When I reach the bed, I don’t give her the chance to retreat into that spiral. I simply pull her forward, my arms wrapping around her before she can protest, tucking her head beneath my chin. She stiffens for half a second, then melts into the hold with a shaky exhale, her fingers pressing against my chest. I rest my cheek against the top of her head, one hand smoothing slowly over her back in quiet circles, letting the silence do the work while she gathers herself in the safe space between my arms.
“You have officially used up your quota for calling yourself selfish. Or any falsity, in fact.” Meg huffs softly against my chest, the sound vibrating through my ribs as she lifts her head to glare up at me. The look would be more intimidating if her hair wasn’t still sticking out in every direction from sleep and if she wasn’t wearing my shirt, swarmed in my own scent. I’ve never thought of myself as animalistic until this moment.
There’s a shift of pure alpha energy bursting within me that I need to tamper before I do something stupid, like bite her. Oblivious, Meg just studies my face, her eyes searching for the hint of a joke, but I don’t give her one. Eventually the tension drains from her shoulders and she leans back enough to swipe her fingers beneath her eyes. On cue and much to her mortification, her stomach grumbles.
“Ugh, I need to go back to my room to wash and change. Meet me for breakfast?” She glances up hopefully. I nod,pressing a kiss to her temple to avoid her stunning blue gaze. There’s a part of this whole lifestyle change that I haven’t allowed myself to consider yet. The people. I manage to suppress a shudder, shifting to let Meg out of bed.
Rather than grabbing her pantsuit, she opens my drawers and asks if she can borrow a pair of my shorts. I agree, of course, already making a mental note to get a few sets of clothes and a toothbrush to keep here. That’s how people move in together, right? Convenience overriding courtesy, and next thing we know, she’ll be sleeping over every night without the need to leave.
For now though, we make a plan to meet at the courtyard cafeteria, and I’m walking her to the building entrance, watching as she disappears down the path. Only once she’s fully out of sight do I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. There’s already life buzzing around, doors closing and chatter sounding through the hallways. I return to my room, avoiding the eyes of everyone I pass, shutting the door and briefly leaning back against it.
Come on, Thiago. This is not the time to let a little social anxiety freak you out. It’s not like you haven’t seen anyone other than Old Woman Rosa and the cleaner in the past six months. There was that mailman who needed a signature for your new core processor, and we’re practically besties with the food delivery driver.
Pep talk done, I force myself away from the door to dress. I check on a few emails, making sure I don’t have any outstanding jobs, before prepping my bag for the day. I’ve got back-to-back computer tech classes and a professor who I already know can’t wait to meet me. Building on the confidence I fake until it’s got legs, I run a hand through my hair and exit my room again. This time, my shoulders are pushed back and a two-finger salute is ready for the girl who leaves the room opposite mine.
“How ya doing?” I grin, sidestepping and leaving without waiting for an answer. That’s how I make my way across campus, nodding my head and winking greetings. Students drift between lecture halls clutching coffee cups and expensive backpacks, their conversations falling quiet as I pass. I ignore the prickle of eyes on my back, striding with self-assured steps.
Streams of light coat campus, painting it as a completely different landscape from last night. Again, my arrival after dark wasn’t by accident. I’d wanted to enter quietly and under the radar, ready to face this carefully staged set for rich overachievers after a full night’s rest. I refuse to shrink beneath the prestige, acting as if I’m not a high-school dropout who had to blackmail my way in. My mom would be so proud.
Stone buildings climb toward the morning sky, wide paths cut through perfectly trimmed lawns and the scent of coffee beans guides me towards the cafeteria without the need for the map on my phone.
I find a spot outside the main doors where I can lean against a railing and people watch. It’s easier to pretend I’m my avatar from Runeborn, watching villagers pass and knowing they’re just background players, programmed with meaningless backstories. The main character appears a few minutes later, crossing the courtyard with a backpack slung over one shoulder and her lacrosse bag bumping against her hip. She’s changed into athletic leggings and a fitted top, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail that swings as she walks. I mourn the loss of the sleepy girl in my T-shirt for merely a second, as Meg spots me and her eyes brighten.
She stops a few feet away from me, taking in my limited edition kicks, calf-length tube socks, baggy shorts and fitted tee, as if she’s conducting a quick inspection.
“Congratulations. You just survived your first twenty minutes at Hollowbrook. I’m impressed.”
“I’m thriving, actually,” I reply easily, pushing off the railing. Best she sees the grin I put on rather than the slight tremor working its way through my hands. “I’ve only been judged by about twelve strangers so far.”
“Oh, wow. That’s a slow morning here,” Meg smirks, her brows jumping.
“Really? We’d better ramp up the gossip then.” Before she can head into the cafeteria, I catch her wrist and tug her back toward me with exaggerated flair, spinning her lightly on the spot. Meg lets out a startled laugh as her momentum carries her straight into my arms, her bag bumping against my hip. I lean with the motion, dipping her low like we’re in some ridiculous ballroom dance instead of standing in the middle of a campus walkway. Her ponytail swings toward the ground, blue eyes widening in mock outrage as she grabs my shoulders for balance.
“Thiago!” Ignoring the protest, I bend forward just enough to press a quick kiss to the tip of her nose before pulling her upright again. Meg stares at me stunned for half a second, then she smacks my arm.
“You’re going to be the death of me, you idiot!” she laughs, rolling her eyes as she shoves me back a step. Her cheeks have picked up a faint flush, either from the sudden dip or the attention we’ve gathered from a few nearby students. I lift both hands in surrender, grinning unapologetically.
Adjusting her bag straps and bumping her shoulder into mine, she heads into the cafeteria and I fall into step. It’s overwhelmingly busy in here, the noise increasing and heat of bodies pressing into me from all sides. Inhaling, I keep my focus on the back of Meg’s head, following her down the food line and answering questions of food choices when posed. I don’t argue when she gets our food and coffee to go, knowing I wouldn’tmake it to a table without tripping over any chair legs or screaming at anyone to back up.
We escape through a side door I wouldn’t have noticed on my own, emerging into a quieter corridor that curves along the edge of the building. Meg leads the way down the hall like she’s walked this path a thousand times before, pushing open another door that spills us out into a small courtyard alcove tucked between two stone buildings. The space is half hidden by vines climbing the walls and a pair of wisteria trees that act as canopies. A couple of benches sit along the perimeter, which are all thankfully empty, the main campus reduced to a distant murmur beyond these walls.
Meg drops onto the low stone ledge circling one of the trees and hands me a paper bag.
“Your breakfast, sir,” she says with a mock flourish. I sit beside her, taking the bag and pulling out a sandwich that smells significantly better than the stale popcorn I usually have for breakfast in my dusty bedroom. The quiet out here is instant relief, the tension I didn’t realize I was carrying easing slightly from my shoulders. Meg watches me as she takes a large sip from her takeaway cup.
“Are you okay?” she asks casually. I glance at her over my sandwich, not liking the weight of her attention. She can ogle me, laugh with me, vent at me, cry on me, but I shift uncomfortably at the striking invasion of her blue eyes. She’s trying to get a read on my mental state, knowing full well that I’m an introvert for a reason.
“Never been better,” I wink, taking a larger bite than necessary. It renders my mouth too full to speak, as intended. My eyes roam the area around us, hooking on the gentle sway of tiny purple flowers. A shuffle at my side places Meg right in my personal bubble, where I like her.
“You don’t have to pretend with me, you know.” Her shoulder lightly bumps my bicep, her face turned up towards mine. I lean into her, swallowing my food and clearing my throat.
“I’ll let my guard down when you do,” I shoot her a knowing look. Meg’s tongue pushes against her inner cheek.
“Touché.” We knock our takeaway cups together and continue to eat in comfortable silence for a moment, the morning air cool against my skin while the caffeine from the coffee kicks my brain into functioning mode. Students pass by occasionally at the far end of the courtyard, but no one wanders into the alcove itself. Eventually, Meg wipes her hands on a napkin and glances at the time on her phone. “What lectures do you have today?”
“I’ve got computer tech a little later on. First, I’m meeting with the head of the department to discuss the gaps I found in their firewalls, and then doing a site tour with the grounds manager. Did you know there are currently fifty-seven surveillance cameras on this site and three of them aren’t working at all, whilst another eight are pointed at walls?”
“You’ve been here for twelve hours,” Meg shakes her head and laughs to herself, as if she doesn’t know I’ve been checking up on the campus security for much longer than that. She finishes the last of her coffee and stands, slinging her backpack and bag over her shoulders. “Okay, well, I’ve got art, then a group social session and lacrosse practice. I’ll be done around four if you want to hang out?”
