Hearts Across Halls

Chapter 5

It had been a couple of weeks since Elara first met Charlie, and in that short time, their paths had crossed often enough to form a casual friendship. His class was scheduled just before hers, giving them time for quick chats or waves in passing. They had even exchanged numbers, and Elara found herself confiding in Charlie about her university anxieties. He was easy to talk to—genuinely kind, with no hidden agenda. Elara appreciated that he never tried to push for anything romantic. She'd even mentioned Luca to him.

During those weeks, Luca and Elara had grown closer too. Their connection was undeniable, though they hadn't ventured beyond friendship. Their nights out together were a familiar routine—dancing, lingering looks, but always stopping just short of something more. Even so, Elara couldn't shake the feeling that she still didn't know much about him.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts.

"What are you doing this weekend?" Charlie had texted.

"Gonna visit my friend Soph at Willowbourne," Elara quickly replied.

"Aw, I was hoping you'd be free to go to the zoo!"

"The zoo? There's a zoo around here?"

"It's a short bus ride, but yeah. It's supposed to be good too."

"Well, I'm definitely up for the zoo some other time if you're free."

"Next weekend?"

"Next weekend it is."

Elara tucked her phone away, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and stepped into the hallway. She passed Cyrus coming in, their eyes briefly meeting before she looked away. His brooding presence wasn't worth dwelling on—Elara was learning to brush it off.

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"Fifty Jello shots?" Elara asked, incredulous.

"Fifty," Sophie confirmed with a grin.

"How many people are coming tonight?"

"Just the ten of us in these halls."

"Okay, that's not so bad."

"Yeah, except three or four don't drink or like Jello shots, so there's plenty for us."

"Oh my God, Sophie, that's too many!"

"Nonsense," Sophie laughed, placing the nearly-set Jello shots into the fridge.

Willowbourne's halls were a step up from Brookford's. The kitchens were bigger, there were multiple fridges, and every room had a double bed. The downside? Willowbourne was rural and harder to reach, but the university's amenities made up for it.

"Jaylon's bringing his friend Isaac tonight," Sophie said as they returned to her room to get ready. "They're both on the basketball team, and wait until you see him. He's 6'8" and gorgeous. Sadly, he has a girlfriend, but still... amazing to look at."

"What happened to you laying the groundwork with James?" Elara teased.

Sophie burst into laughter. "All you need to know is he's got a small..." She held up her little finger with a grimace.

Elara winced. "I'm sorry—for you and him."

They both laughed as they settled into Sophie's room. Unlike Elara's, which was next to the kitchen and constantly noisy, Sophie's was peaceful, tucked at the end of the hall.

"So, tell me about Luca," Sophie said, straightening her hair in front of the mirror.

"Ugh, there's not much to tell. I can't figure out if he's being mysterious on purpose or if that's just how he is."

"Have you slept with him yet?"

"No! Not even a kiss."

"Yikes."

"He seems like a player, but I've never seen him go home with anyone. He barely even talks to other girls."

Sophie gasped, dramatically pointing at Elara. "You're the chosen one!"

Elara rolled her eyes, but Sophie wasn't finished. "Wait, didn't you say he has a nickname for some other girl? Is something going on there?"

"Oh no, he calls her 'frog face.' He can't stand her. I'm pretty sure she's only into girls anyway."

"Fair play," Sophie said with a laugh.

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An hour into the party, the kitchen was alive with noise and laughter. Sophie had introduced Elara to her hall mates one by one. The dynamics weren't all that different from Elara's own: the loud one, the alcoholic, the quiet boy in the corner, the sporty one, the mother figure, and the rest, who were fairly normal.

Only a third of the Jello shots had been consumed, yet things were already getting rowdy.

A boy entered, followed by someone so tall Elara had to double-take. Wow, Sophie wasn't kidding, she thought, eyeing the gorgeous basketball player, Isaac.

"Time for Never Have I Ever!" someone shouted, and the group gathered around the table.

"Never have I ever had sex in a random bathtub in the halls," one girl declared, smirking at a couple across the table.

The boy laughed as he sipped his drink, his girlfriend following suit.

"Never have I ever been caught having sex," another boy added. More drinks were raised.

The questions grew bolder as the game went on, leaving Elara squirming in embarrassment. Everyone seemed to have a story—even tame ones—making her feel out of place. Sensing this, Sophie redirected the game with obvious, innocent questions so Elara could join in without discomfort.

Thirty minutes later, the Jello shots were gone, and the group made their way to the student bar. Inside, the air was thick and sweaty, but no one cared—it was cheap and lively.

A quiet boy from earlier approached Elara and offered to buy her a shot. She smiled, accepting it.

"Be careful with that one," Sophie whispered. "He has a new crush every week."

Elara hesitated. Suddenly, the shot didn't seem so appealing. She excused herself and danced away with Sophie, leaving the boy behind in the crowd.

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By 2 AM, the girls were back in Sophie's room. Sophie, drunk and queasy, passed out almost immediately. Elara, tipsy but wide awake, pulled out her phone. On impulse, she sent two texts—a simple "hey"—one to Luca and one to Charlie.

Charlie replied almost instantly. "Go to sleep, princess."

Elara smiled, his words warming her.

Luca's response followed shortly after. "Hey, what are you doing up so late?"

"Can't sleep—friend snoring. Tell me something about yourself," she typed back, her confidence bolstered by alcohol.

She stared at the screen, waiting.

Finally, a message appeared. "What do you want to know?"

But by then, Elara had already drifted off, her phone slipping from her hand.