The Space Between

Chapter 11: Freshers' Week

Freshers' Week had arrived, and the campus buzzed with excitement. Ethan and I decided to attend most of the events together, sort of like a couple, though not officially. We were just two friends hanging out, enjoying the chaos and energy that the week promised. There were flat parties, pub crawls, and all sorts of competitions, and it felt good to be caught up in the whirlwind of it all.

Ethan was great company-always making sure I was comfortable, especially when my anxiety tried to creep in. He was patient and kind, and I appreciated having him by my side. But every now and then, my mind would drift to Matteo. I couldn't help but wonder how he was doing. I remembered the way he looked when I last saw him, luggage in tow, leaving campus in a hurry. He had mentioned personal issues and taking a break from Bianca, but it still felt abrupt. I found myself hoping he was okay, but without his number, there wasn't much I could do. I considered asking Ethan, but the thought of bringing Matteo up felt complicated, especially when Ethan was right there, making an effort to keep me distracted and happy.

I watched as Emma and Marcus navigated the crowd with ease. They were already a couple, and it showed in the way they moved together, like two people who had known each other for ages. Their smiles were infectious, and it made me happy to see them so content. We spent most of our time as a group-me, Ethan, Emma, and Marcus-diving into the festivities with all the enthusiasm of freshmen ready to make the most of every moment.

Between attending dance-offs, cheering for Emma as she gracefully outshined everyone on the floor, and sampling a ridiculous amount of food-from fried lotus roots to onion rings, pizzas, and pastas-we filled our days with laughter and new memories. We took endless photos, capturing every silly pose and spontaneous moment, and plastered them all over social media. Emma and Marcus were even crowned the cutest couple of the freshers, and the four of us couldn't stop teasing them about their newfound title.

Still, even in the midst of all this fun, Matteo lingered in the back of my mind. It was strange-I barely knew him, yet I found myself thinking about him more than I wanted to admit. I wondered if he had seen our posts, and if he missed being part of the group. Ethan was amazing, always knowing when to make me laugh or pull me into a conversation to keep my mind off things. But there was something about Matteo's quiet intensity that I couldn't quite shake. I shook my head, trying to focus on the present. Ethan was right here, making an effort for me. I needed to be present for him, too.

Sophia couldn't help but notice Bianca parading around campus with a new guy. It didn't take long for Sophia to recognize him as Ryan Thompson, Matteo's arch-nemesis from the football league-a rival who never missed a chance to stir up trouble. Bianca seemed utterly unbothered by her recent breakup with Matteo; she was all over Ryan, kissing him and laughing loudly, as if Matteo never existed. It was a stark contrast to the Matteo she remembered-quiet, burdened, trying to navigate through his issues with her.

Sophia felt a pang of sympathy for Matteo. She couldn't imagine how it would feel for him to see Bianca moving on so quickly, especially with someone like Ryan, who was practically his enemy. Matteo had done so much to keep things together with Bianca, and yet here she was, acting like their relationship was just a minor inconvenience she'd easily brushed off. Sophia's heart ached for Matteo, knowing he was probably struggling with all this in silence. She realized then that Matteo had made the right decision by choosing to go home and focus on his own mental peace, rather than staying entangled in Bianca's messy games. In that moment, she couldn't help but think that Bianca was nothing more than a self-centered bitch.

Ethan, always perceptive, noticed the scene as well. He pulled out his phone and snapped a few pictures of Bianca with Ryan, capturing their shameless display affection. He sent them to Matteo with a quick text, explaining what was happening. Sophia watched the whole thing unfold, feeling a mix of anger and pity. Matteo had tried so hard to be there for Bianca, and now she was rubbing salt into the wound with someone she knew Matteo despised.

I turned away, trying to shake off the image of Bianca and Ryan, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Matteo. Why am I even thinking about him? It's not like we're close or anything-just a few conversations and awkward run-ins. Still, I couldn't help but wonder how he's feeling right now, seeing Bianca flaunt her new thing with Ryan.

It makes no sense. I have Ethan. He's been so good to me, helping me through my anxiety, always there when I need someone. I should be thinking about him, not Matteo. But here I am, wondering if Matteo's okay, if he's hurting, and why it bothers me so much. Maybe I'm overthinking it-maybe it's just empathy. But I can't help feeling like there's something more, and that thought scares me. Ethan deserves my honesty, but I can't shake Matteo from my mind. Why is this so complicated?