Unexpected Run-In

Just when Sophia thought she could finally move on…

She ran into him.

Daniel Harper.

And it felt like time stopped.

It was a quiet Wednesday afternoon when it happened.

Sophia had just finished a lecture on Developmental Psychology and was walking toward The Willow Bean, the cozy café near campus filled with mismatched chairs, chalkboard menus, and the scent of cinnamon rolls and strong espresso. It had become her go-to spot for study breaks, people-watching, and caffeine-induced motivation.

She pushed open the door, the bell above it jingling softly.

And then she saw him.

Daniel.

He was standing near the counter, wearing a dark hoodie and jeans, talking to the barista with that same easy charm he'd always had. His hair was slightly messier than usual, his smile a little slower — like he had been deep in thought before she walked in.

Her heart did that stupid, familiar somersault.

She told herself to breathe.

To smile.

To walk away.

But her feet had other plans.

They carried her forward, like they knew something her brain hadn't accepted yet.

And then he turned.

Saw her.

Smiled.

Like she was the best surprise of his day.

"Hey, Soph," he said, like he hadn't been gone for years.

She swallowed hard.

"Hey, Daniel."

They ended up sitting at a corner table, both with coffee in hand, conversation flowing like they hadn't spent years drifting apart.

She had told herself she wouldn't be nervous.

She had told herself she wouldn't blush.

She had told herself she was over this.

But none of that was true.

Because now, sitting across from him — at nineteen, no longer a child, no longer hiding behind hoodies and awkward silences — she realized something painful.

She still loved him.

And he still looked at her like she was someone else's little sister.

Daniel stirred his coffee, studying her.

"You look different," he said after a beat.

She raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

He hesitated. "More… put together."

She smirked. "You mean I finally figured out how to apply makeup without looking like a raccoon?"

He laughed. "I didn't say that."

She sipped her latte, trying to keep things light. "You're still terrible at compliments."

He grinned. "I'll work on it."

They fell into silence for a moment — not awkward, but heavy.

Then he asked, "How's Lena?"

Sophia blinked. "Lena?"

"Yeah. Still running her parents' shop?"

Sophia gave him a strange look.

"She's not," Sophia said slowly. "She's in New York now. Got into a fashion school."

Daniel frowned. "Wait… Lena moved?"

Sophia nodded. "She left last year. You didn't know?"

He shook his head. "I guess Nathan didn't mention it."

Sophia smiled faintly. "He probably forgot."

He exhaled. "I didn't realize how much I missed."

She tilted her head. "Missed what?"

"Everything," he said quietly. "Everyone."

She didn't say it out loud, but she thought it.

Including me.

Lena had been Sophia's best friend since middle school — the kind of girl who made life feel like a movie.

She was bold, funny, and unapologetically loud — the opposite of Sophia in every way.

Their houses were only a few blocks apart — Lena's family had lived next door to hers since they were kids. Their moms were best friends too, and everyone used to joke that the two girls were practically sisters.

They even looked a little alike — same brown eyes, same stubborn streak, same love for bad reality TV and good coffee.

So when Lena left for fashion school in New York, Sophia lost more than just a friend.

She lost a piece of her support system.

And the worst part?

She hadn't even gone to the airport to see her off.

She had been too busy pretending she was okay.

Too busy trying to forget Daniel.

Too busy trying to move on.

Daniel leaned back in his chair. "I guess I'm out of the loop."

Sophia shrugged. "We all are sometimes."

He studied her for a long moment.

Then said, "You seem different."

She gave him a small smile. "I am."

He tilted his head. "In a good way?"

She nodded. "Yeah. In a good way."

He looked at her like he was trying to catch up with the person she had become — like he was realizing he had missed something important.

And maybe he had.

He looked around the café, then back at her.

"So," he said. "How's school?"

She blinked. "You know I'm here."

He gave her a sheepish look. "Nathan mentioned it."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course he did."

Daniel smirked. "Still in psychology?"

She nodded. "Yeah. It's what I wanted."

He smiled. "Good. You always said you wanted to understand people."

She raised an eyebrow. "I did?"

"You did," he confirmed. "Back when you were still writing about me in your diary."

She nearly choked on her coffee.

He grinned. "I remember things."

She groaned. "Ugh. Please stop digging up the past."

He chuckled. "Too late. I already know you've been in love with me since you were twelve."

Her face burned.

"I never said that out loud!" she yelped.

"You didn't have to," he said, eyes twinkling. "I know you, Soph."

She swallowed hard.

You used to.

They walked out of the café together, the afternoon sun warming the pavement beneath their feet.

"I can walk you back," he offered.

She blinked. "Back where?"

"To campus," he said. "You're staying in Maple Hall, right?"

She stared at him. "How do you know that?"

He smirked. "I asked Nathan."

She groaned. "You're such a stalker."

"I just wanted to know how you were doing."

She studied him.

Then said, "Why?"

He looked at her — really looked — and shrugged. "Because you matter."

Her heart did something dangerous.

Something hopeful.

They walked slowly, side by side, the silence between them now filled with something unspoken.

"You okay?" he asked after a while.

She nodded. "Yeah."

He gave her a sideways glance. "You always say that."

She gave him a soft smile. "Because I'm always okay."

He studied her. "You don't have to be, you know."

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated. "You don't have to pretend. You don't have to be the quiet one all the time."

She raised an eyebrow. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It's not," he admitted. "But I miss the girl who used to stare at me like I was a mystery she wanted to solve."

She blushed.

He noticed.

And instead of teasing her, he just… smiled.

Like he liked seeing it.

Which made it worse.

They reached the edge of campus, where the trees lined the sidewalk and the air smelled like fresh-cut grass and old books.

"This is me," she said, gesturing toward the dorm.

He nodded. "I know."

She blinked. "You've been here before?"

"I walk past this place sometimes," he admitted. "I live in Willow Creek."

She tilted her head. "That's the neighborhood behind campus, right?"

"Yeah," he said. "Just a few blocks back."

She studied him. "You didn't have to walk me all the way here."

He gave her a long look. "I wanted to."

She swallowed hard.

Then whispered, "Why?"

He hesitated.

Then said, "Because I missed this."

She looked away quickly.

Because she missed it too.

And now, standing here — in the same city, the same space, the same moment — she realized something.

She hadn't come here just for school.

She had come here for him.

And maybe, just maybe…

He had stayed close for her too.

.