WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

7. First day of popularity all over again

Sunday passed in a blur for both Vanessa and Astra. It was a day of quiet reflection, each in their own space, thinking back to the intensity of the morning they had shared. Astra's thoughts were clear, she knew what she wanted and was willing to face whatever uncertainty or pain might come with it. She had felt something in Vanessa that made her believe it was worth the risk.

Vanessa, on the other hand, spent the day grappling with her emotions while finishing her unpacking. finally her new room was in order but her mind was still a mess and kept drifting back to Astra's touch, the warmth of her lips, and the way everything seemed to click when they were together. But she also remembered the fear that had rushed in when things got too real, the familiar impulse to keep her distance. She found herself caught in the middle, unsure of whether to let herself hope for something more or to guard her heart like she had before.

By the time Monday morning rolled around, the city was awake again, and both girls were back in the rhythm of university life.
Vanessa showers, and dresses up with some fancy white pants and a navy blue thigh shirt, that kind of felt old money style, and left her room, slinging her backpack over one shoulder and heading to her first class. She knew the campus was big, but she also understood that it was only a matter of time before she'd run into Astra again. And the thought both thrilled and terrified her.
As she walked into the classroom, she spotted her new  group—Luke, Amy, Cassy, Maya, and Simon—already gathered near their usual seats. They waved her over, and she joined them, offering a casual smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Morning, V," Luke greeted, nudging her playfully. "So, where did you disappear to at the end of the night, huh? Thought you were gonna stick around and make sure I didn't embarrass myself after those shots."
Vanessa shrugged, trying to keep her tone light. "I had a friend I ran into, so I bailed before it got too late. Didn't want to risk getting pulled over, you know? Better safe than sorry."
Luke raised an eyebrow, his expression amused. "Yeah, right. Safe is your middle name," he teased. "Speaking of, you might want to check out the rumor mill. People are saying you ditched Jack—after that whole kiss thing. Word is, you two were getting pretty cozy, and now everyone's wondering if you're a thing or what."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, letting out a small laugh, she loved having people talking about her, but that rumor sounded forced even to her. "Let them talk. It's not like it matters. Jack's a nice guy, but I wasn't exactly thinking about romance after all those drinks. It was just a kiss."
Amy smirked, giving her a knowing look. "Uh-huh, and yet, you vanished with a 'friend.' Was this friend maybe a little more interesting than Jack?"
Vanessa met Amy's gaze, choosing her words carefully. "Let's just say I met someone who seemed worth getting to know. But that's all. Nothing serious."

Cassy leaned in, curious. "Wait, wait—are you saying you ditched Jack for another fling? Damn, girl, you've been busy, and it's just your first week here. You're gonna make people crazy over you."
"Not a fling," Vanessa replied, a little too quickly. She caught herself, taking a breath before continuing. "It was... different. But honestly, it's not a big deal. People can think what they want. I'm used to it to be hones" she said with a little laugh escaping her mouth

The group exchanged looks, sensing there was more to the story but deciding not to push. They knew Vanessa wasn't one to open up easily, and they respected that. Instead, they shifted the conversation to lighter topics, talking about classes, assignments, and weekend plans.
As they chatted, Vanessa glanced around the bustling classroom, wondering if she will meet Astra outside during one of her breaks from the lectures. Her chest tightened at the thought, her conflicting emotions swirling again. She had been relieved to find that her first weeks at university had brought new friends, a sense of belonging that she hadn't expected, at least not this fast, it took her the whole semester to get used to her old university back in Milan. It was easier than she thought to settle into this new chapter, to meet new people and enjoy herself.