Ethan?

The next morning, Sophia bolted upright, her heart pounding as sunlight blazed through the thin curtains. She squinted at the clock and felt her stomach drop.

"Leah! Leah, wake up!" she hissed, grabbing her pillow and thwacking her friend's arm. "We overslept!"

Leah groaned, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?" she mumbled, barely coherent.

"It's ten!" Sophia scrambled out of bed, her nerves already bubbling beneath her skin. "I'm supposed to be getting ready to see—oh my God—I'm seeing Sam today."

Leah blinked awake, suddenly more alert. "You're joking." She threw the blanket off. "Okay, okay! Breathe. We've still got time."

Last night had been a blur of laughter, discarded clothes, and endless deliberations about the "perfect" outfit. In the end, they had settled on something casual but chic: a fitted cream-colored top tucked into high-waisted, light-wash denim jeans, paired with fresh white sneakers. It was simple but stylish, with a little gold necklace adding a touch of elegance. Sophia's wavy hair was loose, styled to look effortlessly windswept, like she hadn't spent twenty minutes fussing over it.

"Do I look okay?" Sophia asked for the millionth time as she stared into the mirror, nerves hitting her like a freight train.

"You look perfect," Leah reassured her, squeezing her shoulder. "It's just Sam."

Sam. That name sent her heart into overdrive, though today, it felt heavier. She was about to walk into a stranger's space—a guy she barely knew. Her nerves were eating her alive, the excitement mixing with uncertainty in a way that made her feel like she was teetering on the edge.

The girls sat down for a hurried brunch—scrambled eggs, toast, and orange juice—but Sophia could barely touch her food. Her mind was too preoccupied. She kept fiddling with her fork, picking at the eggs without really eating.

Leah noticed, nudging her playfully. "You'll be fine, Soph. Just… remember, he's a human. A guy with a room and probably some dirty laundry lying around."

Sophia gave her a shaky laugh, pushing her plate aside. "What if I'm too much? Or worse, what if he's not who I thought he was?"

Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Then you leave. Simple as that."

Sophia nodded, trying to take Ivy's advice to heart, but her nerves only grew when her phone buzzed on the table. It was Ethan—or Sam, rather—sending over directions to his place. She stared at the message for a moment longer than necessary.

Leah gave her a knowing look. "You're going. No chickening out."

Sophia groaned but grabbed her things. "Let's go."

---

They made their way through the quieter outskirts of campus, following the directions Ethan had sent. The buildings looked almost identical, and soon they found themselves circling the same block, confusion setting in.

"Are we lost?" Ivy asked, narrowing her eyes at a street sign.

Sophia sighed. "I think so… I'll call him."

Her heart hammered in her chest as she dialed his number, the ringing in her ear seeming to stretch for ages. What if this was a sign? What if this whole thing was a mistake?

"Hey, Sophia," his voice came through, calm and steady. Too steady. How was he always so relaxed?

"Hi, um… I think we're here, but I'm not sure which building it is," she stammered, clutching her phone tighter.

"No worries," he replied smoothly. "I'll come get you."

Sophia hung up, exhaling shakily. "He's coming."

Leah smiled, bumping her shoulder. "Of course, he is. See? You've got this."

But even Leah's teasing couldn't stop the swarm of butterflies in her stomach.

When Ethan finally appeared at the corner, his easy stride and casual smile did nothing to calm her nerves. He was in a plain gray hoodie, looking so effortlessly cool that it almost annoyed her.

"Found you," he said with a chuckle, his eyes meeting hers in a way that made her heart skip.

Sophia forced a smile as they walked toward his building. Inside, her thoughts were chaotic. It's just Sam, she kept telling herself, but every step closer felt like she was walking into the unknown.

---

When they reached his apartment, Sophia was taken aback. The place was immaculate. Every surface gleamed, every book and item perfectly placed. It wasn't what she expected. It was more like stepping into a curated space—a shrine to neatness.

"You weren't kidding when you said you like things clean," she said, trying to hide her surprise.

He smiled, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I'm a bit of a clean freak."

But it wasn't just clean. There was something about the apartment that spoke to a deeper part of him—a vintage record player in the corner, soft jazz music playing in the background, old books with worn spines neatly arranged on a shelf. There were traces of an old soul in here, and it fascinated her.

Ethan offered her a seat on the couch, disappearing into the kitchen for a moment. Sophia sat down, feeling slightly more at ease, though her nerves still buzzed beneath the surface. The place was so cozy, and yet… it felt like there were layers to uncover.

He returned with snacks—chips, soda, and cookies. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I figured I'd play it safe."

Sophia smiled, though something felt off now, a strange pull in the air between them. They made light conversation about classes and music, but her mind kept drifting back to Leah's warnings. She tried to push it aside, but it lingered in the back of her thoughts like an unwelcome shadow.

And then she said it.

"So, Sam…" she started, her tone playful, "how old are you?"

Ethan froze. It was subtle, but she noticed the way his body tensed, the way his easy smile faltered. The air between them thickened.

His hand raked through his hair as he let out a nervous chuckle. "Uh… yeah, about that."

Sophia's smile faded as she watched him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Sam's not my real name," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "It's just… an alias. My real name is Ethan."

For a moment, the world felt like it tilted off its axis.

"What?" Sophia's voice barely registered in her own ears. Her heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it echo in her skull. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

He looked down, guilt plastered across his face. "I didn't think it mattered at first… and then, I don't know, I got caught up in it. I didn't want to lie, but I didn't know how to fix it."

Sophia stood up, feeling a wave of cold wash over her. Her stomach churned with emotions she couldn't quite name. It wasn't just the name—it was the deception, the hidden part of him she thought she was beginning to know. Now, she wasn't sure if she knew him at all.

"Ethan?" she repeated, the name foreign and heavy on her tongue.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly, standing too. His face was earnest, regret swimming in his eyes. "I didn't mean to make things weird."

But everything felt weird now. The cozy apartment felt like a trap, and the distance between them stretched into something insurmountable. Leah's warnings slammed into her mind, louder than ever.

"I think I should go," Sophia said, her voice shaking.

Ethan took a step closer, panic flickering in his eyes. "Sophia, wait—"

"No." She shook her head, her voice sharper than she intended. "I just… I need some space. This is too much."

The room felt stifling now, the air heavy with unspoken things. She turned, grabbing her bag, her heart racing.

Ethan didn't argue. He simply sighed, nodding. "I'll walk you back."

---

The walk back to her dorm was thick with silence, the tension between them palpable. Sophia's mind raced, her thoughts tumbling over one another. She'd come here thinking she was going to know Sam better, but instead, she was leaving with more questions than answers.

When they reached her dorm, Ethan lingered a step behind her, his face shadowed with guilt. "Sophia, I really am sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

She paused at the door, her hand resting on the handle. "I know," she said softly, her heart aching with confusion. "But that doesn't make this any easier."

And with that, she slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. As soon as it clicked shut, she leaned against it, exhaling shakily.

Everything felt different now.