"I live on campus," Emily replied dryly. "Kind of hard to miss."
Dylan laughed, but there was a tightness to it. "Right. Just figured you'd be off reading or sketching with your girlfriend."
Emily blinked. "She's not my—"
"Relax," he said quickly, throwing his hands up. "Just teasing."
She gave a small, uncomfortable smile and stepped back slightly.
Dylan's voice lowered. "Look, I've been thinking about what I said. About liking you. I meant it."
Emily looked away. Her stomach tensed. "Dylan, I don't… feel that way. About you. About guys."
He stared at her for a moment too long, the easy charm fading from his eyes. "Seriously? I mean, come on, Emily. I'm not exactly—"
"She said no," a voice cut in.
Riley had appeared without a sound, hands in the pockets of her hoodie, eyes locked on Dylan. Her tone was even, but there was a razor edge to it.
Dylan scoffed. "I was talking to Emily."
"And she answered," Riley replied, stepping closer. "You're just not hearing it."
Emily stood frozen. Around them, the cheerful noise of student life continued, unaware of the tension rising in this corner of the quad.
Dylan's jaw tightened. "So you speak for her now?"
Riley tilted her head. "Only when someone keeps ignoring her voice."
Something flashed behind Dylan's eyes—a mix of embarrassment and bruised pride. He forced a smirk and stepped back.
"Guess I hit a nerve," he muttered. "Didn't know she needed a guard dog."
"You didn't hit anything," Riley said flatly. "Just a wall."
Dylan turned and walked off, fast enough to show he was upset but slow enough to pretend he wasn't.
Emily let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Sorry," Riley said, softer now. "Maybe I went too far."
Emily shook her head. "No. You didn't."
They stood there a moment, letting the noise of the campus return. It was the first time Emily had seen Riley angry—for her.
---
Emily wasn't sure how long they stood there after Dylan walked away. The crowd of students swirled around them like water, but for that moment, it felt like she and Riley were in a still pocket of air.
"Do you want to sit down somewhere?" Riley asked, her voice gentler now.
Emily nodded.
They found a quiet bench near the library, away from the booths and the echoing sounds of student life. A few flyers fluttered past them on the breeze—reminders of everything they were supposed to be involved in, everything they were still learning to navigate.
"I didn't mean to cause a scene," Riley said after a pause. "I just… I saw the way he was talking to you."
Emily looked down at her hands. "He's been weird for a while. It's like he thinks I owe him something just because he's nice."
Riley's jaw flexed. "That's not how it works."
Emily smiled faintly. "You sounded kind of terrifying back there."
Riley shrugged, pretending not to be affected. "I've been told I have resting menace face."
Emily laughed, really laughed this time. It bubbled out of her, surprising even herself. Riley looked at her, startled for a second, then cracked a smile of her own.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, the energy between them softer now. Emily tilted her head and caught Riley absently doodling in the corner of her notebook again—something with sharp angles and delicate shading.
"What are you drawing?" she asked.
Riley closed the notebook casually. "Nothing. Just shapes. Helps me breathe when things get loud."
Emily nodded, letting the moment hang.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, the energy between them softer now. Emily tilted her head and caught Riley absently doodling in the corner of her notebook again—something with sharp angles and delicate shading.
"What are you drawing?" she asked.
Riley closed the notebook casually. "Nothing. Just shapes. Helps me breathe when things get loud."
Emily nodded. "It's really beautiful, though. Your lines are so confident."
Riley blinked, caught off guard. "Thanks. No one ever really sees it."
"Well, they should," Emily said simply.
For a moment, Riley looked away, almost bashful. She rarely got flustered, but something in Emily's tone disarmed her.
They let the silence settle again before Emily spoke, "That theater group was wild."
Riley smirked. "Yeah. I think one of them tried to fake-faint just for attention."
"And that robotics club? Did you see the little drone that crashed into the snack booth?"
Emily laughed again, this time softer. The kind of laugh you share when you feel like you've found someone who makes the world just a bit easier to sit in.
As the light shifted and the crowds began to thin, Riley glanced sideways at her. "You know... for someone who didn't want to come to this, you looked like you belonged."
Emily smiled, resting her head lightly against the back of the bench. "Maybe for the first time… I kind of did.
---