Ferrin's Apartment – Night
The apartment was quiet, dimly lit by the orange glow of a bedside lamp. Ferrin lay on her back and doing sex, A man hovered above her hardly, out of breath, She didn't move. Her eyes stared past him, focused on the ceiling. Blank.
He is touching her boobs so hard .. She didn't even flinched .. Her mind is somewhat distracted
"Wanna go one more round Babe?" the guy asked, misreading her stillness for stamina.
Ferrin blinked. "No," she said simply, pulling away.
The man gave a half-confused laugh, rolling onto his back. "Alright..."
She stared at the ceiling again. And in her mind, Carter's face hovered — unreachable, calm, and now clearly not hers to touch.
Ferrin didn't answer. Her mind wasn't here.
It was somewhere else.
On the basketball court. In the cafeteria. At the library.
On Carter.
The memory of Carter's deep, unreadable eyes, her rare, genuine smile, the way her voice dipped when she joked — it clung to her more intimately than this man ever could.
---
Morning – Marlborough University Gate
Carter pushed her bike through the iron gates, slipping off her headphones as the chatter of students filled the air. She adjusted the strap on her bag, gaze flicking to the sleek black car pulling in across the plaza.
Elsa stepped out.
Her heels clicked on the pavement, her white blouse fluttering in the spring breeze, golden hair perfectly combed. Her laughter with her friends was light and radiant. She didn't see Carter watching — or maybe she did and simply chose not to show it.
Carter sighed under her breath. She didn't know what this feeling was — a slow pull in her chest, like something fragile trying to unfold.
She walked in.
Today was the final group presentation.
---
Lecture Hall – Midday
The room was packed. Students filed into their seats, whispering about the top-performing teams. Elsa sat at the front, calm but glowing with confidence. Carter slouched beside her, flipping through note cards.
"You ready?" Elsa asked without looking at her.
Carter smirked faintly. "You're asking me?"
"I just don't want you screwing it up," Elsa replied coolly — but there was a teasing softness under her words now.
Their presentation went flawlessly. Elsa's eloquence and Carter's direct clarity struck a perfect balance. When the results were announced, their team took first place.
Excitement burst around them — claps, cheers, a few envious stares. Elsa turned to Carter, smiling brighter than Carter had ever seen.
Then — she hugged her.
Tight. Warm. Real.
Carter's heart flipped. Her arms slowly wrapped around Elsa's waist, stunned, holding her like she might vanish. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
And in that moment, Carter knew.
She was falling. Hard.
---
Evening – Basketball Court
The court echoed with the thump of the ball. Carter dribbled in steady rhythm, her mind a maze of thoughts.
Elsa.
Her laugh. Her hug. The way she smiled when Carter made a joke. The way her eyes softened just for her.
Carter stopped. Looked up at the darkening sky.
"Would she... ever feel the same?" she murmured to herself.
The ball rolled to the edge of the court. No answer.
Just the sound of her heartbeat.
---
The Next Day – Annual College Function
The campus buzzed with lights and music. Students dressed in everything from sleek suits to dazzling gowns. Elsa arrived late, stepping out of a friend's car in a powder-blue dress that hugged her shape, her cleavage exposed, her hair twisted into a half-up bun. She looked effortlessly divine.
Carter stood by the stage in a simple black shirt and jeans, adjusting a mic in her hand.
When she began to sing, silence fell.
Her voice was low, steady, raw. It wasn't showy — it was vulnerable. Honest.
Elsa stood still by the entrance, mesmerized. Her eyes didn't leave Carter once.
When the performance ended, Carter stepped off stage, surprised to see Elsa waiting nearby.
"That was... beautiful," Elsa said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You came," Carter replied.
"Obviously," Elsa said, avoiding eye contact. "I had to make sure you didn't ruin your cool image."
They both smiled. And for once, it wasn't awkward.
They wandered to the food stalls, sharing a plate of spicy rice cakes and lemonade. They laughed, argued about sauce, and for a few minutes, the world narrowed into something simple.
From afar, Ferrin watched — arms crossed, lips tight. She was alone. She didn't like it.
"That Elsa girl," Ferrin muttered to herself, "always where she doesn't belong."
Behind her, a few of Elsa's friends walked past and shoulder-bumped her hard.
"Watch it, newbie," one of them smirked.
Ferrin clenched her fists. Her irritation sharpened — not just at the girls, but at Elsa. At the way Carter looked at her. At how close they were getting.
---
Moments Later – The Accident
A swarm of club members ran through the crowd, tossing flyers, dragging banners. Chaos erupted.
Elsa turned to avoid a falling sign, stepped back — and slipped.
Carter saw her too late.
But not late enough.
She grabbed Elsa's wrist, yanking her forward.
Elsa stumbled — straight into Carter's arms.
Their bodies collided, breath hitched. Carter held her tight, her hand firm on Elsa's back. Her heart thundered.
Elsa's eyes went wide, her cheeks burning pink. "I—"
But before she could finish — the crowd jolted again, shoving forward.
Elsa was pushed closer.
And her lips grazed Carter's.
A frozen moment.
Not a kiss... not really.
But not just an accident either.
Carter stared.
Elsa blinked.
Then — she stepped back quickly, breath unsteady.
"I—I didn't mean to—" Elsa stammered.
Carter just nodded slowly, hiding the chaos behind her eyes. "I know."
But she didn't. Not really.
Elsa turned away fast, her friends calling her from across the garden.
Ferrin stood at a distance, eyes narrowed, lips pressed tight.
The lines between feelings, jealousy, and something deeper — were starting to blur.
And Carter?
She could still feel the ghost of that almost-kiss on her lips.
---
To be continued..
***