Academic Avengers

By the time Alexander stepped out of Sam's Corner Café, the soft morning hues had matured into a brighter canvas. The city hummed with life now—cars whirring past, street vendors preparing their setups, and passersby pacing briskly to wherever their day was pulling them. He checked the time: 7:50 AM. Perfect.

His leather bag gently slapped against his back with every step as he walked toward the university bus stop. The streets felt both familiar and strangely distant this morning. Something about the dream still clung to the edges of his consciousness. But he shook it off. Today wasn't the day to dwell on it.

As he turned the corner past the local bookshop, a familiar voice called out, "Yo! Alex!"

He looked up to see Anurag Malhotra, his childhood friend and eternal wingman, standing near the bus stop with a half-eaten bagel in one hand and a coffee cup in the other. With sharp cheekbones, a constant five-o'clock shadow no matter the time of day, and a sarcastic gleam in his eye, Anurag had been Alex's closest friend since kindergarten.

"You're earlier than I expected," Alex said as he approached.

"Well, it's not every day you start university," Anurag grinned, offering him a bite of the bagel. "Excited? Nervous? Both?"

Alex declined the bite with a smirk. "I'm fine. Just ready to get through the day."

"Man, Howard University. Feels surreal, doesn't it?"

"A little," Alex admitted. "We used to talk about this like it was some distant planet. And now we're actually here."

The two stood in easy silence for a while, watching the city move. The wind carried the scent of baked bread from a nearby bakery, mixing with the slight chill of the early morning. Boston always had this contradictory nature—buzzing and alive, yet oddly introspective in its quiet corners.

"You think it'll be weird? Like, this whole college crowd thing?" Anurag asked.

"Probably," Alex said, adjusting the strap of his bag. "But we survived high school together, didn't we?"

"Barely. You were always the golden boy, and I just tagged along," Anurag replied dramatically, earning a laugh from Alex.

The bus arrived with a low screech, and they hopped on, grabbing a seat by the window. The ride to Howard University was long but felt shorter in the presence of shared banter and nostalgic stories. They passed familiar landmarks—the old cinema where they'd sneaked into an R-rated film at 14, the now-abandoned game arcade they used to frequent, the small cafe where Anurag had been dumped in tenth grade.

About halfway through the ride, the bus made a sudden turn and another familiar figure climbed aboard.

Krarth Simmons—tall, broad-shouldered, and always wearing some kind of pop culture T-shirt—made his way down the aisle. Krarth had known Alex and Anurag since middle school and was the trio's self-appointed clown. His bold voice and louder personality often landed them in trouble—but also made every moment memorable.

"Look who it is," he said, grinning. "The academic Avengers."

Alex rolled his eyes. "You still going with that nickname?"

"Hey, I coined it in eighth grade. It's vintage now."

The three of them spent the remainder of the ride joking and sharing nervous energy about their first day. When the bus finally pulled up at the university gates, a nervous excitement built in their chests. Students were pouring in from all directions, their voices blending into a low buzz of energy.

Howard University looked magnificent. Wide lawns, modern architecture blended with old ivy-covered buildings, and banners fluttering from tall lampposts gave it a prestigious aura. The main building loomed ahead, its large glass façade catching the morning sun.

Stepping off the bus, Alex instinctively scanned the area. His eyes landed on her almost immediately.

Selene. She stood near the main fountain with her group, laughing about something. Her wavy black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she wore a white blouse with blue denim that somehow made her stand out amidst a sea of students.

Alex's breath caught for a moment. He had known her for years, ever since primary school. She had been the untouchable queen of his heart, the girl who had unknowingly ruled his every childish daydream. Despite never confessing, his feelings for her never really faded.

"Here we go again," Anurag murmured under his breath.

Before Alex could respond, a sharp slap landed on his back.

"Still not over her, huh?" Krarth grinned, eyes twinkling.

"You're going to injure me one of these days," Alex muttered, trying to suppress a smile.

"Only your pride," Krarth replied.

The trio continued walking toward the main building. Students were being directed toward the auditorium for orientation. Along the way, they exchanged nods and waves with familiar faces from their school days.

"So, any idea how many people are here today?" Anurag asked.

"Heard around three thousand," Krarth replied. "Howard went big this year. International admissions and all."

They reached the main steps of the university. A wide balcony extended over the first floor, adorned with banners and flags representing the university's diverse faculties. A large digital screen rotated announcements in bold letters.

Alex spotted a quiet corner on the balcony and gestured. "I'm going to rehearse my speech once more. Meet you guys before the orientation?"

"Sure," Anurag said. "Don't let Krarth distract you."

"Hey!" Krarth protested.

Alex climbed the steps and settled near the edge of the balcony. Below him, the campus buzzed with activity. Selene and her group had moved to a grassy area, practicing some kind of choreography. It was a university welcome event, and every department had apparently planned something.

He pulled out his notes and began murmuring them under his breath, trying different intonations and tweaking phrases. Time passed in a blur, his concentration deep as he practiced repeatedly.

It was only after a while that he glanced down again and saw her—Selene—moving with graceful precision through the choreography.

He couldn't help it—his eyes lingered.

She moved with a fluid grace that made the world around her blur. It wasn't just attraction; it was years of silent admiration bottled up and tucked away behind every glance, every accidental encounter.

His phone was in his hand before he even realized what he was doing.

Just one short clip. No one will know.

He held it up and began recording, making sure he was discreet. His heart pounded not from guilt, but from a strange cocktail of thrill and sentiment.

"Caught in 4K," came a voice from behind.

He spun around to find Anurag grinning, holding up his own phone. He had filmed Alex filming her.

Alex groaned. "Delete that. Now."

Anurag wiggled his brows. "Maybe. Or maybe I send it to Krarth and we make it a meme."

"I hate you," Alex muttered.

Anurag laughed. "You love me. Admit it."

Alex shook his head and slumped back down, the earlier mood broken. He began scrolling aimlessly through his phone, trying to distract himself from the mortifying thought of Selene ever finding out. Which he was sure given their behaviour.

A familiar presence approached then. It was Veara—Selene's younger sister.

She was nothing like her elder sister. With a carefree attitude, soft features framed by her short bob cut, and a mischievous glint in her eyes, Veara had always been the cheerful shadow trailing behind Selene during their younger school days. Though 5 years younger, she had been close to Alex for years—more like a younger sibling than anything else.

"Still being a creep, I see," she said with a grin, casually approaching him.

Before Alex could retort, she plopped herself into his lap without hesitation, clearly as comfortable with him as ever.

"God, you haven't changed at all," she teased.

Alex chuckled. "Neither have you. Still crashing people's personal space."

"It's not crashing when it's mine too," Veara replied smoothly.

Their conversation turned casual and warm, filled with inside jokes, shared memories, and teasing. For a while, the burden of expectations, the fear of judgment, and the anxiety about the day vanished under the simplicity of old bonds.

Eventually, she stood up with a playful salute. "Alright, off to bother someone else. Don't screw up your speech."

"I'll try," Alex said.

As she walked away, he let out a deep breath. For now, things were still normal. But change loomed on the horizon—silent, patient, and inevitable.