ZOEY

"I'm so sorry," I say, bending over to pick up the scattered books on the floor. I’ve just bumped into someone—lost in my head as usual.

My eyes widen when I glance up and see her green eyes and auburn curls. Recognition.

"Zoey? The girl from the mall?"

She stares at me for a moment before her face lights up. "Chester?"

We both stand up, each holding some of the books. I hand the rest to her, my heart doing that weird flip thing it does when I’m caught off guard.

"Hi," I say, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck. "How are you?"

Her lips curl into a soft, almost hesitant smile. "Hey. Nice...nice to see you again."

"What are you doing here?" I ask, immediately realizing how stupid that sounds.

She raises an eyebrow, laughing softly. "I, uh, study here?"

I smack my forehead lightly. "Of course. What else would you be doing here?"

We both laugh, but there’s this awkward energy I can’t shake.

"What's your major?" she asks, shifting the books in her arms.