Ellie Miller's POV
The Stanford campus had always seemed like a magical place to me, but now that I was officially here as a college student, I felt like every corner breathed possibilities. It was my first year, and although Lindsay, Sack, and Olivia had already spent some time living near the campus, I had just arrived. Excitement bubbled inside me as I waited with them in front of the main building. We had agreed to meet up to organize our new residence.
Olivia was the first to arrive, with a radiant smile that seemed to hide something. She stopped in front of us, placing her hands on her hips.
"Good news, team!" she announced, as if she were the host of a morning show. "After much effort, I've managed to get us assigned a residence on campus. For all four of us."
Sack let out an almost inaudible groan before covering his face with his hand.
"Please tell me you didn't bribe anyone this time," he said, looking at her distrustfully.
Olivia pretended to be offended, placing a hand over her heart as if she had received the greatest insult possible.
"Bribe? How little you know me, dear Sack! Don't call it a bribe. Call it… incentivizing. And maybe a little strategic pressure. I used our last names, of course. Grove, Steele, Hart… No one can say no to those names. We're basically royalty."
Lindsay shook her head, crossing her arms.
"Olivia, that's not right. You shouldn't use your influence like that. It's important to be fair to the other students."
Olivia interrupted her moral speech with a dramatic wave of her hand.
"Oh, please, Lindsay. Stop being so proper all the time. Just think about the benefits. Now we'll be much closer to campus, without having to make that long commute from outside. Plus, you and Sack make a lot of noise at night, and trust me, my poor ears can't take it anymore. I need mental peace. This is simply a practical solution."
I felt my cheeks flush as I listened to her speak like that. It was always uncomfortable when Olivia said such direct things. Although I tried to stay out of it, I couldn't help but timidly interject.
"I think… Olivia just wanted to help. Maybe she had good intentions," I murmured, trying to calm the atmosphere.
Olivia wrapped an arm around me, pulling me toward her.
"Exactly! Finally, someone understands my brilliant and altruistic genius. Thank you, Ellie."
Sack let out a resigned laugh.
"Altruistic, she says. Well, I guess there's no turning back now. Let's go see this modern residence you got with your… special skills."
We headed to the parking lot where Sack had left his car during the break. The drive to the residence was quiet but filled with jokes and sarcastic comments from Olivia about how "strategic" her intervention had been. When we arrived, I was impressed. The residence was modern, with large windows and a minimalist design that gave it an elegant feel.
As we climbed to the third floor, Olivia continued to proudly explain how she had managed to convince the university authorities.
"You see, it wasn't easy. I had to write several very persuasive emails. But in the end, the housing director understood that it was better to have three future world leaders and a revolutionary photographer under their roof. It was a win-win."
Lindsay rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smile.
"You'll never change, will you?"
"Change? Me? Never. I'm perfect just the way I am," Olivia replied with a mischievous smile.
We entered our new common space, which was spacious and bright. The rooms were strategically distributed, and each had enough privacy to make us feel comfortable. As the others began unpacking and arranging their belongings, I noticed that I had significantly fewer things than they did. My small suitcase contained only the essentials, nothing extravagant or expensive.
I decided to take the opportunity to explore more of the campus.
"Guys, I think I'll go grab a coffee," I announced timidly, pointing toward the café I had seen when we arrived. "I saw one that looked cozy. I'll catch up with you there in a few minutes."
Lindsay looked up from her suitcase and nodded with a kind smile.
"Sure, Ellie. We still have to finish unpacking everything here. We'll catch up with you soon."
Sack also nodded, though he was still busy organizing his books on a shelf.
"Don't worry, we won't take long."
Olivia, for her part, winked at me.
"Have fun, Ellie. Just make sure you don't get lost. This campus is huge, and we don't want our little star to disappear on the first day."
I smiled nervously and left the residence. Outside, the fresh air of the campus enveloped me, and I allowed myself to enjoy the feeling of freedom. I walked slowly toward the café, observing other students moving with energy. Everything seemed so vibrant, so full of life. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.
When I entered the café, I was surprised by how elegant it was. Though it looked simple from the outside, inside everything appeared expensive and sophisticated. Polished wooden tables, designer chairs, and a coffee bar that looked like it came straight out of a magazine. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it had been a good idea to come here, but I was already inside. I searched my pocket and pulled out some crumpled bills and coins. Doing quick calculations, I realized I barely had enough to buy a basic coffee.
I approached the counter and began carefully counting my money to pay. Behind me, a blonde guy dressed elegantly let out an exasperated sigh.
"Could you hurry up?" he said in an arrogant tone. "I'm sure you have time to practice math later."
I lowered my gaze, feeling embarrassed.
"I'm sorry…" I murmured, trying to finish as quickly as possible.
Finally, I paid and waited for my coffee, avoiding looking at the guy behind me. However, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him curse under his breath and mutter something about forgetting his wallet in his residence. I stood still for a moment, holding the hot cup of coffee they had just handed me. I looked at the steaming liquid and then at the guy, who seemed frustrated and visibly uncomfortable.
Without thinking too much, I turned to him and timidly extended the coffee.
"Here… I think you need it more than I do," I said softly, giving him a shy but sincere smile.
The guy looked at me, bewildered, as if he couldn't believe what was happening. He slowly took the coffee, saying nothing, while I felt my cheeks flush.
At that moment, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a message from Lindsay:
"Change of plans. Olivia decided it would be better to go to a nearby restaurant. We'll wait for you outside in the car."
I looked up at the guy, who was still holding the coffee I had given him.
"I hope you enjoy it," I said softly before turning to leave.
Just as I was about to cross the door, I heard his voice.
"Wait… what's your name?"
I turned toward him, surprised, and smiled.
"Ellie," I replied before leaving for good.
Outside the café, Sack's car was already waiting. Lindsay was sitting in the passenger seat, waving at me with a smile, while Olivia made exaggerated gestures from the backseat.
I got into the car, feeling a strange mix of shyness and satisfaction.