The Space Between

Chapter 6: Dramatic unfolding

As the class ended, Graham and I packed up our things and headed towards the door. Just as we were about to leave, Marcus stopped us. “Hey, Sophia, I didn’t know you’d be paired with Graham. That’s great!” He extended a friendly hand to Graham, who shook it with a nod. “Marcus, this is Graham. Graham, Marcus.”

Mateo, who had been watching from a distance, gave us a brief, unreadable look before turning and walking away. I noticed his cold demeanor and turned to Marcus. “Is there something wrong with Mateo? He seemed a bit off. Did I do something to annoy him?”

Marcus shrugged nonchalantly. “Nah, he’s probably just having a rough day. Nothing to worry about.” With that, he waved us off and headed in the opposite direction.

Graham and I made our way to the café to meet Emma. We ordered food and chatted about our days, but the conversation was soon interrupted by a dramatic display at the next table. As Graham, Emma, and I were deep in conversation, discussing our class and the upcoming project, I noticed Marcus sitting at another table, engrossed in his meal. The café’s bustling atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by a dramatic entrance. Bianca walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

She was undeniably stunning—her striking beauty and confident stride made her stand out. I couldn’t help but observe her closely, imagining what kind of person she was. Her presence seemed to radiate a mix of charm and authority. Bianca made a beeline for Mateo, who was at the counter. As she approached, her excitement was palpable. She greeted him with an enthusiastic hug and a kiss, and the surrounding students couldn’t help but gawk at the scene.

“Wow, that’s Bianca?” Emma said, her eyes widening in recognition. “She’s really something.”

Graham nodded, glancing over at Mateo. “I guess she’s the one he was talking about. Quite the entrance, huh?”

As Mateo and Bianca shared their moment, Mateo appeared to be both pleased and slightly uncomfortable. He greeted her with a smile, but there was a trace of annoyance in his eyes. Emma turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like Mateo’s been having quite the day.”

While the PDA continued, Ethan, sitting quietly with us, seemed to watch Sofia with an intense curiosity. “Why does Ethan keep staring at me?” I asked Emma, a bit unnerved.

Emma raised an eyebrow and teased, “Maybe he likes you. Who knows?”

I laughed and nudged her playfully. “Or maybe you and Marcus are hiding something!” Emma rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.

After finishing our meal, we wrapped up our conversation, feeling grateful for the start of college and the new experiences it would bring. As we left the café, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. I glanced back and saw Ethan still watching us from the table, lost in thought. I wondered why he was so focused on our group, and what it meant for the days ahead.