To the one I notice
Alora’s first day of college began with a familiar mix of excitement and nerves. She had always been self-reliant, growing up in a household where love was complicated, and responsibilities fell heavily on her shoulders, she had learned early on to fend for herself. Despite this, she had a craving for connection and care. A desire that had briefly blossomed in her first serious relationship with Kyren. Their bond was intense but tumultuous, marked by long conversations before sunrise, but shadowed by anger and misunderstandings. After months of navigating a fragile balance between love and fear of heartbreak, Alora was determined to focus on herself as she stepped into the unknown world of college.
Her first day was a blur of orientation sessions It was there, in that classroom, that she noticed someone she couldn’t quite place at first, an older student sitting effortlessly with his friends, calm yet quietly observing everyone. Nevian, a senior, carried a weight beneath his composed exterior. Years of being self-reliant, moving away from his hometown of Chicago, and managing a tense household had left him guarded. Yet, there was an unspoken attentiveness in the way he noticed others, even if he rarely acted on it. Alora saw him for a fleeting moment and, though they didn’t speak, the encounter lodged itself somewhere deep in her mind.
After classes, Alora returned home, reflecting on the day in her journal. Her mind drifted to the past, to the friends she had left behind, the long years spent at her previous school, and the relationship with Kyren that had left her both fulfilled and wary. She called her best friend to recount her first day, laughing through her nerves, yet crying quietly later as nostalgia and loneliness enveloped her. In these quiet moments, her yearning for stability and connection became painfully clear.
Meanwhile, Nevian navigated his own struggles. Though he maintained a stoic façade, he often retreated into anime or music to distract himself from the stress at home. His neighbor, Rhea, had been a steadfast presence in his life for years. She understood his moods, his silences, and the weight he carried. Their late-night walks and midnight conversations were a sanctuary, a rhythm that reminded him he wasn’t entirely alone. It was Rhea who would challenge him, tease him, and, in time, develop feelings that extended beyond friendship, even as she watched him notice others, like Alora, with quiet interest.
As days progressed, Alora found herself forming bonds with new classmates. Theo, Melvin, and Sawyer. Their camaraderie offered her a sense of belonging that had been absent for years. They shared memes, late-night calls, coffee runs, and the occasional playful teasing. Theo’s humor kept the group lighthearted, Melvin’s grounded nature offered balance, and Sawyer’s protective streak often veered into playful mischief. Through these friendships, Alora discovered a rhythm in her college life, a space where she could laugh, vent, and feel seen.
Alora’s interactions with Nevian remained subtle at first like, fleeting glances in class, quiet acknowledgments, and shared rooftop moments where words were scarce but connection was felt. Their slow-burning curiosity toward each other contrasted with the fiery and immediate dynamic she experienced with her friends. Nevian, too, found himself noticing Alora in ways that unsettled him. She was different from the noise and chaos of campus life, quiet but resilient, thoughtful but perceptive.