Second Year: Back 2 Campus

I had been at the terminal for hours next to a couple of friends. Three close friends and you could tell by the two of them holding hands, while the third watched.

The bus rolled in under gray skies that couldn’t decide whether they wanted to rain or not. I couldn’t take the chance either way. On the side was a picture of a man holding a bottle, some advert for energy drinks. Apparently, it was 20% off for the next two weeks.

It’s been a bout two hours since I stepped in. On my way to the big Neon. I was greeted back with the buzzing of the city, some guy was selling roasted peanuts through my window. I only had one glance at him and now he wouldn’t leave me alone.

I bought a bag. I know I’m so weak.

I finally stepped off with my bag slung over one shoulder hours later and immediately felt that familiar air of the city.

Second year.

That sounded fake. First year felt like a blur but it must be true because new banners were erected on the dorm halls —WELCOME BACK, FUTURE LEADERS!—which felt aggressive considering most of us were still figuring out how to wake up before noon.

I made my way toward the quad, half-expecting everything to feel different.

The squirrels were unreasonably bold. The music was blasting too loud for six in the morning. A group of first-years stood frozen in a line in the middle, staring at a newly erected campus map like it was math equation.

How nostalgic.

I had made my way to the top of the stairs when I heard my name.

“Davis!”

I turned just in time to see Malik jogging toward me, backpack bouncing, energy set to maximum like he’d been charging all summer.

“Look at you,” he said, pulling me into a one-armed hug. “Still antisocial I see. Didn’t you get the message?”

“What message?”

“Most of us were meeting at the science building,” he said as we walked to our dorm. “You know, the loophole club?”

I feigned interest.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already?”

I wish

Before I could answer, Sheila shouted below, startling the first years. She her chaos cap frimly in place, now decorated with a new pin that simply read “Bad Vibes.”

“Second year, whoop whoop,” she laughed. “Congratulations. Now you can stop feeling sad for I am here…with the vibes!”

Ironic.

She hugged us both before giving me her heavy suitcase to hold. Why? I didn’t ask. Before long, it was an old arrival scene. Keisha waved at us, looking at her phone instead of the ground. She bumped into a guy, sending him tumbling.

Remy with sunglasses, passed by the fallen man chewing gum like he was auditioning for a commercial.

“Campus looks the same,” he said. “Disappointing. I was hoping for at least one explosion.”

Explosion?

I couldn’t even contemplate Remy’s words when I saw her. My muscles expanded and contracted, the world becoming a haze. It felt…easy. Too easy for my heart to flutter.

Elena was kneeling down helping out the guy that Keisha had tripped. Her smile as she grabbed her sketchbook she had set on the ground, mesmerizing. Her hair was pulled back tightly. Hmm, it was dyed pink this time, with tints of yellow at the tips.

It’s official, she can rock any colour.

She had a big pink jacket on, sleeves pushed up, juice pouch peeking out of the side pocket.

Capri Sun, of course.

She looked up, eyes scanning the crowd and found me.

Something in her expression shifted—not surprise, exactly. Recognition but something else I couldn’t understand. Like she was smiling with her eyes.

“Hey,” she said stepping closer.

“Hey.”

For half a second, the chaos of the compound dimmed.

“Aargh,” Sheila yawned. “Are you done making eyes at each other.”

Elena stared at her, shaking her head. “No one’s making eyes you idiot.”

Then they both laughed and hugged. Actually, hugs were being passed around one another like hot cakes, I think I hugged Malik twice. Elena’s hug though was the best, not too long unlike Malik but just enough I could smell her lavender perfume.

“So, how long you’ve been back?” she asked.

“Just arrived actually,” I replied.

Malik interjected, putting his arm around me. “Oh man, Remy and I thought you were ghosting when we texted you yesterday.”

“Why would I lie about that?” I said.

“Because you’re you,” Sheila replied immediately. “You’re full of secrets. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were batman.”

“I don’t even have the money for that,” I muttered.

Elena laughed, that quick snort she tried to hide by covering her mouth. Same laugh. Same rhythm.

Fine. I admit it, I missed everyone as much I would pretend not to. Honestly, I hoped to go back to my usual lone vibes but this might not be bad.

Before I could dwell on it, someone clapped their hands loudly behind us.

“Alright, children. Reunion circle broken up.”

The voice was familiar in an annoying kind of way.

I turned.

Noah stood a few steps away, one hand hooked around the strap of his backpack, the other holding an iced coffee already half empty. Hoodie under blazer. Same sharp jawline. Same relaxed confidence that made it look like he belonged anywhere he decided to stand.

Noah looked annoyingly upgraded.

“President!” Malik saluted dramatically.

“Please don’t,” Noah said. “I’m off-duty. At ease everyone.”

“Think that’s for the military,” Remy said, with an expressionless face.

Noah smirked then turned to face, smiling. “Davis, right? Elena’s friend?”

I nodded but the way he said it, you would think it was an insult.

Then—without ceremony, without warning—he stepped past me.

Straight to Elena.

“Hey,” he said softly.

She looked up at him and smiled in a way I hadn’t seen before.

Bigger, her teeth were showing.

“Hey,” she replied.

It was not the same ‘hey’ she gave me.

Then, the impossible happened.

He leaned and kissed her. right on the mouth.

It was not by accident. No.no no, it was not. It was long, with tongue like it had happened enough times, that it was natural.

Something inside my chest did that thing where it forgets how to work for half a second.

No one reacted.

Which somehow made it worse.

Sheila didn’t gasp. Malik didn’t whistle. Keisha didn’t even look up from her phone.

This wasn’t news?

What the fuck happened while I was in Nazzari?