Crossing Paths

Students were already gathering outside the auditorium when Cora, Ashley, Mira, and Asmaa arrived.

The wide stone steps were crowded with clusters of freshmen talking in nervous circles. Some leaned against the railings, others sat on the low walls lining the plaza. The glass doors of the auditorium stood open, but orientation staff were still holding people outside until the previous session cleared.

It created a strange in‑between space.

Not quite inside the university yet.

Not quite strangers anymore either.

Cora slowed slightly as they approached the plaza. The air felt different here—louder, heavier with voices and laughter and nervous energy. Someone somewhere was playing music from a phone speaker. A group of freshmen were taking selfies on the steps like this moment needed to be documented for proof later.

Freshmen everywhere.

Some looked excited.

Some looked completely lost.

Some looked like they were trying very hard to look confident.

Cora recognized that look immediately.

She had worn it before.

Her eyes scanned the crowd automatically.

Habit.

Years of reading rooms before entering them.

Who holds power.

Who follows.

Who pretends.

And then she saw them.

Malik.

Bronson.

Arjun.

Tom.

And Chris.

They were walking toward them across the plaza.

Bronson moved first—broad shoulders, relaxed stride, the kind of presence that seemed to part small groups of students without him even trying. He carried himself like someone who already belonged wherever he was standing.

Malik followed half a step behind him, talking quickly about something that clearly fascinated him. His hands moved constantly as he spoke, explaining something with enthusiastic intensity.

Arjun walked beside them, but his posture was different—shoulders tight, eyes flicking between people.

Tom looked like he was trying very hard to appear casual.

And Chris walked slightly apart from the group.

Calmer.

Focused.

Cora noticed him noticing everything.

The exits.

The crowd.

Distances between people.

He mapped space the way some people mapped conversations.

Something about that made her strangely aware of him again.

Cora noticed the way Chris had already positioned himself slightly to the side of the group.

Not blocking anyone.

Just… aware of everything.

Ashley spotted them at the same moment.

"There they are," she said.

Mira looked up immediately.

Then just as quickly lowered her eyes again.

Asmaa also saw them.

More precisely—she saw Tom.

And immediately looked away.

Her stomach flipped.

Oh no.

No no no.

Not yet.

She was not emotionally prepared for whatever conversation that boy clearly wanted to have with her.

"Oh look," she said quickly, turning toward Malik instead, "Malik!"

Malik blinked as they approached.

"Uh—hi," he said.

"Morning," Asmaa said brightly, stepping directly into the space beside him before Tom could reach her.

Malik looked slightly confused.

Bronson noticed immediately.

A slow grin spread across his face.

Tom also noticed.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Interesting.

They met halfway across the plaza.

"Hey," Bronson said easily.

"Hey," Ashley replied.

Malik nodded politely to the girls.

"Morning," he said.

Arjun lifted a hand.

"Hi," he said.

But his eyes flicked between Ashley and Mira like he wasn't entirely sure which direction danger might come from.

Ashley noticed immediately.

Her smile sharpened slightly.

"Relax, Arjun," she said sweetly.

"You look like someone stole your girlfriend."

Bronson chuckled.

Tom smirked.

Even Malik smiled.

Arjun **** a laugh that came out a little too late.

"He…he..Yeah, that would never happen," he said quickly.

"Sure," Ashley replied.

Mira shifted subtly closer to Ashley.

She didn't laugh.

But she didn't object either.

Cora noticed that.

Last night Mira had seemed timid.

Now she looked… attentive.

Like she was aligning herself with Ashley without quite realizing it.

Chris stepped forward.

Cora noticed the shift immediately.

He didn't rush.

Didn't try to fill the space with nervous energy the way most people did.

He simply stepped closer and looked at her like the rest of the plaza wasn't particularly relevant.

His attention went directly to Cora.

"Hey," he said quietly.

Something about the way he said it made the noise of the plaza fade for a moment.

For a second Cora forgot everything she had planned to say.

Yesterday she had faced him without hesitation.

Now the confidence that usually came so easily to her suddenly felt… misplaced.

"It's okay," she said quickly.

Chris blinked.

"I didn't say anything yet," he said.

Cora flushed.

"Right."

Ashley leaned in immediately.

"ASH," Chris warned.

"What?" she said innocently.

"Did you scare Cora already?"

"Me?" Ashley said. "Never."

Cora reached out instinctively and touched Chris's hand.

The contact surprised both of them.

"No," she said quickly. "I'm not scared of you."

She hesitated.

"I was just worried I might… trigger something again."

Chris shook his head immediately.

"You didn't," he said.

"And you won't."

His voice was calm. Certain.

"Yesterday wasn't your fault."

Cora studied his face for a moment.

He meant that.

Completely.

That certainty was strangely disarming.

"Still," Chris continued quietly, "I'm sorry you had to see that."

A small pause settled between them.

"I'd like to continue our conversation," he added.

"Properly this time."

Cora tilted her head.

"Properly?"

Chris smiled faintly.

"Without fights," he said.

"Without someone trying to get stabbed."

Cora laughed despite herself.

"That would definitely improve the experience."

Chris hesitated.

"Maybe dinner," he said.

"Or coffee."

"Something less dramatic than yesterday."

Cora raised an eyebrow.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

Chris met her eyes.

"Yeah," he said.

A slow smile spread across her face.

"I think I'd like that."

Ashley clapped once loudly.

"Great," she said.

"Love that for you two."

Chris sighed.

"Ashley."

"What? I'm being supportive."

She gestured dramatically between Chris and Cora like a sports commentator analyzing a play.

"Look at this," she continued. "Day one. Orientation hasn't even started yet and we're already getting a campus romance storyline."

Chris closed his eyes briefly.

"Ashley…"

"I'm serious," she went on, completely ignoring him. "This is efficiency. Some people take weeks to get to this stage. You two? Barely twenty‑four hours."

Cora tried to keep a straight face.

She failed.

Chris pointed at his sister.

"You are enjoying this far too much."

Ashley grinned.

"Absolutely."

She leaned closer to Cora conspiratorially.

"Just wait," she said quietly. "He's going to pretend he's calm and mysterious, but give it two dates and he'll start overthinking every text message you send."

"Ashley," Chris said again, warning in his voice.

Cora laughed, covering her mouth for a moment.

"Is that true?" she asked.

Chris sighed.

"Please ignore everything she says."

Ashley straightened immediately.

"Rude," she said. "I'm building emotional tension for your relationship arc."

Chris rubbed the back of his neck.

"I don't remember asking for narrative assistance."

"Too bad," Ashley replied. "I'm invested now."

Cora shook her head, still smiling.

"You two do this a lot, don't you?"

"Constantly," Chris said.

"It's her favorite hobby."

"Second favorite," Ashley corrected. "My first is being right."

Chris exhaled slowly.

Then he looked back at Cora.

"Ignore her," he said quietly.

"I'm trying," Cora replied.

"It's difficult," Chris said.

"I've been doing it for years."