The remainder of Wednesday passed just as quickly.
Philosophy led naturally into History.
More notes were taken.
More questions were asked.
More reading was assigned.
By the time the final lecture ended that afternoon, Vivienne had filled another notebook with pages of notes.
As she adjusted the leather satchel hanging from her shoulder, she could have sworn it weighed twice as much as it had that morning.
"Do professors here feed on homework?" she muttered.
Claire laughed as they walked across the courtyard.
"I think they feed on students’ tears."
Vivienne sighed dramatically.
"I’ve written more this week than I did during my final year of high school."
"I somehow doubt that."
"...Fine."
"It only feels that way."
The two girls laughed together before making their way back to the dormitory.
Thursday settled into a rhythm that already felt surprisingly familiar.
Governance.
Mathematics.
Biology.
Geography.
The frantic uncertainty of the first few days had quietly disappeared.
Vivienne no longer needed to unfold the campus map every time she left a classroom.
She already knew which paths connected the Foundation Building to the Science Wing, and which shortcut saved nearly five minutes on the walk back to the Humanities Building.
Even the lecture halls were beginning to feel familiar.
By the time the final bell rang that afternoon, she stretched her arms the moment she stepped outside.
"...I survived."
Claire laughed.
"Barely."
"I think I’m finally getting used to this place."
"I told you that you would."
The afternoon sun cast a warm glow across the stone buildings as they walked back toward the dormitory.
Waiting in the common lounge were Amelia and Eleanor, each holding a copy of the university activities handbook.
Amelia looked up the moment the two entered.
"There you are!"
"We’ve been waiting for you."
Claire smiled knowingly.
"The club handbook?"
Amelia nodded enthusiastically.
"We have to submit our selections tomorrow morning."
Eleanor closed her copy.
"I’ve already decided."
"You have?" Claire asked.
Eleanor nodded.
"Archery."
"It suits you," Amelia said immediately.
"My father made all of us learn when we were children."
"So I thought I’d continue."
Claire looked down at her own handbook.
"I think I’ll join the Orchestra."
Vivienne looked at her in surprise.
"You play?"
Claire smiled sheepishly.
"The violin."
"My mother insisted I learn."
"I complained for years."
"...Now I’m glad she never listened."
Amelia let out a dramatic sigh.
"I’m still undecided."
"There are too many choices."
"You’ll decide eventually," Eleanor said.
"I hope so."
Then...
Three pairs of eyes turned toward Vivienne.
"What about you?" Claire asked.
Vivienne lowered her gaze to the handbook resting on her lap.
For the past few days...
She had barely thought about anything beyond surviving St. Albion.
Lecture after lecture.
Homework after homework.
By the time she returned to the dormitory each evening...
All she wanted to do was shower, finish her assignments, and collapse into bed.
Somewhere amidst all of that...
Anthony Ashford had quietly slipped to the back of her mind.
Not because she’d forgotten him.
But because university simply hadn’t given her the chance to think about anything else.
Now, however...
Tomorrow was Friday.
The first day students would report to their chosen activities.
And for the first time since Monday...
She finally had the opportunity to decide how she was going to see Anthony again.
Her fingers slowly turned the pages until they reached the list of physical activities.
Swimming.
Archery.
Fencing.
Polo.
Her eyes lingered on the final option.
Different lecture sections.
Different schedules.
Different responsibilities.
If things continued this way...
She might go weeks without seeing Anthony.
Vivienne quietly closed the handbook.
"I think..."
"I’m joining the Polo Club."
Silence.
Amelia blinked.
"...Polo?"
Claire looked at her in surprise.
"I thought you said horses were terrifying."
Vivienne froze.
...
Right.
She had.
"...Well..."
She cleared her throat, trying to sound far more confident than she actually felt.
"I’ve been thinking."
"University is supposed to be about trying new things."
"If I never step outside my comfort zone..."
"I’ll probably regret it."
Eleanor nodded thoughtfully.
"That’s a reasonable way of looking at it."
Claire smiled.
"I wasn’t expecting that answer."
"Neither was I," Amelia admitted.
"I honestly thought you’d choose Swimming."
Vivienne laughed awkwardly.
"...Surprise?"
Inside...
Her thoughts were considerably less composed.
Anthony Ashford...
You’re absolutely worth getting trampled by a horse.
Now let’s just hope the horse takes it easy on me.
The mental image nearly made her laugh.
Still...
This was the only realistic opportunity she had.
Joining the Student Council was out of the question.
She neither possessed the qualifications nor wanted the responsibility.
Their lecture schedules rarely overlapped.
Polo...
At least she knew Anthony would be there.
Even if she had to learn from scratch...
It was worth the risk.
Claire interrupted her thoughts.
"Then what about your academic organization?"
Vivienne blinked.
"..."
"...Academic organization?"
Claire nodded.
"We have to choose one of each."
A long silence followed.
Vivienne slowly reopened the handbook.
Right.
She had become so focused on choosing a physical activity...
That she had completely forgotten there was a second selection.
Amelia burst into laughter.
"You were so determined to choose Polo..."
"You forgot there were two forms to fill out."
Vivienne covered her face with one hand.
"...Please."
"Let’s pretend that never happened."
Claire laughed.
"I don’t think we can."
Even Eleanor’s lips curved into a small smile.
As the conversation drifted toward debating societies, literary circles, volunteer organizations, music clubs, and student publications, Vivienne quietly scanned the remaining pages of the handbook.
One decision had finally been made.
Now...
She had one more to go.