The First Shadows

INTRODUCTION

Collen is a 21-year-old college student with curly blonde hair that has brown streaks. His hair often falls just above his eyebrows, giving him a casual look. His piercing green eyes stand out, full of intensity and curiosity. With a light dusting of freckles across his nose ,with a shy and anxious personality. He often keeps to himself, avoiding the spotlight and feeling uneasy in large groups. His eyes are quick to dart away when someone makes direct eye contact, and he tends to fidget with his hands when nervous. Though he’s friendly when approached, his words often come out hesitantly, as if he’s overthinking each sentence before speaking. He can be easily overwhelmed by new situations or unfamiliar people, preferring the comfort of routine and familiar faces.Collen is incredibly smart, with a sharp, analytical mind. Despite his shy and anxious nature, he excels academically and has a knack for solving complex problems. He’s often quiet, but his ability to make connections and notice details makes him more perceptive than most realize.

Collen's best friend is Jake, a strikingly handsome guy with a natural charm that draws people in. At 21, Jake is not only popular on campus but also known for his sharp mind and impressive skills as a budding detective. His dark, tousled hair and confident smile only add to his allure, and he’s often the center of attention wherever he goes. While Jake has a reputation for being smooth and outgoing, he’s always been loyal to Collen, offering him a sense of comfort and support when the world feels overwhelming. As a detective, Jake is observant and methodical, able to read people with eas a skill he’s often used to help Collen navigate the anxious moments he struggles with.

Chloe, 21, has a calming presence that perfectly balances Collen’s shy nature and Jake’s outgoing personality. With soft, shoulder-length brown hair, hazel eyes, and a warm smile, she’s approachable and empathetic. Chloe’s style is casual yet chic, favoring cozy sweaters and jeans. She’s intuitive and perceptive, always understanding when Collen needs space or when Jake might need grounding. While she’s not as loud as Jake or as reserved as Collen, Chloe’s thoughtful advice and supportive nature make her the glue that keeps their trio together. She’s the one who makes everyone feel comfortable, offering both peace and perspective in any situation.

STORY

Collen wandered through the museum, seeking solace in its quiet corners, far from the usual bustle of campus life. The dim lighting, the soft hum of distant voices, and the serene atmosphere helped to ease his anxious mind. He lingered by the exhibits, his fingers lightly tracing the edges of a sculpture, lost in thought, when something unusual caught his attention. A tall man, dressed in a strange, mismatched outfit — a bright yellow trench coat paired with neon green shoes and a red scarf — suddenly appeared in front of him. His face was tense, eyes wide with distress. Before Collen could react, the man looked directly at him and said, breathless, "I can’t do it anymore... it’s too much," his voice shaky, almost as if he were speaking to himself. Without another word, the man thrust a pair of tinted red glasses into Collen’s hands, then turned and sprinted away, disappearing around a corner as quickly as he had appeared. Collen stood frozen, staring at the glasses in his hands, still processing what had just happened. "What... just happened?" he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. His heart filled with confusion, but he shoved the glasses into his pocket. Collen took a deep breath, trying to shake off the strange encounter, and continued his walk through the museum, his mind buzzing as he admired the beautiful architecture around him. The quiet grandeur of the museum felt comforting again, but the odd moment with the mysterious man lingered in the back of his thoughts.

Collen returned to the dorm, his mind still swirling with the odd encounter at the museum. The familiar, comforting scent of Jake’s side of the room greeted him as he opened the door. Jake’s side of the room was a stark contrast to Collen’s, cluttered with research papers, notebooks, and case files. Piles of documents covered the desk and floor, scattered in a haphazard manner as if Jake had been working furiously before heading out. Collen glanced over at the chaos, raising an eyebrow. "Huh, he must be working on another case," he muttered to himself. "He gets really swamped these days…” Collen knew Jake's detective work kept him up late, constantly tracking down leads or piecing together puzzles. He quickly glanced at his watch: 9:34 PM. The realization hit him. "Huh, it’s pretty late. We have that test tomorrow. I should probably get some sleep." Collen placed the red-tinted glasses on his bedside table, still unsure of what to make of the bizarre interaction at the museum. The glasses felt oddly significant, but he couldn’t dwell on it right now. He needed rest. After changing into his pyjamas, he crawled into bed, the soft, familiar feel of the sheets around him. The faint sounds of the party in the distance seemed to echo in the back of his mind, but the exhaustion of the day soon overtook him. Collen closed his eyes, trying to push the strange day aside, and quickly fell into a deep sleep, the red glasses sitting silently on the bedside table,

The soft light of morning filtered through the blinds, gently nudging Collen awake. He stretched, his body still feeling the weight of sleep, but the warmth of the sunlight on his face made it hard to stay in bed. As his eyes fluttered open, he noticed the quiet hum of the room, the kind of stillness that usually surrounded Jake when he was deep into one of his investigations He glanced over at Jake’s table, where his roommate sat, surrounded by piles of files, open books, and scattered case notes. Jake was already awake and working, like he always was, his sharp eyes scanning the pages in front of him. The kind of focus only a detective like Jake could manage "Good morning, sleepyhead," Jake said with a teasing tone, not even looking away from his notes. "Oh, and don't worry, the test is canceled."Collen groaned and rubbed his eyes, still half-dazed from the sleep. The mention of the test made his mind immediately race. He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or annoyed, but the cancellation meant one less thing to worry about. He then turned his attention to the small table beside his bed, where a pair of red glasses sat neatly.Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly curious as he noticed Collen’s gaze fixate on the glasses. "Oh yeah, I was going to ask what are those?"Collen yawned loudly, stretching once more as he got up from bed. "Oh, it’s a pretty weird story. I’ll tell you later. But, do you think I could pull off the red glasses look?" Jake leaned back in his chair for a second, eyeing Collen thoughtfully. He grinned, looking up from his research with a nod of approval. "Oh yeah, definitely. You could totally rock them." A little smile tugged at Collen's lips as he stood up, walking over to the small mirror mounted on the wall. He picked up the red glasses from the table, the frames sleek and bold, contrasting against his usual laid-back style. He slid them on, adjusting them comfortably on his nose before taking a good, long look at himself in the mirror. Hey," Collen said, his voice filled with newfound confidence. "I look great." The glasses gave him a sharp edge he hadn’t expected despite his anxious and shy personality . He couldn’t help but smile again, feeling like maybe today was going to be a little different.

"Where’s Chloe at?" Collen asked, still standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his red glasses with a hint of excitement. Jake, not even looking up from the case files spread across his desk, shrugged casually. "Probably at her dorm," he muttered, flipping through the papers with a focused intensity. Collen grinned, his fingers still brushing the frames of his new glasses. "Well, she has to check out my new look. She’ll love it." Jake’s eyes flicked up to Collen, his usual sharp gaze taking in the bold change. A playful smirk crept onto his face. "Whoa, big boost of confidence, bud. I thought you were the shy one in the group." Collen chuckled, adjusting the glasses once more. "Guess these glasses bring out a new side of me." He turned toward Jake, a satisfied grin on his face. "What do you think? Looking good, right?" Jake laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Definitely looking good. Who knew a pair of glasses could do that?"

AT LUNCH (time skippp yayy)

Collen sat at a small table in the bustling college cafeteria, absentmindedly eating his lunch. The red glasses perched on his nose felt like a small step outside his comfort zone, but he was starting to like the new look. He pushed his food around on the plate, lost in thought, when suddenly, a loud voice pierced through the noise of the room.
“Well, well, look who’s trying to be stylish today,” Max sneered, his voice thick with disdain. Collen’s stomach tightened, and he knew immediately who it was. Max, the biggest bully on campus, had a knack for making everyone feel uncomfortable with just a few words. Tall, broad-shouldered, and perpetually surrounded by a crowd, Max took pleasure in humiliating others, especially people like Collen.Max was the leader of the Hockey team very sprotsy
Max "aww ur food look awfully good today" He pours his juice all over Collens food
Jax "Hey leave him alone before i kill you OKAY"

Chloe "ya Ma-"
Before Chloe could respond, Max's eyes flicked to Jake, who had just walked up. He looked back at Collen, then at Jake with a raised eyebrow. “Hey, Jack,” Max sneered, “Why would someone like you—popular, always surrounded by people—be friends with him?” He gestured dismissively at Collen. “What’s the appeal?”
Jake didn’t flinch. His expression remained calm but firm. “You wouldn’t get it, Max,” he said coolly. “Collen’s a good guy. That’s enough for me.”
Chloe speaks up "Remember when we asked for your opinion Max ? Me neither."Max scoffed and glared at them, but after a moment, he turned and walked off, muttering under his breath.Collen looked up at Jake and Chloe, grateful but still shaken. “Thanks, guys. I-i don’t get why he’s always on my case."
Jake smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Because he’s got nothing better to do. But you’ve got us, and that’s all that matters.”
Chloe says while smirking "if laughter is the best medicine in the world, His face would be a blessing to the world because it can cure all diseases."
Jake "Good one Chloe"
Collen (as Jax) mummers under his breathe "I'll get my revenge"