Where it all started

The lecture hall was buzzing with the low hum of conversations as students settled into their seats, preparing for another round of theories, assignments and the ever-dreaded group projects. Among them sat Nicole, her eyes glued to the professor as he outlined the topic for the day. She was the epitome of focus, her brow furrowed slightly as she scribbled notes with the precision that could only belong to someone born under the sign of Virgo. Methodical, practical and always prepared- Nicole's approach to life mirrored her star's traits. She was the kind of person who preferred to keep to herself, always striving for perfection and often finding herself disappointed by the chaos of the world around her.

It wasn't that Nicole didn't like people; it was just that she preferred order- a quality she was convinced only a few truly understood. She often found herself observing the world, dissecting it with a level of scrutiny that made her seem distant, even though she longed for connection.

And then, there was Andrew.

Across the room, he leaned back in his chair, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he lazily flipped through his phone. The professor's voice was a background noise to him and his attention was fixed on whatever text conversation was unfolding on his screen. He was adventurous, free-spirited and practically allergic to anything that resembled routine. Andrew was the kind of guy who moved through life like a breeze, never dwelling too long in one place or situation. He thrived in the chaos, bouncing from one spontaneous idea to the next while Nicole quietly observed from the side, wondering how anyone could live with such a lack of structure.

Andrew and Nicole had never exchanged words. In fact, they barely noticed each other in the crowded lecture hall. But that would soon change.

It was Violet who first noticed the strange tension between them. She sat a few rows behind Nicole, always eager to stir the pot and find meaning in things others might miss. Violet was the kind of friend who never took anything too seriously, always looking for fun and adventure. Her sharp eye for human interaction made her the unofficial matchmaker of their small circle and she'd often catch herself watching Nicole and Andrew without either of them realizing.

Violet nudged Peter, who was sitting next to her. Peter, the quiet observer of their group raised an eyebrow but didn't respond immediately. He was one of those people who could spend hours in a room full of people and say nothing yet somehow still have all the information. He could tell there was something off about Andrew and Nicole, though he didn't know exactly what it was. The more time he spent with Violet, the more he learned to tune into her intuitive sense of things, and he'd learned to appreciate it.

"Something's going on there," Violet murmured under her breath, nodding toward Nicole and Andrew, who had both momentarily locked eyes in an awkward exchange. "Do you see it?"

Peter shrugged, his gaze never leaving the pair. "I don't know but I've seen this before. They will figure it out eventually."

Violet grinned mischievously. "You think so?"

Peter didn't answer but the way he raised an eyebrow made it clear he wasn't convinced. He might not have been as vocal as Violet, but he understood the way things worked- people weren't as hard to read as they liked to think.

Nicole didn't know it yet, but Violet had already started planting seeds in Peter's mind about the inevitable collision course between her and Andrew. She wasn't sure what would happen, but one thing was clear- Violet had a way of making everything feel like a game and no one ever walked away from her games unchanged.

As the lecture continued, Andrew's mind wandered. He hadn't expected to be caught up in this strange pull towards Nicole but there it was, gnawing at him in the back of his mind. He didn't mean to notice her at first but something about the way she carried herself intrigued him. It wasn't just the methodical approach to life- it was the air of mystery that surrounded her, the quiet strength that seemed to hold her back from connecting with others. Guarded. That was the word he would use to describe her.

He had no intention of pushing, at least not yet. But it was becoming harder to ignore the way his thoughts kept drifting back to her, how her presence seemed to draw him in without a single word exchanged.

Nicole, for her part, had started noticing Andrew more often than she cared to admit. She tried to focus on her work but his presence in the room had become a constant distraction. She had caught a glimpse of him, of course- his easy grin, his complete disregard for the rules. It annoyed her at first but there was something about it that stirred something deep inside her. The way he moved through life so effortlessly, so unburdened by the need for control made her feel- well, a little out of place.

Nicole wasn't used to feeling unsettled. She liked her world neatly organized and predictable. But Andrew… he was anything but that.

Her mind kept returning to the small moments- the times when their eyes met by accident, when she found herself wondering about him, about who he was beyond the careless attitude. But before she could dwell on it, the sound of the professor's voice brought her back to the present.

The day seemed to drag on, each lecture blending into the next. But just before class ended, Andrew did something unexpected. He casually slid into the empty seat next to Nicole, as though he had no care in the world about the social rules that governed their interactions.

"Got a minute?" he asked, not waiting for response.

Nicole blinked, caught off guard by the sudden proximity. "What?"  She said, her voice defensive.

Andrew smiled that lazy, confident smile of his. "I just wanted to ask if you've thought about the project yet. We should probably go over it together, don't you think?"

Before she could respond, the door swung open and in walked Violet with Peter trailing behind her. Violet, the ever mischief-maker, caught sight of them immediately. Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she threw Nicole a knowing look. She didn't say a word but the glint in her eyes said it all. Peter, however, merely raised an eyebrow at the scene before him, his silence speaking volumes.

As Andrew turned his attention back to Nicole, she couldn't help but feel the weight of Violet and Peter's unspoken judgement. Violet's grin widened, while Peter simply watched with an expression that seemed to say, "I told you so."

Nicole didn't know how to respond to Andrew, but she knew one thing for sure- this was just the beginning. Whether she liked it or not, things were about to change. And Violet and Peter would be right there, in the background, watching it all unfold.

Andrew's voice broke her thoughts again, this time with a lightness that made everything feel less serious. "So, about that project…"

Nicole could feel the tension building between them, like an invisible thread slowly pulling tighter. She didn't know if she was ready for whatever was coming but one thing was certain- she wasn't going to be able to keep avoiding him for much longer.

Was this the beginning of something she wasn't ready for? And why did it feel like Andrew was already one step ahead?