𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐒

Rescue

Tate's POV:

Everything is on its peak — the finals, event prep, lab submissions, lab assignments, lab projects, class quizzes, and assignments — we're constantly juggling one task after another. Even while doing stuff for the event, we try to finish our assignments in between and submit them just so we don't fall behind in classes. But honestly, we spend more time outside classrooms than inside. We only show up for important lectures like Linear Algebra, Physics, and Programming. It's all so easy now — even the professor teaches like a snail, so slow it's almost soothing and boring at the same time.

On Saturday, I'm at Mia's house, struggling with our lab project — a "Smoke Detector." The guy in the YouTube tutorial is doing it so easily, while Mia and I can't even connect the wires right. After hours of fumbling, munching snacks, yapping, and playing music in the background, we give up and decide to make our project report instead. It's due tomorrow anyway, alongside the actual project.

The next morning, I'm rushing through everything. I'm not a morning person — I hate mornings, especially winter ones. They make me feel slow and heavy, like I just want to rot in bed forever. Slapping my face lightly to wake up, I drag myself out of bed, freshen up, and wear proper clothes. Our group decided to reach early today.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen — breaking news: Because of the event, all of us started hanging out more often. Tarren's group — Jude, Ethan, Dean, Liam, and Rowan — and ours sort of merged into a single massive group of nine. Ethan's friend drops by sometimes too. Now we're always seen together, and apparently, people are noticing. Some are jealous, and some seniors? Oh God They hate it. Especially some guys who can't stand that Mia and I are the only girls in a group of seven boys. Some of them have even passed disgusting comments — and guess what? Most of them are the same guys we've rejected.

Mia's happy with Asher now. They reconciled on their anniversary — the day they got into a relationship last year. Love wins, I guess, over all boundaries. They've decided they'll become independent first, then talk to their parents. It's their choice. Love has no bounds — apparently, it also has no interest in my life. No, I'm not jealous of Mia. In fact, even before she knew Asher had feelings for her, I knew. We were a group of four — it wasn't that hard to tell.

"Tate, I'll go get some food from the cafeteria. Do you need anything?" Mia shouts from across the room.

Right now, we're all gathered in a classroom, setting up our projects — helping each other, fixing last-minute things. It's that odd hour on campus: quiet, low light slipping through the windows, almost eerie. All classes are off right now. The whole staff is on lunch and prayer break, so the buildings are vacant. The corridors are silent, the lights flicker dimly, and the only sounds are our group talking and the occasional footsteps of guards walking outside. It's like we've got the whole university to ourselves — weirdly peaceful but a little unsettling too.

"No, you go. I'll stay. I don't want anything," I shout back at her.

"Tate, but where will you stay? They'll start locking the classrooms soon — we have to go get stuff printed," Liam says, walking in after wrapping things up.

I pause. I don't know what to say. Will I just... stay here alone with all our project equipment?

"Tate, if you stay with the group projects, they won't lock it. And I'll come back super fast from the cafeteria, don't worry!!" Mia assures me quickly, cutting in before I could answer Liam.

But I freeze — her words pull me back to a memory. She wants me to stay here... alone... in this room. After what happened last time? I don't know. Universities don't really have any system for student safety during these silent hours. You're just... on your own.