Hearts on the field

First Day

The California sun was already hanging high, casting a golden glow over the sprawling campus of Pacific University. The air buzzed with excitement as students, both new and returning, streamed across the quad, eager for the start of the new school year. Palm trees swayed lazily in the breeze, and the sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, mixing with the distant rumble of skateboard wheels on concrete.

Emily Taylor adjusted her oversized Pacific University sweater, which draped loosely over her gym shorts. It was one of those mornings where she didn't want to think too hard about what to wear, but the sweater—emblazoned with the school's logo—felt right. It was the first day of college, and she wanted to wear her pride on her sleeve, even if the sleeves were slightly too long. She pulled her hair into a casual ponytail and slipped on her favorite pair of white sneakers.

The campus was alive with energy as students moved between the massive glass-fronted library, outdoor study areas, and dorms that lined the edges of the lush quad. Emily loved the vibrant feel of the place—the mix of new beginnings and the history etched into the campus. This was the start of a new chapter, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, tinged with the inevitable nervousness that came with starting something new.

As she walked towards her first class, her phone buzzed with a notification.

**Cheer Practice – 4 PM**
**Don't be late! Coach Williams**

Emily smiled to herself. She hadn't even officially met the team yet, but it felt good to already be part of something. She had been dreaming about this moment for years—leading her college's cheer squad, not just under the Friday night lights but in front of packed stadiums. This was her shot, her stage, and nothing was going to get in her way.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a group of guys rushing past, tossing a football between them. One of them, tall and broad-shouldered, broke into a run to catch a long pass. As he sprinted, he collided with a student who had stepped out of the coffee shop, causing an explosion of books and papers to rain down.

"Sorry!" the runner called, turning around quickly. "Didn't see you there!"

Emily couldn't help but chuckle as the guy who had thrown the pass jogged over to help clean up the mess. His backwards cap and Pacific football jersey were a dead giveaway—another member of the football team, probably another freshman. She made a mental note to get used to this kind of chaos; football players seemed to be everywhere here.

As she passed by the scene, she noticed one of the guys who hadn't been involved in the spill. He stood off to the side, arms crossed, surveying the situation with a bemused smile. He was tall—really tall—with sun-kissed brown hair that looked like it had seen plenty of days at the beach. His Pacific U. sweatshirt clung to him just enough to show the muscles underneath, but it was his relaxed, confident demeanor that made him stand out from the others.

As if sensing her glance, he looked up and caught her eye. For a brief second, neither of them moved, just a shared moment in the chaos of the busy quad.

"Not the best way to start the day," he said, his voice cutting through the noise as he nodded toward the spilled books.

Emily smiled. "Could be worse. At least no one's coffee was involved."

He laughed, a warm, easy sound that made her instantly relax. "True. Coffee casualties are serious business around here."

Before either of them could say more, one of the guys shouted to him. "Yo, Jake! We gotta move! Coach is waiting!"

Jake. So he was a football player too.

With a quick nod in her direction, Jake jogged off with the rest of the group, leaving Emily standing there, momentarily lost in thought