In the Shadows of Yesterday

Chapter 6

Ava sat in the back row of her lecture hall, her head propped up on her hand as the professor droned on about pharmacology. She was usually a diligent student, but today her mind kept wandering. Her notes were half-hearted scribbles, and the words on the slides seemed to blur together. She glanced around the room, noticing a few of her classmates checking their phones, and for a moment, she considered doing the same.

Boredom gnawed at her. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about her lunch with Bryson. It had gone better than she had expected, and she couldn't shake the smile that crept onto her face whenever she thought about their easy conversation and how relaxed she had felt with him. It had been a while since she'd clicked with someone like that.

Her hand drifted toward her phone, sitting silently on the desk. She bit her lip, debating. Should I text him? They had only met twice, and though she wanted to keep the connection going, she didn't want to seem too forward. A simple "I had a great time" text wouldn't hurt, right?

Before she could overthink it any longer, she unlocked her phone and typed out a quick message:

Ava: "Hey! Just wanted to say I had a great time yesterday. Hope you're settling in okay."

She hovered over the send button, hesitating for a second. Her thumb tapped the screen, and the message was gone. Ava quickly locked her phone and tucked it into her bag, her heart racing just a little. She glanced back at the lecture slides, but her focus was completely shot now.

Should I have said more? Should I have asked him to dinner?

The idea of asking him out floated in the back of her mind. It would be a nice way to see him again and move things forward, but she wasn't sure if that would come off as too eager.

One step at a time, she thought, trying to reassure herself. If he's interested, we'll see where things go.

Meanwhile, Bryson sat in a small office on the edge of town, discussing lease terms with a landlord. The room was dimly lit, the scent of old paperwork filling the air as the landlord flipped through contracts.

"I'll be honest with you," the landlord said, adjusting his glasses. "Short-term leases aren't common around here. Most people want at least a year, but since you're willing to pay a little extra, I'm sure we can work something out."

Bryson nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Eight months works for me. I'll be deploying again after that, so I don't need anything long-term."

The landlord gave him a thoughtful look, then scribbled some notes on the paperwork. "Well, I can get you the place for eight months, but it'll come with a premium. It's a decent spot—quiet, clean, close to town. If you're good with the terms, we can sign today."

"That sounds perfect," Bryson replied. "I'll pay whatever you need for the shorter lease."

As the landlord shuffled through the papers, Bryson's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing down at the screen.

Ava: "Hey! Just wanted to say I had a great time yesterday. Hope you're settling in okay."

A smile spread across his face as he read the message. He hadn't expected to hear from her so soon, but it was a pleasant surprise. He didn't often feel this way—excited, hopeful—especially with how complicated his life tended to be. But Ava made things feel simple, even if only for a brief moment.

"Everything good?" the landlord asked, noticing the shift in Bryson's demeanor.

Bryson quickly pocketed the phone, nodding. "Yeah, just got a message. Let's get these signed."

They went over the final details, and Bryson signed the lease, officially locking in his short-term stay. Eight months would give him time to prepare for his deployment and continue his language training at the university, but more than that, it gave him a reason to stay in town for a while—and now, Ava was on his mind as part of that reason.

After shaking hands with the landlord and finalizing the deal, Bryson stepped outside into the fresh air. The sun was warm on his face, and for the first time in a long while, things seemed to be falling into place. He pulled out his phone again and typed a reply:

Bryson: "Hey, Ava. I had a great time too. Thanks for reaching out. Settling in pretty well so far. Just signed a lease for an apartment. I'm from here, so I know the town, but it's been a while. How's your day going?"

He hit send, wondering what she'd say. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to connect with someone in a meaningful way, especially with his life being so transient and unpredictable. But something about Ava made him want to take that chance, even if it was just for the time he had left before deployment.

Back in class, Ava's phone buzzed, and she discreetly checked it under the desk. Seeing Bryson's reply made her heart skip a beat.

Bryson: "Hey, Ava. I had a great time too. Thanks for reaching out. Settling in pretty well so far. Just signed a lease for an apartment. I'm from here, so I know the town, but it's been a while. How's your day going?"

She smiled, her mood instantly lifting. So he's familiar with the town. That was good news. Maybe she could bring up dinner after all.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she typed back:

Ava: "Glad to hear! My day's been a bit dull, to be honest. Stuck in a boring lecture right now. Any plans for later?"

She sent the message and sat back, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Part of her wanted to suggest dinner, but she didn't want to rush things. If they kept texting, maybe the opportunity would naturally come up.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed again.

Bryson: "No big plans. Was thinking about seeing what's changed around town. Maybe check out some new places."

Ava grinned. Perfect. This was her chance.

Ava: "I've got a few ideas. How about we grab dinner later? I can show you what's new."

Her heart raced as she hit send, waiting for his response. It felt bold, but at the same time, she knew she wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by. She liked him, and the only way to see where this could go was to take the next step.

Moments later, her phone lit up with Bryson's reply:

Bryson: "Dinner sounds great. I'd love to see what's new around here. Let me know when and where."

Ava felt a surge of excitement, her stomach fluttering with anticipation. She quickly replied, suggesting a time and place, and then tucked her phone away, barely able to focus on the lecture for the rest of the class. Tonight was going to be interesting.