Hearts Across Halls

Chapter 12

Elara stepped into the bustling café, the warm air filled with the comforting scent of baked goods and rich cocoa. She made her way to the counter, glancing at the chalkboard menu before ordering a hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and little marshmallows.

"Hey, Elara!" Charlie waved from a corner table, his enthusiasm cutting through the noise of the café.

"Charlie!" she called back, her mood lifting as she joined him. He pushed a plate of cookies toward her, the perfect accompaniment to her drink.

"Thought you might need a sugar boost," he said with a grin. "You look like you've had a long week."

She accepted a cookie with a smile, grateful for his thoughtful gesture. "You know me too well. Hot chocolate and cookies are the ultimate pick-me-up."

"So, what's the plan for today? I thought we could just stroll around uni, maybe check out that new art exhibit they put up in the student center," Charlie suggested, leaning forward with interest.

"Sounds great! I've been meaning to see it," Elara replied, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. The rich flavours warmed her from the inside out, easing the remnants of stress from her week.

As they chatted about classes and upcoming deadlines, Elara felt a sense of ease settle over her. They exchanged lighthearted banter, teasing each other about their study habits and favourite lecturers. Charlie's easy laughter was infectious, and Elara found herself forgetting the chaos that had been swirling in her mind.

As their conversation flowed, Elara felt grateful for the moment. Charlie had a knack for making her feel light, and she appreciated the comfort of their friendship. She noticed the way he seemed to carefully navigate their banter, avoiding any mention of deeper feelings, and she couldn't help but admire his effort.

"Ready to hit the road?" he asked, finishing his drink.

"Absolutely! Let's see what that art exhibit has in store for us," Elara replied, her heart feeling a little lighter as they headed out into the fresh air. Together, they stepped into the crisp autumn day, laughter trailing behind them like a warm breeze, ready to embrace whatever the afternoon might bring.

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As Elara and Charlie strolled down the familiar path back to her dorm, the sun shone brightly, casting playful shadows on the ground. The campus buzzed with the energy of students enjoying the afternoon.

"So, I've got news," Charlie said, glancing at her with a hint of excitement. "I'm going on a date with a girl from my class next week."

"Oh, really? That's awesome!" Elara replied, her tone genuine. She realised she didn't know much about Charlie's romantic interests, but she felt happy for him. "What's her name?"

"Her name's Sian. We've been working on a project together, and it just kind of happened," he said, trying to keep his tone casual as he gauged her reaction.

"That's great! You'll have to tell me all about it," Elara said, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "It's nice to see you putting yourself out there."

Charlie nodded, masking the flicker of uncertainty that crossed his mind. "Yeah, I thought it'd be fun to get to know her better. It'll be a good distraction."

"Definitely! How exciting for you," Elara said, a bright smile on her face. The thought of their friendship returning to a comfortable place felt reassuring.

"Right," Charlie replied, his smile a bit more reserved now. He didn't want to read too much into her reaction but felt a slight twinge of something he couldn't quite place.

They arrived at the dorm, and Elara turned to him, her expression light. "Have fun on your date! I can't wait to hear how it goes."

"Thanks, Elara. I will," he said, watching her head inside, a mixture of hope and uncertainty swirling in his thoughts as he continued on his way.

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Elara lay on her bed, her phone glowing in the dim light of her room. The days had grown shorter, and the creeping darkness around her blended into the quiet hum of scrolling through social media. She had enjoyed her day with Charlie, but her mind kept circling back to Luca and the strange tension of the morning.

Just as she was about to dive into yet another post about someone's latest adventure, her door swung open. Kenzie and Emmy burst in, their laughter filling the room.

"Why are you in the dark? Are you plotting world domination or something?" Kenzie teased, flicking the light switch.

Elara squinted against the sudden brightness. "No, just trying to avoid my responsibilities. What's up?"

"We're heading to Rachel's room to check out Tinder on the big screen. You should join!" Emmy chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Sure, why not? Let me just..." Elara trailed off, pushing herself off the bed and following them out. As they walked to Rachel's room, they passed Cyrus.

"Hey, Cyrus! You want to join us?" Kenzie called out, half-joking.

He looked up, his expression softening slightly. "Nah, I'm good, but thanks," he replied, his tone friendly, if a bit reserved.

Elara exchanged a surprised glance with Kenzie and Emmy as they continued down the hall. "Did he just say no without being a total grump?" Kenzie whispered, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

They arrived at Rachel's room, where the rest of the dorm mates were sprawled comfortably on the floor: Dylan, Tabitha, Leo, and Rachel herself, who was already navigating through Tinder on the TV.

"Finally! We were starting to think you'd gone into hibernation," Rachel teased as Elara settled onto the soft, makeshift floor bed.

"Yeah, it's dark in there! I was about to send a search party," Tabitha added with a grin.

The group began swiping through profiles, rating the men who appeared on the screen one by one. "Okay, what do we think of this guy?" Rachel asked, pausing on a particularly bold profile picture.

"Solid eight for the cat in his lap," Dylan said, smirking. "But only a five for the shirt."

"Definitely a six. I mean, who wears that colour?" Emmy chimed in, shaking her head.

"Tell him he needs to try harder," Kenzie suggested, and Rachel dutifully typed out a message, eliciting giggles from everyone.

As the night wore on, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and playful banter. They debated the merits of various profiles, creating elaborate backstories for each potential match. Elara felt herself relax, the earlier tension fading as she immersed herself in the fun.

"Alright, who's next?" Rachel said, swiping right on a guy who seemed way too into fishing.

"Immediate no," Leo declared, shaking his head. "Any guy whose first photo is him with a fish should be avoided."

"Agreed! It's a definite red flag," Tabitha laughed.

Elara leaned back, enjoying the warmth of her friends and the silliness of the moment. She still felt the nagging thoughts about Luca in the back of her mind, but for now, surrounded by laughter and the comforting chaos of her dorm-mates, she felt lighter. They were all there together, sharing stories, jokes, and an evening that promised to be one of those nights she'd remember fondly when everything else felt complicated.