Lupine Echoes

Chapter 6: Fractured Identity

Adam sat at his workstation in the Lightcrest Division of the Iron Phalanx, staring at the clock on the wall. It was 4:15 PM on a Friday, and the seconds seemed to drag by with excruciating slowness. The second hand appeared to taunt him, each tick an indicator of how interminable the workday was. The light from his desk lamp bathed his papers and computer screen in an orange hue, but none of it could quell the gnawing boredom he felt. The office was quiet, save for the sporadic whir of the air conditioning, which seemed to add to the oppressive sense of waiting.

He glanced at the small, frost-covered cube on his desk, where the Wild Lupine lay trapped in a crystal-clear prison. Its purple petals, preserved in an ethereal stillness, seemed to defy time. It had been two months since he'd left D.C., and now, amidst the rhythm of his routine, a subtle but persistent sense of longing tugged at him. He missed not just the city but also a certain silver-haired boy with a knack for both cheeky attitude and disarming shyness. Adam would never voice it aloud, but Jaden's presence had left a mark. The memory of his bright, hopeful eyes and that smile that could slice through the gloom was more poignant than he had anticipated.

Adam watched as the ice around the flower began to melt, his fingers tracing idle patterns on the surface. Each thaw and refreeze of the cube seemed to echo his own conflicting emotions. Though he couldn't quite explain why he chose to keep the flower alive encased in ice, its striking tint was a constant reminder of the boy from Washington, D.C.

Dawn Dashiell, his co-worker and friend, popped her head over the partition separating their workstations. Her red hair, styled into a high ponytail with bangs framing her face, shone fiery sunrise shades against her porcelain skin and rich crimson lips.

"What is that?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement. "You've been looking at it for weeks."

Adam diverted his stare from the cube while trying to sound dismissive. "Nothing. Just some dumb flower."

Dawn's emerald eyes twinkled with fascination, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Aww, come on! Did Izzy give that to you? I bet she did, didn't she?"

"No way, we ended things last semester. I've told you already."

Dawn's lips formed a small "o" of surprise, but her nose wrinkled with even more curiosity. "Oh, really? But you guys were, like, super cute together! I was just hoping you got back together or something."

Adam let out a slow sigh, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at her briefly before looking away again. "Yeah, whatever."

"Seriously, who gave that to you?" Dawn leaned in closer, her ponytail swishing slightly.

Adam's jaw tightened, his fingers drumming impatiently on the desk. He avoided her gaze, concentrating intently on his screen. "It's just a flower, Dawn. Nothing special."

Dawn's eyes narrowed with playful suspicion. "Uh-huh. Sure. But you've been staring at it for ages! There's got to be a story there. Come on, spill!"

At that moment, Chase Sherwood sauntered into the office, freshly showered and embodying his signature laid-back style. He wore a royal blue Lightcrest University football t-shirt that was tailored to his athletic build and a pair of well-worn jeans. The college football season had just kicked off, and Chase had obviously come straight from the field. His damp hair was styled into a modern slicked-back look, adding to his relaxed, post-game appearance.

"If you two have time to chat," Chase said, his voice carrying a hint of playful authority, "you better finish all the reports for HQ."

Adam shot him a sidelong glance. "Look who's talking. I've been chained to this desk all day while you're out tossing the pigskin."