Unexpected encounter

VIOLET

Time has a way of slipping through your fingers. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two months since I started at Berkeley. Two months filled with endless lectures, late-night study sessions, and tentative steps toward writing my book. Two months of meeting Amelia and forming a bond I never expected. And two months of navigating a long-distance relationship with Ryan.

He’s visited three times so far, each visit a mix of comfort and bittersweetness, as they always end too soon. Today marks the fourth time he’s coming to see me, and as much as I’ve tried to focus on everything else, the excitement bubbling in my chest is impossible to ignore.

I glanced at the clock on my nightstand for what felt like the hundredth time. The hands seemed to crawl slower with every glance.

“Violet, you’re going to wear a hole in the carpet," Mia said with a laugh. She was sprawled on her bed, scrolling through her phone with a bowl of popcorn perched precariously on her lap.

I stopped pacing, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. “Sorry, I’m just—”

“Excited,” she finished for me, smirking. “Yeah, I noticed. I mean, you’ve only checked the time five times in the last minute.”

“Okay, fine, maybe I’m a little excited,” I admitted, sitting on the edge of my bed. “It’s just been a while since I’ve seen him.”

Mia grinned, tossing a kernel of popcorn into her mouth. “I get it. Long distance is hard. But hey, four visits in two months? That’s pretty impressive.”

I nodded, letting out a soft sigh. “Yeah, it is. It’s just... every time he leaves, it feels like starting over again, you know?”

Her expression softened as she set her phone down. “I can imagine. But at least he’s making the effort. A lot of guys wouldn’t.”

“You’re right,” I said, giving her a small smile. “I’m lucky.”

Before Mia could say anything else, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed it quickly, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Ryan’s name.

“Hey, I’m here.”

I smiled, typing back quickly. “I’ll meet you at the entrance in five.”

I jumped to my feet, grabbing my jacket. “He’s here,” 

Mia laughed, tossing a pillow at me. “Go get him, tiger.”

I stuck my tongue out at her before grabbing my jacket and hurrying out the door.

The cool autumn air nipped at my cheeks as I made my way to the campus entrance. The trees lining the path had turned shades of red and gold, and the leaves crunched underfoot with every step.

I spotted Ryan standing near the campus gate, leaning casually against a lamppost with his hands in his pockets. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his sweatshirt clung to his broad frame. The moment he saw me, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Hey,” I called

“Hey, love”  His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine as he closed the distance between us, pulling me into a firm hug.

For a moment, I forgot the noise of the campus around us, focusing only on the steady beat of his heart against my ear. When he finally pulled back, his gaze lingered on my face, a faint trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.

“So,” I started, a teasing smile on my lips. “Should we go to my dorm?”

Ryan scoffed dramatically, shaking his head as if the mere thought offended him. “Your dorm? Have I ever stepped foot in that cramped space?”

I rolled my eyes, nudging him lightly in the arm. “It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” he echoed, his tone full of exaggerated disbelief. “Vi, I’ve seen broom closets bigger than that dorm room of yours. And I did tell you to get your own apartment, didn’t I?”

“I can’t stay alone, Ryan,” I replied, crossing my arms. “You know that.”

He gave me a look, his smirk deepening. “You can’t or you just want an excuse to have someone around?”

“Both,” I shot back, narrowing my eyes at him.

Ryan chuckled, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “You know, I could always come stay with you. Problem solved.”

I snorted, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, so you’d just abandon Yale and your precious studies to babysit me? Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied smoothly, his grin widening. “Now, come on. Let’s get some food. I already ordered us a ride.”

“Food?” I asked, glancing at him curiously.

“Yeah,” he said, taking out his phone to check the time. “I figured you’d be starving by now. Plus, you’re way more tolerable when you’re fed.”

I shot him a mock glare. “You’re so thoughtful, really.”

Ryan chuckled, gesturing toward the street. “The car’s waiting. Let’s go, Vi.”

The ride to the restaurant was filled with Ryan's witty remarks and my attempts to outsmart him, which only seemed to amuse him more. By the time we arrived at a cozy Italian restaurant tucked away in a quieter part of the city, I was already smiling more than I had in days.

The warm scent of garlic, basil, and freshly baked bread greeted us as we walked in. A hostess led us to a corner booth, where Ryan insisted on sitting across from me, his legs stretched out comfortably under the table.

The moment we were handed the menus, Ryan leaned back, scanning it with a casual confidence. “So, what are you getting? Something adventurous or your usual?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “What’s wrong with my usual?”

“Nothing,” he said, smirking. 

I rolled my eyes and pretended to study the menu harder. “Fine. I’ll surprise you. What about you?”

“Spaghetti carbonara. Simple, classic, and impossible to mess up,” he replied with a grin.

When the waiter came to take our orders, I impulsively chose the mushroom risotto, earning an approving nod from Ryan. Once the waiter left, Ryan rested his elbows on the table, his gaze fixed on me.

“You look good,” he said suddenly, catching me off guard.

I blinked at him. “What?”

“You. You look good,” he repeated, his tone casual but his eyes serious. “Berkeley’s treating you well”

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks and tried to deflect. “It’s the lighting in here. Makes everyone look decent.”

Ryan chuckled. “If you say so.”

Our food arrived shortly after, and for a while, the only sounds between us were the clinking of cutlery and the occasional hum of appreciation. The risotto was creamy and rich, and I was glad I had stepped out of my comfort zone for once.

“So,” Ryan began, breaking the silence, “how’s the whole writing thing going? Have you continued the book yet?”

I hesitated, twirling my fork in the risotto. “Kind of. I’ve got ideas, but actually writing them down feels... overwhelming.”

He tilted his head, studying me. “You’re overthinking it.”

“Stop,” he interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. “You’re already talking yourself out of it before you’ve even tried. Just write, Vi. You’ll figure the rest out later.”

I nodded slowly, his words sinking in. Ryan always had a way of cutting through my self-doubt, even if he didn’t realize it.

“And I think I’ve got a way to help you with that writer’s block,” he said with a sly smirk, and I raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “A surprise.”

I shot him a look. “What kind of surprise?”

He just grinned, clearly enjoying my curiosity. “You’ll see. I’m not giving anything away.”

I sighed, realizing there was no point in trying to get him to spill the details. When it came to Ryan, I had learned it was easier to go along with his plans rather than try to decipher them.

By the time we finished our meal, the easy back-and-forth between us had already lightened my mood significantly. 

As we stepped out of the restaurant, the cool evening air hit us, refreshing after the warmth inside. We were walking down the street, laughing about something inconsequential, when a familiar voice called out my name.

“Violet?”

I turned toward the source of the voice, my smile fading slightly when I saw Amelia standing a few feet away, her eyes darting between me and Ryan.

“Amelia,” I said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I was just grabbing coffee,” she replied, holding up a to-go cup. Her gaze lingered on Ryan, a flicker of something I can't place crossing her face before she quickly masked it.

“This is Ryan,” I said, gesturing toward him. “My boyfriend.”

Ryan offered a polite nod, his expression unreadable. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Amelia said, her smile tight.

The air between the three of us felt suddenly heavy, and I couldn’t quite place why. Amelia’s usually bright demeanor seemed subdued, and Ryan’s casual confidence had taken on an edge.

“Well,” Amelia said after a moment, breaking the awkward silence. “I should let you two get back to your evening. It was nice running into you, Violet.”

“You too,” I said, watching as she turned and walked away.

When I glanced at Ryan, his brow was furrowed slightly.

“Everything okay?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

Ryan’s expression smoothed out almost instantly, and he gave me a small smile. “Yeah. Let’s head back.”

But as we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something unspoken lingered between us. Something about Amelia’s reaction—and Ryan’s—felt... off.