When Lucy arrived at her dorm, Chelsea was seated on the sofa, a bowl of popcorn in hand, her gaze fixated on the TV.
"Chel," she called out softly.
Chelsea’s gaze broke and she turned to Lucy, a smile spreading on her face. "You are back."
"Yeah," she said and took a seat beside Chelsea.
Chelsea studied her for a moment before commenting. "You look like shit."
"I’ve been thinking."
Chelsea placed the bowl on the center table.
"Okay, spill it out."
"Chel... I think something is wrong with me."
Chelsea frowns. "Why?"
Lucy hesitated before admitting softly, "I think I’ve started looking at my professor... differently."
"What do you mean?" Chelsea asked slowly. "Differently... how?"
Lucy took a deep breath. "Would you believe me if I say I have no idea what I’m feeling?"
Chelsea’s brows knitted together. "So... what you’re trying to say is that you are clueless."
Lucy nodded heavily. "It really is a weird feeling and I’ve never felt this way, even with Bryce."
Chelsea bit her lips. "Yeah, this would be a problem. If you don’t understand what you’re feeling, then it would be a big problem."
Lucy threw her head back on the sofa, groaning loudly while covering her face. "I don’t want to think about this anymore. The more I try to make sense of it, the more my headache increases."
"Want to watch a movie?" Chelsea suggested.
Lucy glanced at her and nodded. She just wanted to put everything behind her. But she knew that would be a futile attempt.
"I’ll join you soon," she said, already rising to her feet. "I’d go freshen up."
Meanwhile, Kane stepped into the quiet expanse of his apartment.
The lights remained off as he loosened his tie and walked toward his study.
The silence usually helped him think. Today, it did the opposite.
He dropped into his chair and rested his head against the leather.
His conversation with Lucy replayed in his mind.
"...Regarding Friday."
Kane pinched the bridge of his nose. "Idiot."
The word escaped before he could stop it. That wasn’t what he had intended to say.
He had only wanted to brief her about the expectations the research team would have of her and her group members.
Instead... he’d brought up Friday.
He could still picture the way her eyes had widened.
The way she’d looked at him with equal parts surprise... and expectation.
Then the disappointment that quietly settled over her features when he’d spoken about the research instead.
He hadn’t imagined it. He’d noticed.
Kane let out a slow breath. "Why did I even mention it?"
Silence answered him.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
He recalled Friday.
It had been an accident. Nothing more. Just an unfortunate accident in the library.
There was absolutely no reason for either of them to keep dwelling on it.
There was no reason for him to replay it over and over again.
So why was he doing exactly that?
Why couldn’t he stop thinking about it?
Friday night came quicker than Lucy expected it.
"I can’t believe you are attending the party." Chelsea sighed as she watched Lucy put on a pair of gold hoops.
"I promised Victor."
Chelsea blinked.
"Who are you and what have you done to Lucy?"
Lucy chuckled. "Very funny."
"Seriously, this is a different side." She rose to her feet as she slowly circled Lucy.
"First, you went to a bar—which you never do, by the way. Then you kissed a complete stranger—who turned out to be your ridiculously hot professor. Now, you are willingly attending a party."
"I have every reason to believe that your soul has probably been swapped out with another person’s soul—a wild one."
Chelsea said all of these in a single breath.
Lucy stared at her for a full minute, the room filled with a loud silence before she burst out laughing.
"You’ve been watching those brainrot dramas, haven’t you?"
Chelsea shook her head. "That isn’t important. I’ve always asked you to attend a party with me, but you’ve always declined." She tilted her head to stare at her best friend. "Tell me, what changed?"
Lucy shrugged. "I just realized that I don’t have as much fun as I should."
Chelsea nodded. "About time."
She walked over to her wardrobe before tossing a small purse toward Lucy. Lucy caught it instinctively.
"You’ll need that."
Lucy laughed, slipping the strap over her shoulder. "You’re acting like I’m going on an expedition."
"For you?" Chelsea grinned. "I practically am."
Lucy rolled her eyes, though the smile lingering on her lips refused to disappear.
Then—
She looked over Chelsea who was still in her pajamas and she pursed her lips.
"Are you attending?"
Chelsea shook slowly before folding her arms. "Actually..."
Lucy met her gaze.
Chelsea smiled apologetically. "I’m not going anymore."
Lucy frowned. "Because of Charles?"
Chelsea shrugged, pretending it didn’t bother her.
"I just don’t feel like watching him flirt with half the girls there."
Silence lingered.
Lucy reached for her hand. "You know..." she said softly, "I can stay back too."
Chelsea stared at her for a second before bursting into laughter. "Absolutely not."
"Chel—"
"Nope." Chelsea pointed toward the door. "You have already sacrificed enough social events for both of us."
Lucy chuckled.
Chelsea walked over and grabbed Lucy by both shoulders. "You’re going."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m sure."
"You’ll be okay?"
Chelsea smiled—this time a little more genuinely.
"I’ll survive. I’ll watch movies, eat popcorn and pretend everyone at that party is having a terrible time."
Lucy laughed.
Chelsea grinned mischievously. "Besides..." She gave Lucy a little shove toward the door. "I need someone to come back with embarrassing stories."
"What if nothing happens?"
Chelsea snorted. "Lucy Bennett."
"Hmm?"
"Something always happens."
"I’d be holding you to your words then."
Chelsea patted her chest. "You have to trust me."
Lucy walked to the door before pausing. "You’ll text me if you need anything?"
Chelsea rolled her eyes dramatically. "Go."
"Chelsea—"
"Lucy."
"Okay, okay."
Laughing softly, Lucy slipped out of the dorm. The cool night air greeted her immediately.
She adjusted the strap of her purse and started down the pathway.
A strange mixture of nervousness and excitement settled in her chest.
This was exactly what she’d promised herself.
To stop hiding. But to actually live.
For once, she wasn’t overthinking everything.
She was simply going to attend a party.
Meet a few classmates.
Have fun. Then return to her dorm.
Surely, nothing could go wrong.