Hidden connection
VIOLET
The classroom emptied slowly, as students gathered their things and filed out. I stayed back, gathering my notes and stuffing them into my backpack.
Pulling my hoodie over my head, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed out of the lecture hall. The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows, bathing the campus in a golden glow..
I fished my phone out of my pocket, scrolling through the notifications absently. A missed call from Mom. A text from Luke and Ashley asking how I was settling in. And, of course,texts from Ryan.
Two days had passed since Ryan left.
I should’ve been used to the quiet by now, but after he showed up unannounced and turned my world upside down, the silence felt heavier. He hadn’t ignored me; no, not at all. His texts and calls were still relentless as ever, a mix of snarky jokes and random pictures of his day.
But there was a void. A Ryan-sized void that no amount of phone calls or messages could fill.
My stomach growled softly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
The vending machines were just outside the lecture hall, their bright colors a beacon for anyone craving overpriced snacks. Junk food it was.
I scanned the options, trying to decide between sour gummy worms and a bag of chips when a voice broke through my thoughts.
“Oh, hi... uh, Violet, right?”
I turned toward the voice, blinking in surprise. Standing there with a tentative smile was Amelia—the girl who had helped me find my lecture room on my very first day here.
“Amelia,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “Hi.”
She tilted her head, her warm brown eyes crinkling with curiosity. “I thought that was you. How’s everything going? Settling in okay?”
I nodded, shifting my bag higher on my shoulder. “Yeah, I think so. It’s been… a lot, but manageable.”
Amelia laughed softly. “That’s a pretty standard response for a freshman. Trust me, it gets easier.” She gestured toward the vending machine. “What’s the dilemma? Gummy worms or chips?”
“Gummy worms,” I admitted with a small laugh. “Always gummy worms.”
“Solid choice,” she said approvingly. “Though, if I can offer a pro tip, the vending machine in the next building over has better options. They even have chocolate pretzels, which are lifesavers during finals.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Amelia hesitated for a moment, then gestured toward the courtyard beyond the vending machines. “Hey, do you have a minute? I was just about to grab a coffee. Wanna join me?”
I blinked, caught off guard by the offer.
“Sure,” I said, surprising myself. “I could use some caffeine.”
Her grin widened. “Great. There’s a little café just down the block. It’s not too crowded around this time.”
We walked together, the crisp fall air tugging at the edges of my jacket as we made our way toward the café. Amelia chatted easily, telling me about her major, her favorite professors, and the best places to study on campus.
“Here we are,” she said, holding the door open for me. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries enveloped me as we stepped inside.
We ordered our drinks—an iced latte for her, hot chocolate for me—and found a small table by the window.
“So,” she said after a while. “What brought you to Berkeley?”
I hesitated for a moment before answering. “Well, it’s one of the best schools for my major,” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I figured if I was going to do this, I might as well go all in and aim for the best.”
Amelia nodded, her expression warm and understanding. “Makes sense. Berkeley’s no joke—especially for academics.”
“Exactly. What about you? What’s kept you at Berkeley?”
She grinned, clearly proud. “I’m here for the vibe. Honestly, I fell in love with the energy of the place. It’s big enough to feel exciting, but still small enough that you don’t get lost. Plus, the food. Have you tried the bakery near the library?”
“I haven't!” I said, perking up. “What’s so special about it?”
“Everything!” she laughed. “But mostly the croissants. They’re to die for. You should check it out sometime.”
“I definitely will,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee
We talked for a while longer, about classes, professors, and campus life in general. She told me about her roommate drama, and I shared a story about accidentally walking into the wrong building on my first day.
It was nice—easy and comfortable.
As we wrapped up on our drinks, I pulled out my phone to check the time. Amelia leaned back in her chair, sipping her latte, but her eyes caught on my phone screen for a fraction of a second.
Her smile faltered—just a flicker—but she quickly recovered, her expression smoothing over like nothing had happened.
“Nice phone case,” she said casually. “That’s… your boyfriend?”
I glanced down at my lock screen—a picture of Ryan and me, arms wrapped around each other, laughing on a sunny day in the park.
“Yeah,” I said, feeling a small smile tug at my lips. “That’s Ryan.”
Amelia’s smile stayed fixed, but something about her eyes seemed momentarily distant. “Huh,” she murmured, swirling her drink absently.
“You know him?” I asked
“No no” she said, her voice steady but a touch softer than before. She took another sip of her latte, her smile returning to full strength. “He is cute. You’re lucky.”
“Thanks,” I replied, warmth blooming in my chest as I thought of Ryan.
Amelia nodded and quickly steered the conversation back to lighter topics, telling me about an upcoming event on campus and some of the best spots to grab late-night snacks.
By the time we parted ways, the strange moment had slipped to the back of my mind. I hadn’t noticed the way her fingers tightened around her coffee cup or the fleeting shadow that crossed her face when she’d seen Ryan’s picture.
It wasn’t until I was back in my dorm, staring at my phone, that I found myself replaying the encounter. Something about her reaction didn’t sit right. But then again, I reasoned, maybe I was reading too much into it.
After all, she seemed perfectly nice. Didn’t she?
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
