The next morning, Ariana woke to the sound of someone singing terribly.
She groaned, pulling her pillow over her head.
“I’m telling you,” Maya’s cheerful voice echoed through the dorm room, “college is all about positive energy!”
“It is seven in the morning,” Ariana mumbled.
“Positive energy doesn’t exist before eight.”
Maya laughed.
“Come on!
It’s Orientation Day.”
Ariana slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes.
Sunlight poured through the dorm window, filling the room with a warm golden glow.
Students hurried across the courtyard below, backpacks bouncing as they raced toward their first events.
Everything felt…new.
A little scary.
A little exciting.
She took a deep breath.
This was really happening.
After getting ready, the two girls walked toward the Student Center.
The campus buzzed with excitement.
Colorful booths lined the pathways, music played from outdoor speakers, and student volunteers handed out maps, snacks, and university merchandise.
“I love this already!” Maya exclaimed.
Ariana smiled.
“You’ve been here for exactly twelve minutes.”
“And they’re the best twelve minutes of my life.”
Ariana laughed.
Maybe college wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Until a loud cheer erupted from the crowd.
Students rushed toward the main stage.
“What’s happening?” Ariana asked.
Maya grabbed the arm of a passing student.
“Why’s everyone running?”
“The Campus Ambassadors are giving the welcome speech!” the student answered excitedly.
“Especially Ethan Carter.”
Ariana froze.
Ethan Carter.
Of course.
Maya looked at Ariana.
“You know who he is?”
“We…sort of met yesterday.”
“You WHAT?”
Before Ariana could explain, the crowd pushed them forward until they stood near the stage.
A group of students wearing navy ambassador jackets walked onto the platform.
Then he appeared.
Ethan Carter.
The crowd immediately erupted into applause.
He looked effortlessly confident, greeting students with an easy smile that made everyone smile back.
“So that’s Ethan,” Maya whispered.
“I’ve heard professors love him, seniors respect him, freshmen admire him…”
“…and half the university has a crush on him.”
Ariana raised an eyebrow.
“Seriously?”
“Very seriously.”
Ariana looked back at the stage.
He didn’t seem arrogant.
Just…comfortable.
Like this campus was his second home.
One by one, the ambassadors introduced themselves.
When Ethan stepped toward the microphone, the cheers grew louder.
“Welcome to Northfield University,” he began.
His voice was calm and warm.
“I know today feels overwhelming.
New classes, new faces, new expectations.”
Ariana found herself listening carefully.
“A few years ago,” Ethan continued, “I stood exactly where you are now.
I thought I had to be perfect from the very beginning.”
He smiled softly.
“I was wrong.”
The crowd grew quiet.
“College isn’t about pretending you have everything figured out.”
“It’s about learning.”
“Making mistakes.”
“Meeting people who change your life.”
“And finding the courage to become the person you’re meant to be.”
The audience applauded loudly.
Even Ariana couldn’t help smiling.
Maybe being the “golden boy” wasn’t just about popularity.
Maybe people admired him for a reason.
After the ceremony ended, students scattered across campus.
Maya dragged Ariana from booth to booth.
Photography Club.
Drama Society.
Dance Crew.
Volunteer Club.
Robotics Society.
Ariana stopped.
The Robotics Society booth displayed small robots moving across miniature obstacle courses.
Her eyes sparkled.
“This is amazing…”
A senior noticed her interest.
“Thinking about joining?”
“Maybe.”
“We build competition robots every semester.”
Ariana smiled.
“I’ll definitely think about it.”
As she picked up one of the brochures, someone spoke behind her.
“I had a feeling I’d find you here.”
She turned.
Ethan.
Again.
Her heart skipped before she quickly composed herself.
“Do you always appear out of nowhere?”
He chuckled.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
She folded her arms.
“I’m starting to think you’re following me.”
“I promise this campus isn’t that small.”
Maya looked between them with wide eyes.
“So…”
“You two actually know each other?”
“Barely,” Ariana answered.
“We’ve officially met twice,” Ethan corrected.
“Three times if you count the coffee attack.”
She sighed dramatically.
“Are you ever going to let that go?”
“No.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I was hoping.”
Maya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
A volunteer called Ethan’s name from across the lawn.
“We need you over here!”
He nodded before looking back at Ariana.
“Looks like duty calls.”
He hesitated for a second.
“By the way…”
“I liked your question yesterday.”
She blinked.
“What question?”
“When you asked if I knew your name.”
He smiled.
“It was adorable.”
Her eyes widened.
“I was embarrassed!”
“I know.”
“That’s why it was adorable.”
Before she could think of a comeback, he walked away.
Ariana stared after him.
Maya slowly turned toward her.
“…He’s flirting with you.”
“What?”
“He is.”
“He absolutely is.”
“No, he’s just being nice.”
Maya crossed her arms.
“Ariana.”
“What?”
“I’ve watched enough romance dramas to know where this is going.”
Ariana laughed.
“This isn’t a drama.”
Maya grinned.
“We’ll see.”
Neither of them noticed the girl standing several feet away.
She had watched the entire conversation.
Her expression hardened as Ethan disappeared into the crowd.
“So…”
she whispered quietly,
“That’s the new girl.”
The corners of her lips curled into a smile that wasn’t friendly.
“This should be interesting.”
Far across the campus, Ethan glanced back once.
He spotted Ariana laughing with Maya.
Without realizing it, he smiled to himself.
His best friend, Noah, noticed immediately.
“What are you smiling about?”
Ethan blinked.
“Nothing.”
“You’ve been looking at that freshman since yesterday.”
“I have not.”
“You literally looked back.”
Ethan sighed.
“She’s…different.”
Noah smirked.
“Uh-oh.”
“What?”
“The golden boy is interested.”
Ethan laughed, shaking his head.
“Don’t start.”
But even as they walked away, he found himself wondering if he’d run into Ariana again.
Somehow…
He had a feeling he would.
And neither of them knew that the first page of their story had only just begun.