First Step, New Paths

Chapter 1

Tina's POV

My leg wouldn't stop shaking. It felt like I was running a marathon under the table. I clenched my hands into fists, trying to steady them, but my foot tapped against the floor in a frantic rhythm, echoing like a drum summoning a battle.

"Calm down, Tina," I whispered to myself.

Seven forty-five. Fifteen minutes to go. Just fifteen minutes. God, why does time move so slowly when you're about to do something terrifying?

I checked my bag for the third time.

Laptop? Check.

Notebook? Check.

Phone? Fully charged, check.

Everything was perfect logically, at least. Yet, the tightness in my chest refused to ease. My reflection in the mirror stared back, betraying the nerves I was trying to suppress. I leaned in, running my fingers through my hair before applying one last coat of lip gloss.

"First impressions count," I reminded myself.

Then I rolled my eyes at my own reflection. Oh, please. You're not here to impress anyone, Tina. You're here to study.

But there was something about this day. This moment filled me with equal parts excitement and terror.

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and grabbed my bag. "Alright, here we go," I murmured, stepping out of my apartment and locking the door behind me. My palms were sweaty, and I nearly wiped them on my jeans before stopping myself. Act natural. You can do this. It's just like high school... just bigger.

The walk to the university was a solid thirty minutes, something I'd convinced myself was a great way to "stay in shape." In reality, it was more about saving on bus fare than fitness. The streets bustled with people heading to work, students like me making their way to class, and the occasional jogger who looked way too happy for someone awake at this hour.

I took a deep breath, letting the cool morning air calm me. I love this weather. The perfect mix of warm and cool, like the world itself was caught between decisions. Just like me.

As I neared the university gates, my stomach clenched. The campus was alive with students, some laughing in groups, others striding confidently as if they owned the place. And then... there was me.

I slowed my steps, scanning the crowd. Do they all already have friends? Am I the only one who feels completely out of place?

My father's voice echoed in my head. Take in your surroundings. Don't rush in. You'll find your place.

Sure, Dad. Easy for you to say. You were probably the guy making all the friends, not the awkward girl pretending to check her phone.

I found a quiet spot by a stone wall, pulling out my phone to scroll through Instagram. Not because I had anything interesting to see, but because looking busy was better than looking lost.

Just then, a voice cut through my overthinking.

"Hey, do you know what's going on? Everyone's just standing around outside the lecture halls."

I looked up and instantly regretted it.

Piercing eyes locked onto mine, sharp enough to slice through every mental barrier I had. He was tall, lean, with tousled hair that looked effortlessly perfect, like he hadn't even tried. His voice carried a quiet confidence, the kind that made people listen without question.

I opened my mouth, but my brain had decided to short-circuit. "Oh... uhh... no." Great start, Tina.

He raised an amused brow, clearly not expecting the world's most awkward response.

"I'm just... following the crowd," I added quickly, forcing a nonchalant shrug. My fingers gripped my phone like a lifeline as I stared at the screen, hoping he'd take the hint and leave before I embarrassed myself further.

"Cool," he said, lingering just a second too long before nodding and walking off.

I exhaled, my heart still pounding. Something about him. His voice, his presence. Felt strangely familiar. Like a song you've heard before but can't quite place.

I glanced at my reflection in the glass panel of a nearby building. Stop it, Tina. This isn't a rom-com.

Just then, I spotted Trisha and Veronica, my lifesavers. Relief washed over me as I hurried toward them.

"What took you so long?" Trisha teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Were you distracted?" Veronica added, her expression more amused than accusatory.

I hesitated for a split second before sighing. "Actually... I ran into this guy."

Trisha's eyes widened instantly. "Oh my god, tell us everything."

"There's nothing to say," I said quickly. "He just asked about the crowd outside the lecture hall. That's it."

Veronica smirked knowingly. "Did he look at you a certain way?"

"No," I lied.

Trisha gasped dramatically, grabbing my arm. "Wait. Did you get his number?"

I groaned. "Oh my god, no! I barely said two words before I panicked and looked at my phone like an idiot."

Trisha sighed like I'd personally disappointed her. "Tina. You need to work on this. A mysterious hot guy talks to you, and your first instinct is to avoid eye contact and pretend to text?"

"Yes," I deadpanned. "Because unlike some people, I don't flirt effortlessly."

Veronica chuckled. "We'll work on that later. Right now, we need to get to class before we miss our very first university lecture."

We entered the massive lecture hall, where rows upon rows of seats stretched endlessly. My stomach twisted with nerves again.

A deep voice broke through the chatter.

"I am Mr. Rodrick, your accounting professor."

I turned and blinked. No way. He looked too young to be a professor, more like a lead actor in a Netflix series about misunderstood geniuses.

The lecture passed in a blur of numbers and formulas, my mind drifting to the guy I'd run into earlier. When class ended, I spotted him in the crowd again, and this time, everything clicked.

I knew that face.

My chest tightened. It wasn't just that he looked familiar. He reminded me of him. Of the past I'd spent years trying to forget.

As if sensing my thoughts, he caught my eye and smiled.

My stomach flipped. No. Not happening again.

I forced myself to break eye contact, shoving my notebook into my bag like my life depended on it.

"Hey, I'm starving!" Veronica chirped, snapping me back to reality.

As we walked into the cafeteria, the warm scent of muffins filled the air. I was about to breathe in the comforting aroma when Trisha suddenly elbowed me.

"Oh my god, Tina," she whispered. "He's here. And he's looking right at you."

I groaned. "Trish. Stop."

"I'm serious."

Against my better judgment, I stole a glance.

He was sitting with a group of guys, laughing like he'd known them forever. But then, for just a second, his eyes met mine again.

I turned away immediately, heart hammering.

"You're overthinking," Trisha said, pulling me toward the muffin counter.

She didn't know how right she was. I was overthinking. And yet, I was terrified of what might happen if I stopped.

I made up my mind right then. You're here for you, Tina. Not for anyone else. Don't mess this up.

As I grabbed my coffee and walked past him without a second glance, I repeated the words in my head.

One step at a time.

Joe's POV

I couldn't believe how drained I felt after just one day back at university. It was as if I'd been catapulted into an endless pit of books, lectures, and that distinct smell of new binders mixed with stale coffee. My brain? Absolute mush. My patience? Nonexistent. My will to continue? Hanging by a thread.

Frustrated, I hurled the squash ball against the wall with everything I had, watching it ricochet back like an insult.

"Hey, Joe! Take it easy, man!"

Calvin's laughter rang through the empty court, effortlessly carefree as always. I turned to him, sweat dripping down my forehead, my chest rising and falling as I tried to exhale my frustration. Of course, he'd find this amusing. Calvin had this ridiculous ability to go through life without a single ounce of stress, while I was being swallowed whole by it.

Calvin had always been my partner-in-crime and, unfortunately, an irritating reminder that he was two years ahead of me. He'd be graduating next year, stepping into the real world with a smirk and a degree, while I'd be here, buried under assignments, deadlines, and existential dread. The thought gave me this twisted sense of abandonment.

"So, how was your first day?" he asked, bouncing the squash ball lazily in his palm. His knowing smirk told me he already had an idea.

"Don't even ask, man." I swiped my damp forehead with my wrist, shaking my head. "I swear the lecturer was speaking in some alien dialect. All I got was 'it's going to be tough' and 'keep up or get left behind.' Like, what was I thinking, coming back to this grind?"

I didn't even have the energy to sugarcoat it. Half the lecture was a blur of complicated terms and a PowerPoint presentation that looked like a cryptic code I had no hope of deciphering. Maybe I should just say screw it and jump straight into the family café business. CEO of a coffee empire. That had a nice ring to it. Much better than Calculus 101: A Guide to Destroying Souls.

Calvin snorted, stretching his arms as if this conversation was the most effortless thing in the world. "Hey, you'll get used to it."

"Will I, though?" I muttered, slamming the ball again. It bounced off the wall, then off my shoulder, before rolling away in a sad, defeated manner. Much like my enthusiasm for this semester.

Calvin, ever the graceful one, casually caught the ball midair. "Of course. Everyone has a meltdown on day one. It's a rite of passage. It's like freshman hazing, but self-inflicted."

I scoffed. "Meltdown is an understatement. I wanted to get up and leave five minutes in."

"And go where?" He raised an eyebrow. "Straight into dad's café, waving a resignation letter from university?

Yeah, I'm sure that would go over well."

I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. "Honestly? At this point, the coffee machines are calling me."

Calvin clapped a hand on my shoulder, mockingly serious. "You'll get there, buddy. But first, that piece of paper with your name and fancy graduation robes."

I let out a dry laugh. "Right. Because my dad will have a stroke if I don't get that 'official café CEO qualification.'"

"Exactly. So, suck it up and suffer like the rest of us did."

I groaned, flopping onto the bench beside him. The sweat on my back made my shirt cling uncomfortably, but I barely noticed. My brain was still circling the same thoughts, the same doubts.

Then Calvin, being Calvin, had to bring up the most predictable topic. "So, any cute girls in your class?"

I rolled my eyes, already expecting this. "Classic. That's where your mind goes, huh?"

He grinned unapologetically. "Hey, I'm just saying. A little distraction never hurt anyone."

I thought about it for a second. There were a few girls who could probably pass for Instagram influencers, always dressed like they were about to walk into a fashion show. But did I care? Not really.

"Yeah, there were a few," I admitted, "but I'm not exactly in 'find a girlfriend' mode. And besides, it's only been a day. Impulsive shopping isn't my style."

Calvin let out an exaggerated gasp. "No impulse shopping? Who are you?"

I smirked. "A guy who has enough chaos in his life already."

"Fair enough." He stretched again, clearly done pretending to be a wise mentor. "How about we unwind with a beer? My place, seven?"

I sighed, already knowing there was no escaping it. "Fine. But not too late. I promised Mom I'd help her with the café report."

"Seven it is. I'll have you back in time for your thrilling night of accounting, Scout's honor."

After a couple of beers at Calvin's place I returned home. I checked my phone. A notification popped up from Blair, one of the few classmates who seemed halfway decent.

Blair: Hey, party this weekend. You in?

Apparently, it was some unofficial initiation into the "cool group." I hesitated, staring at the message. Normally, I wouldn't care. But something about the idea of mindless fun seemed... appealing. A distraction, even if temporary.

I opened her profile, scrolling through pictures of her and her friends. They all looked effortlessly perfect, the type of people who never seemed to stress over coursework or the impending doom of adulthood.

No strings attached friendships. That sounded ideal.

Before I could overthink it, I typed out a quick reply.

Me: Yeah, why not?

Tossing my phone aside, I tried to focus on the café accounts, but the numbers blurred together almost instantly. I rubbed my temples, exhaustion creeping in.

Five minutes in, I gave up. Shutting my laptop, I collapsed onto my bed, pulling a pillow over my face, blocking out the world.

But, of course, my mind wouldn't shut up.

I told myself I wouldn't get involved in relationships again. Not after... well, her. Not after the playlist, the late night calls, the way things unraveled so fast I didn't even realize I was bleeding until it was over.

Maybe making friends was a healthy compromise. Maybe keeping things light, casual, easy. That was the way to go.

But then again... what is friendship without a little bit of love?

Love. It's crazy. It's intoxicating. It makes you do things you swore you never would. It creeps up on you, slow and sweet, before crashing down like a storm.

But these are only the things I have heard.

Will I get to experience love again?

Will I get to experience us?

___________________________

Two hearts, haunted by shadows of the past, now stand on the edge of something unknown-will it be salvation or another storm?