Chapter 17

As Gracie made her way to Alex's dorm, a slight worry began to creep into her mind. What if he wasn't there? The thought made her heart flutter with uncertainty.

She considered texting him to check his availability, but quickly dismissed the idea. She realized that asking if he was around might give away her surprise, and she wanted to keep that element of excitement intact.

Instead, she took a deep breath and decided to trust her luck. Her heart raced with anticipation as she envisioned the moment she would walk into his dorm and see the surprise on his face. She knew they had both been looking forward to spending time together, and she was determined to make it happen.

With a determined smile, Gracie set out on her journey toward Alex's dorm, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The campus was bustling with students, and the sun shone brightly, adding to her hopeful mood.Each step she took brought her closer to the moment she had been eagerly anticipating.

As she navigated through the familiar paths of the campus, Gracie mentally prepared herself for the visit.

During her earlier call with Alex, while she was with Adrian, where she had excused herself to chat with him. That brief conversation made her realize just how much they had to catch up on. It was amazing to think about all the experiences they had missed sharing with each other due to how busy their college lives had been

As she walked toward Alex's dorm, her mind was buzzing with ideas about how to make a memorable entrance. Should she prank call him to throw him off guard? Or perhaps she could sneak up and scare him? The possibilities danced in her head, and she found herself grinning at the thought of surprising him. However, with so many fun ideas swirling around, she struggled to settle on just one.

Before she knew it, Gracie stood in front of his dorm building. She had been here once but only stayed at the entrance, when she had to give Alex some food she had gotten from Kaitlyn and her Uncle.

Many students chose to live here, drawn in by the affordability of the accommodations. She took a moment to absorb the lively energy around her, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her as she thought about how this would be the first time she would be entering his dorm room.

With a determined nod, she let herself into the building, confident in her knowledge of his room number which he had told her when he confirmed he would be staying there.

As she walked through the hallway, she hoped he wouldn't be outside or that she wouldn't run into anyone she knew, which could potentially spoil her surprise.

Finally, Gracie found herself standing in front of Alex's door, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. The familiar sound of voices drifted through the door, and her ears perked up when she recognized one voice unmistakably—it was Alex. The thought of seeing him made her pulse quicken even more.

Shaking off her nervousness, Gracie took a deep breath and decided it was time to knock. The soft sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and she could hear some shuffling from within the room. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard an unfamiliar voice say, "It must be the pizza we had ordered earlier; they came faster than I expected, though."

As the door swung open, Gracie was greeted by Alex's roommate, Mark, who wore a puzzled expression. He looked at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity, his brow furrowing slightly. "Aren't you here to deliver pizza? Why don't I see it?" he asked, clearly taken aback by her unexpected appearance.

Gracie blinked, caught off guard by the question. "No, I'm not here to deliver anything," she replied quickly, her voice steadying as she attempted to clarify the misunderstanding. "I'm actually here to see someone"

"Who? Me?" Mark asked, a hint of confusion in his voice, as he squinted at her, probably thinking she was one of the freshmen he had been assigned to tutor. He continued, "I told your coursemates earlier that today was my off day; I just want to rest!" His tone suggested he was slightly annoyed at the interruption.

Gracie felt her brow furrow in confusion. What on earth was he talking about? She thought to herself, trying to piece together his words. "I think there's been a misunderstanding; I'm not here—" she started, but was quickly cut off.

"Oh, are you here for personal business then?" Mark interjected, a smug grin spreading across his face as he shifted his stance. His expression transformed into one of someone who clearly felt quite self-satisfied.

"I may not look like it, but I have a girlfriend, and we're going strong," he added with a proud smile, clearly reveling in his own perceived charm.

Gracie's irritation bubbled to the surface upon hearing his words. How could he be so oblivious? She was exhausted from the back-and-forth with someone who seemed determined not to listen. "Look here, I'm not here to see you, okay? I don't even know you!" she snapped, her patience wearing thin.

To her surprise, her voice came out louder than she intended, echoing down the hallway. The sudden outburst caught the attention of a few students passing by, and she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as she realized the scene she was creating.

Just then, she heard a familiar voice calling from within the room. "Gracie, is that you?" Alex's voice was filled with curiosity, and the sound sent a rush of relief through her as she turned toward the source.

Moments later, Alex emerged from the room, his expression shifting from surprise to delight as he spotted her.

"It really is you!" Alex exclaimed, his face lighting up with unbridled excitement as he took in the sight of Gracie. Turning to Mark, he quickly explained, "Gracie is a good friend of mine, and she's here to see me."

Mark's expression shifted from confusion to one of understanding. "I really thought you were here for me," he admitted, shaking his head ruefully. "Once again, I apologize for my stupidity," he reiterated, his voice tinged with sincerity.

Gracie felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Oh, no, it's okay," she reassured him, not wanting the situation to escalate further. "I also apologize for raising my voice earlier," she added, her tone warm and conciliatory.

Mark nodded in acknowledgment, then gestured for Gracie to enter the room."Come in," he invited, his manner now welcoming. "I think I'll just excuse myself. It seems you two have a lot to say to each other. I'll be at my girlfriend's," he remarked, offering them some privacy before exiting the room.

As the door closed behind Mark, Alex and Gracie exchanged a meaningful glance, their excitement palpable. "I'm still finding it hard to believe that you're here," Alex remarked, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and joy.

Gracie couldn't help but smile, the tension of the earlier encounter melting away as she reveled in the moment. This was the reunion she had been longing for, and now that they were finally together, she felt a sense of warmth and anticipation fill the air.

"Well, here I am! How do you like my surprise?" Gracie inquired, a bright smile lighting up her face as she looked at Alex.

"I love it! I'm so glad you came," he gushed, his eyes sparkling with delight. "It didn't even occur to me that you could come here, but I'm really glad you did," he added, genuine excitement spilling over in his voice.

Gracie chuckled at his enthusiastic response; it was exactly what she had expected from him. She also knew he wouldn't have the time to come visit her at her dorm, given how busy he had become lately.

He had recently joined the student welfare committee, something he had mentioned during their earlier phone call. That conversation had sparked her decision to take the initiative to visit him, wanting to see him in person and catch up on everything that had changed.

As they stood there, Gracie felt a warmth in her chest, knowing that despite the hectic schedules and commitments, their friendship still held a special place in both their hearts.

"Let's sit down; you must feel exhausted from your earlier encounter with Mark," Alex stated, gesturing toward the inviting couch in the living room. His dorm was notably more spacious than hers, featuring a comfortable couch that beckoned her to relax, while her own room only had a reading table.

As she settled onto the couch, Gracie took a moment to observe her surroundings. The decor was cozy and personalized, with posters on the walls and a soft carpet that added warmth to the space. She also noticed that Alex and Mark had separate rooms, a detail she found intriguing, as it hinted at the dynamics of their living situation.

"So, what have you been up to these days?" Alex asked, interrupting her thoughts as he joined her on the couch. In his hand, he held a steaming cup of her favorite tea, a thoughtful gesture that made her heart swell. She had been so engrossed in her observations that she hadn't even noticed he had slipped away to prepare it for her.

"Thank you!" Gracie exclaimed, taking the cup with a smile. The comforting aroma of the tea enveloped her, instantly making the room feel even cozier. As she took a sip, she felt a sense of tranquility wash over her, grateful for this moment of connection with Alex after so long apart.

"It's been a whirlwind for me," she began, her mind racing with all the updates she wanted to share. The warmth of the tea and the comfort of the couch made her feel at home, ready to dive into a heartfelt conversation about life, studies, and everything in between.

However, the first thing that came to Gracie's mind to talk about was the new friend she had made, Adrian. She had been eager to share details about him with Emma and Alex but never found the right moment. Now, sitting comfortably on the couch with Alex, she felt this was the perfect opportunity.

"Remember that person I told you about? The one who saved me at the park?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she hoped he would recall their previous conversation.

"Yes, I do! How could I forget? Why do you ask, though?" he inquired, his curiosity evident in his tone and the way he leaned slightly closer, eager to hear more.

"Well, he attends this school, and we study the same course. However, he's an upperclassman," she informed him, her excitement bubbling to the surface.

Alex's face broke into a warm smile at the news. "That's good to hear! I'm glad you met him again. I remember you going on and on about how you wanted to see him again," he teased, laughter dancing in his eyes.

Gracie chuckled in response, playfully pushing him lightly. "I did not, okay? I just wanted to thank him, that's all," she argued, feigning indignation but unable to hide her own amusement.

"Well, if you say so," Alex replied with a grin. "You mentioned he's an upperclassman—what year is he? And what's his name?"

Gracie took a moment to gather her thoughts, her mind racing with all the details she wanted to share."His name is Adrian, and he's a junior. We've been getting closer since we met; he's really nice and easy to talk to." She felt a warm sense of happiness as she spoke about him, eager to share her experiences.

"We bonded over our shared interests in our coursework and games, we even ended up playing games together a few times,"she added, her excitement growing.

"Woah, you guys have grown that close! I'm jealous," Alex grinned, his teasing expression lightening the mood.

Gracie couldn't help but smile at his reaction. "It would be presumptuous of me to think we're close; I barely know anything about him," she replied honestly, a hint of modesty in her voice.

"Well, you are just getting to know each other—that's understandable," he remarked, offering her a reassuring smile that made her feel at ease.

Shifting the topic, Alex continued, "Our exams are coming up in less than a month. How prepared are you?"His question successfully diverted their conversation away from Adrian, which she appreciated.

"I can't say I'm prepared," she admitted, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice. "I still have some courses I'm trying to wrap my head around, but I should be alright before the exams start." The pressure of the impending exams loomed over her, and she felt a knot of nerves tightening in her stomach.

"I honestly feel the same way," Alex encouraged, his voice filled with confidence. "But I'm sure we'll be fine." His words were comforting, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her; his confidence was contagious.

They continued to chat about other topics, including how they frequently spoke with their families back home. The warmth of their conversation made time fly, and Gracie felt grateful for this moment of connection amidst their busy lives.

Suddenly, Mark re-entered the room, his expression shifting to one of surprise when he noticed Gracie sitting on the couch. "Oh, I didn't expect to see you here at this hour," he remarked, glancing at the clock and realizing it was getting late.

A few moments later, Mark excused himself, and Gracie and Alex exchanged knowing looks, both realizing it was time for them to end their conversation. "I guess we should wrap this up for now," she suggested, glancing at the clock, which read 8 PM.

Alex nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. I don't want you to get into trouble for being out too late," he replied with a playful wink.

As they stood up, Alex walked her back to her dorm, their earlier conversations lingering in the air. When they reached her door, he paused, giving her a warm smile.

"Goodnight, Gracie. It was great seeing you."

"Goodnight, Alex! Thanks for the tea and the chat," she expressed, feeling a sense of contentment as she waved goodbye, knowing their friendship was as strong as ever.