To Old Friends and New Beginnings

College orientation is a chaotic swirl of name tags, folding tables, and sweltering heat. As I contemplate ditching the icebreakers, I catch a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye. Someone is staring at me—not in a weird way, but in a way that feels achingly familiar. When she looks away quickly, it’s as if she didn’t mean to get caught. But then she glances back, and I recognize her instantly.

Harper Lane. Once upon a time, we were close friends. But since she moved away after middle school, our connection dwindled to a few texts in high school, maybe a birthday DM. The promise we made—to end up at the same college—had faded into a mere joke by then. And yet, here she stands.

She approaches slowly, uncertainty painted on her face, though a smile flickers on her lips. Her hair is a little longer, and she’s a bit taller. The clothes she wears now hug her curves in a way that makes my heart race. But those eyes—those blue, expressive eyes—are unmistakable. She hesitates a few feet away, shifting as if she might bolt or summon the courage to say something she hasn’t quite worked up to.

Then, with a soft breath and the hint of a smile, she asks,

“Hey. Do you still remember me?” I can see her fidgeting, clutching the strap of her bag tighter. Before I can answer, she blurts,

“I know it’s been forever, and this is totally out of the blue, but… I kind of need a favor.” Her voice wavers, but she presses on.

“My parents didn’t want me to come here. Out-of-state was too expensive, and they said it wasn’t worth it. But I couldn’t not come. Not after everything. Not after we said we would.”

She hesitates, meeting my eyes, the smile fading.

“I don’t have housing. I’ve been trying, but it’s… harder than I thought. I just need a few days. Somewhere to sleep. I can take the couch or the floor—I don’t care. I’ll clean, I’ll cook, whatever you need.”

“I’ll be out the second I find something else.” She bites her lip, her eyes searching mine. In that moment, she transforms in my mind from the girl who just showed up out of nowhere to the one who never really left.

“Harper! It’s been forever. Do you remember my name?” I tease, knowing it was a little different back then. A genuine smile spreads across her face.

“Of course, I remember your name, silly. Eros Apostasia. How could I forget?” She chuckles softly, shaking her head. “We may have lost touch over the years, but some things stick with you, you know?”

Her gaze drifts over me, taking in the changes time has brought before she meets my eyes again. There’s a warmth there, a familiarity that transcends the years apart. “I’m so glad I ran into you here. When I saw you across the room, I almost didn’t believe it was really you. Life has a funny way of bringing people together sometimes, doesn’t it?”

“It does. I’m glad you’re here,” I reply.

“I go by Ero now. This is my sophomore year, and I would love to be your unofficial guide to all things college-related, if you’ll have me. Freshman year can be tough.” I say with a grin.

“Of course, you can crash with me, Harper.”

Her face lights up with my offer, relief and gratitude shining in her expression. She steps closer, resting a hand lightly on my arm.

“Ero… I’d love that. More than you know. Thank you.” There’s a pause as the air thickens between us, the warmth lingering. Harper’s thumb brushes against my skin, a gesture that feels charged with emotion.

“I’ve missed you, Ero. More than I ever let myself admit. Seeing you again... it feels like coming home.”

She shakes her head slightly, as if clearing her mind, and steps back.

“I should probably grab my bags from the car. Is it okay if I meet you at your dorm later?”

“Let me help you with those. We can put them in my car. It will be good to catch up. Let’s grab lunch, and then we can go get you moved in. We can come get your car later.”

“

Campus is pretty safe. I’m in a one-bedroom off-campus, within walking distance to everything. I can take the couch, and you can have the bed. Sound like a plan, Harper?”

Harper nods eagerly, her smile widening.

“That sounds perfect, Ero. Really. I can’t thank you enough for this.”

She starts leading the way towards the parking lot, glancing back at me over her shoulder.

“I feel like I owe you a proper explanation though. About why I’m here, why I needed help…” Harper sighs, running a hand through her long brown hair.

“My parents… they weren’t thrilled about me coming here. They wanted me to stay close to home, save money. But this place… it’s always been my dream. Our dream, I guess. Since we were kids.”

She pauses, her expression turning wistful.

“I know we drifted apart, but I never forgot about you, Ero. Never stopped thinking about us ending up here together someday. Silly, huh?”

“No, not silly at all. Sometimes you just have to chase your dreams, consequences be damned. I hope I get to be a part of that. It’s so good to see you again, Harp. I know it’s been years, but I always hoped I’d run into you again someday. And here you are.”

Harper stops walking, turning to face me fully. Her eyes search mine, a mix of vulnerability and longing swirling in their depths.

“You did? You really hoped we’d see each other again?” She steps closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

“Because I did too, Ero. Every single day. Even when I knew it was stupid, even when I told myself to move on… I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Harper reaches out, her fingers brushing along my jawline, tracing the contours of my face as if committing them to memory.

“You’re even more handsome than I remembered. God, I’ve missed you so much.” The moment stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words and pent-up emotion. Then Harper seems to catch herself, stepping back abruptly.

“Sorry, I... I shouldn’t have done that.”

I laugh it off.

“It’s okay. Let me treat you to lunch. Are you hungry?” I can’t help but admire her; she’s grown into a stunning young woman.

Her coral satin cami top hugs her perfectly, the fabric clinging to the gentle swell of her breasts, and the white denim mini skirt accentuates the curve of her hips and the length of her toned, coltish legs in a way that takes my breath away. She walks with a newfound confidence, radiating beauty.

Harper laughs, the sound warm and genuine.

“I’m starving, actually. Lunch sounds amazing.” As we walk side by side, Harper glances over at me with a playful smirk.

“You know, it’s funny. I always imagined our reunion would be more dramatic. Like, maybe I’d bump into you in the quad and spill coffee all over your shirt or something equally mortifying.” She shakes her head, chuckling.

“Instead, here we are, having a perfectly normal conversation—almost like no time has passed at all.” Harper’s eyes drift over me appreciatively, lingering on my broad shoulders and strong jawline.

“Except for the fact that you’re clearly all grown up now. Damn, Ero. What happened to the scrawny kid I used to beat at Mario Kart?”

“You, beat me at Mario Kart? In your dreams, kiddo.” I tease, and she giggles.

“I actually brought my Nintendo 64 and Mario Kart with me to college. If you want a rematch, it’s on like Donkey Kong, but I call Wario. Do you still play as Princess Peach?”

Harper gasps dramatically, placing a hand over her heart.

“Wario? Really, Ero? I thought you had better taste than that.” She grins wickedly.

“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see who wins this time around. For old times’ sake, I suppose I can grace you with my presence as Princess Peach again.” Harper leans in slightly, lowering her voice.

“But don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because we’re old friends. I plan on taking you to the woodshed.” With a small, knowing wink, she steps aside and gestures toward the restaurant entrance.

To be continued in chapter 2...