The midday sun burned overhead, casting sharp shadows across the campus as students hurried between buildings. The air hummed with conversation, laughter, and the occasional groan of someone cramming last-minute notes before their next class.
Jane sat at the back of the lecture hall, her head resting on her palm, eyes fixed on the professor—at least, that's what it looked like. In reality, she wasn't hearing a word he was saying. Her mind kept drifting back to last night.
The low hum of the car, the faint scent of leather and rain, the way the streetlights had flickered across Sophia's face.
She shook her head subtly, pressing the back of her pen against her lips. *Why was she still thinking about it?*
A sharp elbow to her ribs made her jolt.
"Ow—Mia!" she hissed, rubbing her side as her best friend shot her an unimpressed look.
Mia leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've been spacing out for like twenty minutes. What's up with you?"
Jane straightened, flipping open her notebook even though she hadn't written a single thing. "Nothing. Just tired."
Mia snorted. "Tired, my ass. Spill."
Jane sighed, rubbing her temple. "I just didn't sleep well."
That wasn't exactly a lie. After returning to the hostel, she had taken a nap, but her thoughts refused to quiet. And now, sitting in class, she felt like she was floating—disconnected, distracted.
Mia eyed her for a moment before leaning in. "Is this about where you were last night?" Her voice was a whisper, but Jane still felt exposed.
"I told you, I just—"
"Spent the night at some rich woman's house?" Mia finished for her, raising an eyebrow. "You really think I'd let that slide without asking questions?"
Jane sighed, shifting in her seat. "It's not what you think. I wasn't kidnapped or anything. She was just… helping me."
Mia leaned in closer, intrigued. "Helping you how?"
Jane hesitated. She should just brush it off, pretend it wasn't a big deal. But Mia wasn't going to drop it. How could she explain it without sounding ridiculous
"I, uh…" Jane fiddled with the edge of her sleeve. "Almost got run over last night."
Mia's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Shh!" Jane hissed, glancing around as a few students turned their heads.
Mia leaned in closer, her eyes scanning Jane's face for any sign of injury. "You're fine, right? Did the driver at least stop?"
Jane let out a breath. "Yeah. She stopped. Actually… she kind of insisted I stay at her place for the night."
Mia blinked. "Hold up. A total stranger almost runs you over, and then you *go home with her?*"
Jane rolled her eyes. "It wasn't like that. It was raining, I was freezing, and she offered. She wasn't some creep."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know?"
Jane hesitated. She didn't, not really. But something about Sophia—her sharp yet composed demeanor, the way she had carried herself with that quiet confidence—hadn't felt threatening. If anything, she had been the safest thing in the entire night.
Mia studied her for a long moment before leaning back in her chair. "Huh."
"Huh?" Jane repeated.
"I mean, rich, mysterious woman takes you in for the night? Sounds like the start of a romance novel."
Jane felt her face heat. "Oh, shut up."
Mia smirked. "Just saying. Do we at least get a name?"
Jane hesitated for a beat before answering, "Sophia."
Mia nodded, as if locking the information away for later. "Well, I'd say be careful, but considering you *already* stayed at her place, that ship has sailed."
Before Jane could respond, the professor clapped his hands, signaling the end of the lecture.
Mia stretched, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "Alright, let's get food before our next class. You need something to bring you back to reality."
Jane exhaled, grateful for the distraction. As they left the lecture hall, she told herself she'd forget about last night.
It was a strange encounter, nothing more.
Nothing worth thinking about.
Right?
The cafeteria was buzzing with life—students packed into booths, trays clattering, the scent of coffee and fried food lingering in the air. Jane followed Mia to the counter, grabbing a tray without much thought.
"You're getting fries again?" Mia raised an eyebrow as Jane tossed a pack onto her tray.
Jane shrugged. "It's quick."
Mia huffed. "You need real food. You had nothing but coffee this morning."
Jane waved her off, but Mia was already reaching for an extra sandwich, plopping it onto Jane's tray with a firm nod.
They found an empty spot near the window. The sunlight streamed in, warm against the cool air-conditioned cafeteria. Jane unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite, half-listening as Mia complained about a professor's impossible grading system.
"You think you'll pass?" Jane asked absently.
Mia gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Excuse me? Have some faith in me!"
Jane smirked. "Just making sure."
Lunch passed in a blur of conversation and inside jokes. By the time they finished, Jane felt lighter, the weight of the morning slipping away.
She checked her phone—a few unread messages from classmates about an upcoming project. Sighing, she pushed up from her seat.
"I should head to the library," she said. "Got work to finish."
Mia groaned. "Again? You're always buried in assignments."
Jane shrugged. "It's called being responsible."
Mia rolled her eyes. "Boring. But fine, go be smart. I'll see you later."
Jane chuckled as she grabbed her bag, making her way across campus.
The library was quieter than usual, the soft hum of air conditioning the only real sound aside from the occasional page turn. She settled into a corner, opened her laptop, and lost herself in her work.
Hours passed, unnoticed.
For now, it was just another ordinary day.
Jane glanced at the time on her laptop screen and nearly cursed.
5:20 PM.
Her shift started in ten minutes.
Snapping her laptop shut, she stuffed it into her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and practically bolted out of the library. The late afternoon sun was dipping lower, casting long shadows across the campus walkways. She weaved through students, muttering quick apologies when she bumped into someone, her heart racing.
Her part-time job at The Daily Brew, a cozy little coffee shop near campus, wasn't exactly glamorous, but it paid the bills. And right now, she couldn't afford to lose it by being late.
By the time she reached the café, she was slightly out of breath. She pushed open the door, the familiar scent of coffee beans and vanilla filling her lungs as the bell above the entrance chimed.
"You're late," her manager, Ben, called from behind the counter, giving her a sharp look.
"By like… two minutes," Jane shot back, tying her apron around her waist as she ducked behind the register.
Ben just shook his head, but he wasn't really mad. "Just don't make it a habit."
Jane exhaled in relief and got to work.
The evening rush had already begun, customers lining up for their caffeine fixes. She moved quickly, punching in orders, brewing espressos, and balancing trays with practiced ease. The hum of conversation and the clatter of cups filled the air, a rhythm she had grown used to.
At some point, she found herself wiping down the counter, her mind blissfully occupied with work.
It wasn't until a group of students came in, chatting about some upcoming medical conference, that she felt a faint, passing memory stir.
A brief flash of a white coat. A steady, confident voice.
Jane blinked, pushing the thought aside.
She had orders to take, and work didn't wait for distractions.