The First Night

" Keep your voice down," Serena hissed tugging Elsie's arm as they moved quickly away from the gates. Elsie practically bounced beside her, clapping her hands together.

" Oh my god, how can you be so calm after being so close to them? I've only seen a glimpse of them once, once! Serena and I still haven't recovered. And you? You sat next to them. Right next to them, Serena!" She squealed, doing a tiny excited jump on the spot.

" I need details. Was it electric? Did you speak to Xavier? What does Simon's voice sound like in person?"

Serena sighed a tired laugh escaping her lips.

" It was uncomfortable and suffocating. Are you happy now?"

" Not even a little." Elsie grinned. " You're holding out on me." Serena couldn't help but smile. After the emotionally draining day she'd had, Elsie's bubbly energy was exactly what she needed. Her infectious excitement, though slightly overwhelming,was comforting.

" Okay, okay,real question now," Elsie said, leaning in, her face serious like she was about to spill a national secret. " Who do you think is more attractive; Simon or Xavier? Come on this is the most controversial question on campus. "

Serena blinked. " I don't know, Elsie. I could barely breathe with them around. How do you expect me to get a good look at their faces?"

That was a lie. A straight, bold-faced lie. She had looked. She'd looked too long. Simon's emerald gaze, Xavier's icy eyes so vivid in her memory now, playing on repeat like a silent movie. And honestly.... right now, she'd know the one she had found more appealing. Not based on looks but the feeling he left behind. The strange, crushing feeling for her to stay clear of him but her mind demanding her to get ever closer to him. Elsie narrowed her eyes, studying her face. " You're lying. I can see it in your smile."

Serena laughed. " You're terrible, you know that?"

" Nope," Elsie said proudly. " You're terrible. If I had the chance to sit next to one of them, let alone both, I'd be staring and drooling like my life depended on it. Do you even know when you'll ever see men like that again? Ever?"

Serena rolled her eyes, shaking her head as they walked toward the small restaurant they had their lunch yesterday. The scent of grilled food and fresh pastries drifted through the air, making her stomach growl. " Although...." Elsie added, twirling a strand of her hair, " I'm not really into Simon or Xavier. I'm more of a Nathan girl, you know?" Serena stopped mid-step and gave her a look " Nathan? His creepy"

" Pfft." Elsie waved her off. " That's just means he's your type and you're in denial."

Serena let out a dramatic groan, pushing the restaurant door open. " I'm starving. Let's just eat."

Elsie followed her inside, still humming excitedly. Serena tried to focus on the smell of food, the freshly baked buns, the chairs scraping on the tile as people sat, students chatting over plates of fries and sandwiches.

But even here, she couldn't shake off the crawling feeling Xavier's words left behind.

Corner spotted them just as he finished wiping down an empty table. He had heard the restaurant bell chime moments earlier, but it wasn't until he looked up and saw Elsie and Serena's familiar face that something stirred sharply inside him. He felt totally stupid for letting her leave without something more meaningful than a stupid "hi"

He brushed his apron with both palms, tugged off his cap and ran his hand through his tousled brown hair. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. He took a deep breath and made his way over to their booth.

" Elsie, Serena... good afternoon," he said, offering his best smile. His eyes rested just a little too long on Serena.

Serena looked up and met his gaze with a soft, warm smile. " Good afternoon, Conner."

Her smile caught him off guard. Warmth blooming somewhere in his chest, a comfort he hadn't known he needed until now. What was it about her? The way his name came out effortlessly from her beautiful full lips? The gentle warmth in her eyes? He had no idea. But it titled his world in the strangest way and he found himself hoping, praying that the feeling would never go away.

Elsie, of course, picked up on everything.

She giggled and tapped on the table, her eyes on the ceiling pretending not to notice. " What are you so happy about Elsie? Finally got a lead on your little monster mystery? " Conner asked, his smile faltering.

" Well if you must know," she began with a dramatic flair," Serena here was practically sandwiched between the two hotties, Simon and Xavier in class today. In her words she could barely breathe with them around her" she said dramatically placing her hand on her temple. A triumphant smirk on her face. Conner's smile froze.... The cold within him slowly overcoming the newly found warmth. His demeanor shifted, his shoulders tightened. His jaw clenched, his expression darkening as if a shadow passed through him.

Why them? Why does it always have to be them?

" I'll go get your order," he said, his voice stiff but polite. "The usual, right? Same for you too, Serena?"

He didn't wait for a response. He turned and walked away before either of them could speak.

" Okay!" Elsie shouted after him, not bothered in the slightest by his sudden mood shift. Serena however noticed. She watched him retreat behind the kitchen door. " why did you say that? " She said calmly, she was sure Elsie had done that on purpose. " What? He's our friend right, friend! " She said stressing on the "friend" a little too much. " I just wanted him to know how your first day went that's all" Elsie said, her hands raised acting all innocent.

Their food arrived a few minutes later, but not by Conner. A different waiter: a lanky boy with freckles and sleepy eyes, he placed their orders on the table with a rush nod and hurried off again

They ate slowly, chatting happily as they ate. After paying the bill and gathering their things, the two friends stepped out into the cool evening breeze, the entire campus sinking into the sun's golden hue as it slowly descended.

The walk back to the dormitory was peaceful. Students lounged beneath the trees scattered around, others were heading towards the library or returning from late classes. " Are you okay" Elsie finally asked nudging Serena gently as they climbed the steps to their dorms.

" Yeah, today was strange. I feel like I walked into someone else's life. One moment I was just trying to get to class on time, and the next..."

" You're stuck with the hottest guys on campus" Elsie offered with a cheeky grin.

Serena laughed. " Exactly."

The girls made it to the third floor, their doors facing each other. The hall way was quiet now most people already in their dorms or outside waiting for lights out. Serena felt the weight of exhaustion tugging at her limbs.

Elsie turned to her with a sleepy smile and opened her arms. " Well you survived day one," she said with a yawn. " Here's to not being turned into another of the gang's lovesick zombies tomorrow" .

Serena laughed softly stepping into the hug. " Here's to that," she whispered wrapping her arms around her friend. " Good night drama magnet," Elsie teased, already heading to her door.

" Good night gossip queen," Serena shot back with a smile, disappearing into her room. The door clicked shut behind her and the silence of her cold empty room greeted her. The dim lights from the moon peered through her curtains given her room barely enough light to see but she wasn't keen on turning on her lights . She leaned against her door for a moment breathing in the sweet lavender scent of her room.

She had a simple hot bath to clear her head letting the water run down her hair.

After getting dressed for the night she flopped onto her mattress with a groan. Her first day had finally come to an end.