It was nearly nine o’clock when Maya finally closed her textbook inside the university library.
Most of the students had already gone home, leaving only a handful scattered between the rows of books.
The quiet atmosphere was exactly how Maya preferred studying, especially after a long day of classes and cheer practice.
Still wearing her cheer uniform beneath a light jacket, she packed her notebooks into her backpack before switching off the reading lamp.
Another day finished.
Another responsibility waiting.
Outside, the campus had grown noticeably quieter.
Streetlights cast long pools of light across the sidewalks as Maya adjusted the straps of her backpack and began walking toward the edge of campus.
Across the parking lot, Carter climbed into Ethan’s car with a tired groan.
“I can’t believe Katie talked me into another party,” Ethan complained while starting the engine.
“If she’s late because of us, I’m never hearing the end of it.”
“You’ll survive,” Carter replied with a laugh as he leaned back in the passenger seat.
Ethan pulled out of the parking space before driving toward the campus exit.
A few moments later, Carter looked out the passenger window.
“…Isn’t that Maya?” Carter asked while sitting up a little straighter.
Ethan glanced toward the sidewalk.
“Yeah,” he answered.
“Kind of weird seeing her out this late.”
Maya continued walking with the same calm, purposeful pace she always had.
She wasn’t heading toward the dorms.
She wasn’t heading toward the student parking lot either.
Carter frowned.
“Follow her,” he said while keeping his eyes on Maya.
Ethan looked at him like he had lost his mind.
“…Follow her?” Ethan repeated.
“I just want to see where she’s going.”
“Dude, that’s a terrible idea.”
“Come on.”
Ethan sighed dramatically before slowing the car.
“This is exactly how people end up in awkward situations,” Ethan muttered while turning onto the next street.
They followed from a distance, careful not to get too close.
Maya never looked back.
She crossed one intersection before continuing another block until she reached a familiar building.
Carter immediately recognized it.
St.
Anne’s Community Hospital.
He frowned even more deeply.
“What is she doing at a hospital?” Carter asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” Ethan answered while parking across the street.
Maya disappeared through the main entrance.
Carter stared at the building for several seconds before suddenly opening the passenger door.
“I’m going inside.”
Ethan grabbed his sleeve.
“Seriously?” Ethan asked.
“Leave her alone.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Carter.”
“I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
Ethan let go with an exhausted sigh.
“She’s not your girlfriend.”
“I know.”
“She’s not even your friend.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
Carter didn’t answer.
He simply closed the car door and crossed the street.
Inside the hospital, the atmosphere immediately changed.
Everything felt quieter.
Doctors walked quickly through the halls while nurses spoke softly to patients and families.
Carter looked around but couldn’t find Maya anywhere.
Finally, he approached the reception desk.
The woman behind it smiled politely.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m looking for Maya Lin,” Carter replied while rubbing the back of his neck.
“She came in a few minutes ago.”
Recognition crossed the woman’s face immediately.
“Oh, Maya?” she said with a warm smile.
“She volunteers here every evening after classes.”
Carter blinked.
“Every evening?”
“Almost every night,” the receptionist answered proudly.
“She’s wonderful with the patients. Everyone loves having her here.”
Before Carter could respond, he heard footsteps approaching.
He turned.
Maya walked down the hallway carrying a small box of supplies.
She had changed into light blue volunteer scrubs, and her hair was tied neatly into a ponytail.
She stopped the moment she saw him.
“Carter?” Maya asked while raising an eyebrow.
“What are you doing here?”
Carter smiled awkwardly.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I… saw you come in,” Carter admitted.
“I got a little worried.”
“Worried?” Maya repeated.
“You were walking toward a hospital.”
Maya sighed.
“Don’t get upset,” Carter said quickly while holding up both hands.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
“What I do in my free time isn’t your business,” Maya replied calmly while maintaining eye contact.
“I never said it was,” Carter answered quietly.
The silence between them lasted several seconds.
Finally, Maya adjusted the box she was holding.
“You should go home, Carter,” Maya said while softening her tone just a little.
“We have Professor Hale’s class early tomorrow morning, and he specifically said everyone needs to be there before the lecture starts.”
Carter nodded.
“Okay.”
Maya gave him one last look before turning around.
“Good night.”
She disappeared back into the hallway without another word.
Carter remained standing near the reception desk.
The receptionist smiled knowingly.
“She really is something special,” she said.
“…What time does her shift end?” he asked.
“Eleven o’clock.”
“Thanks.”
A few minutes later, Carter returned outside.
Ethan immediately rolled down the passenger window.
“Well?” Ethan asked.
“Go to the party.”
Ethan frowned.
“What?”
“I’m staying here.”
“Carter, are you serious?”
“I’ll catch up later.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You know Katie hates when people cancel at the last minute.”
“I know.”
“And you’re still staying?”
Carter nodded once.
“Yeah.”
Ethan sighed before shaking his head.
“I don’t understand you.”
“You don’t have to.”
After another moment, Ethan finally drove away, leaving Carter alone outside the hospital.
The next two hours passed surprisingly slowly.
He sat on a nearby bench, occasionally checking his phone, watching ambulances come and go while wondering why Maya spent every evening helping complete strangers.
At exactly eleven o’clock, the hospital’s front doors slid open.
Maya stepped outside beside the receptionist from earlier.
The older woman noticed Carter immediately and smiled.
“There he is,” she said while nudging Maya gently.
“Your boyfriend waited the entire evening for you. You definitely found yourself a good one.”
Maya’s eyes widened.
“What?” Maya exclaimed while looking horrified.
The receptionist laughed.
“Oh, my mistake,” she said with a wink before waving goodbye and walking toward the parking lot.
Maya slowly turned toward Carter.
“What are you still doing here?” Maya asked in disbelief.
Carter stood from the bench and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.
“Waiting.”
“…For two hours?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Carter shrugged.
“It’s late,” he said while looking down the quiet street.
“I figured you shouldn’t have to walk back to campus by yourself.”
Maya looked at him for several long seconds.
“You waited two hours just to walk me home?”
“It didn’t seem like a big deal.”
She didn’t know what to say.
For the first time since meeting Carter Vance, she couldn’t immediately decide whether he was incredibly thoughtful…
…or completely insane.