Go to class

I head to class later that morning and notice Ariana sitting a few rows ahead of me. For most of the lecture, I keep my attention on the professor and avoid looking her way. Knowing what happened the night before makes her presence feel different, even though nobody else in the room has any idea.

After class, we’re both heading toward the exit when we cross paths. Ariana gives me a casual smile. “Hey, Ethan.”

“Hey.”

“How are you doing?”

“Good. Just trying to get through the day.”

She laughs softly. “Same. I had a really good time last night, though. Dinner was great, and it was nice finally meeting Jeff’s roommates. You guys seem like a pretty good group.”

“Yeah,” I say. “It was a good night.”

“I’m glad,” she says. “Hopefully I’ll see you guys again sometime.”

“Yeah, definitely.”

“Hey, real quick” I hesitate before asking, “Jeff was wondering about you this morning. He said he woke up and you were already gone. He was worried you might not have gotten home okay.”

Ariana gives a casual shrug. “Oh, yeah. I just left when he fell asleep. I figured it was getting late, so I headed home.”

She gives me another quick smile before heading down the hallway. I watch her leave for a second, then turn toward my next class, trying to treat the conversation like it was completely ordinary.