Chapter 1 — Arrival and Apprehension

Violet

The campus loomed ahead, a sprawling promise of something new and uncertain. Red-brick buildings stretched skyward, ivy draping their walls like whispers of stories she wasn’t sure she’d ever belong to. The Quad sprawled wide and green before her, buzzing with life—students laughing, chatting, crisscrossing the stone paths with the kind of confidence that made it seem they’d always belonged here. Violet gripped the strap of her leather journal tucked under her arm, her fingers pressing into the smooth leather. This was supposed to be her chance. A fresh start. No one here knew her as the painfully awkward girl who flushed crimson whenever Archer Bennett walked by in high school, or as Ryan Collins’ quieter, less impressive sister. Here, she could be someone else. Someone better.

“Hey, over here!”

The voice broke through her thoughts, warm and unmistakable. Violet turned toward the dormitory steps to see Maya Singh waving with a kind of energy that seemed to command attention. Jet-black braids glinted in the sunlight, and a pair of oversized, geometric earrings swung dramatically as she moved. Her wide grin and bright confidence reminded Violet of a sunbeam, impossible to ignore and just as relentless.

“You must be Violet!” Maya’s voice carried easily across the chatter of students. As she closed the distance between them, her bold presence seemed to fill the space. “I recognized you from the dorm group chat. Welcome to your new home!”

“Hi.” Violet’s voice was little more than a whisper as she shifted her journal under her arm. She glanced around at the passing students, trying to anchor herself in the moment. “Thanks. It’s, uh...big.”

Maya laughed, a musical sound that somehow eased the tension in Violet’s chest. “You’ll get used to it. C’mon, I’ll show you our room. You’re gonna love it—well, as much as anyone can love a dorm the size of a shoebox.”

Following Maya inside, Violet felt herself relax slightly, her nerves dulling under Maya’s casual ease. The dormitory buzzed with life. In the common room, mismatched sofas surrounded a scuffed coffee table, where students lounged with phones or chatted animatedly. The faint smell of popcorn lingered in the air, mingling with the sharper tang of coffee from a vending machine. The atmosphere was chaotic but inviting, like a puzzle still coming together.

Maya bounded up two flights of stairs, leading Violet to a narrow hallway lined with doors decorated with colorful name tags, photos, and fairy lights. Their room was small but cozy, with two twin beds pressed against opposite walls. Maya’s side was already fully claimed, decked out with vibrant bedding, a gallery of Polaroid photos, and a miniature cactus garden perched neatly on her desk. Violet’s side, in contrast, was bare except for her lone suitcase, which sat forlornly on the unmade bed.

“Feel free to borrow anything,” Maya said, flopping onto her bed and crossing her legs. “Except my earrings. Those are sacred.” She winked, and Violet found herself smiling despite her nerves.

“Thanks.” Violet set her journal and tote bag down, sitting cautiously on the edge of her bed. Her gaze lingered on Maya’s earrings—bright, colorful, almost impossibly bold. They seemed to radiate a kind of effortless confidence that Violet envied but couldn’t imagine herself emulating.

Maya leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “So, how are you feeling? Excited? Nervous? Already planning how you’re gonna conquer this place?” Her voice was playful but kind, her smile encouraging without being overbearing.

Violet hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of her journal on instinct. “A little bit of everything, I guess. I just...really want a fresh start.” She paused, her voice softening. “High school wasn’t exactly—well, it wasn’t my favorite time.”

Maya studied her for a moment, her teasing grin softening into something more empathetic. “I hear you. High school can be the worst. But you’re here now, and college is all about leaving that stuff behind. Trust me, once you dive in, you’ll forget all about it.” She waved a hand, as though shooing away invisible ghosts.

Violet wished it were that easy. Forgetting wasn’t something she could just will herself to do, especially when the past had a name—and piercing blue-gray eyes that still haunted her thoughts more than she cared to admit. She let out a small, shaky breath and forced a nod. “Yeah. I hope so.”

Maya hopped off her bed with a boundless energy that made the room feel smaller, but not in an unpleasant way. “Let’s go for a walk. You’ve gotta see the Quad—it’s like, the center of everything.”

Violet hesitated, glancing at her suitcase and unmade bed. The idea of retreating there was tempting, but she knew she couldn’t hide forever. She pushed herself to her feet. “Okay,” she said quietly.

The warm late-summer air greeted them as they stepped outside. The Quad was alive with activity—students sprawled on picnic blankets under the shade of oak trees, others tossing frisbees or laughing in groups. Some sat alone with books or laptops, their quiet focus grounding in a way Violet found reassuring. Walking beside Maya, she let the sights and sounds of the campus wash over her.

“This is the Glass Library,” Maya said, pointing to a building in the distance that gleamed in the sunlight. “It’s as cool as it looks. You’ll probably end up spending, like, half your life there. Oh, and over there’s the dining hall—which, by the way, has the best waffles on Saturdays—and that’s the clocktower. It chimes every hour, so don’t freak out the first time you hear it.”

Maya’s commentary was rapid-fire, but Violet found herself absorbing the details, each one painting a clearer picture of this place that was supposed to be her new beginning. She glanced toward the library, imagining herself tucked into a quiet corner, her journal open in front of her. It felt comforting to imagine a space like that—a sanctuary in the middle of all this noise.

“You’re gonna love it here,” Maya said, looping her arm through Violet’s with an ease that startled her. “The people are great, the vibe’s chill, and the opportunities are endless. Just promise me one thing: don’t hole up in your room all day.”

Violet smiled faintly, though the idea of blending into the crowd felt infinitely more appealing than diving headfirst into anything. “I’ll try,” she said.

They reached the edge of the Quad, where a group of students had gathered around a table advertising a club. Violet’s gaze drifted across the scene, taking in the kaleidoscope of faces and voices. And then, she saw him.

Archer Bennett.

He stood near the fountain at the Quad’s center, laughing with a group of teammates. His dark blonde hair was windswept, his broad shoulders filling out a team hoodie that looked effortlessly casual on him. It was a sight Violet had seen countless times before, though never here.

Her stomach dropped, and her breath hitched. The noise of the Quad seemed to fade, replaced by a hollow, ringing silence. She felt frozen, her thoughts unraveling in a chaotic spiral. Of course, he was here. Where else would her past decide to ambush her just as she was starting to feel like she could move on?

She dropped her gaze quickly, focusing on the uneven stone path beneath her feet. Heat rose to her cheeks, and her fingers curled into fists at her sides.

“Violet?”

Maya’s voice cut through the haze of her thoughts. “You okay? You kinda zoned out.”

“I’m fine,” Violet said quickly, her voice tight. She forced a smile, though her chest felt constricted. “Just...taking it all in.”

Maya raised an eyebrow but didn’t press, her perceptiveness evident in the slight hesitation before she nodded. “Cool. Anyway, we should check out the dining hall next—best to scope out the least gross food options early on.”

As Maya tugged her toward the next stop on their impromptu tour, Violet risked one last glance over her shoulder. Archer was still there, his laughter ringing out like it belonged to a different world.

A world Violet was determined to leave behind.