Tangled Hearts

Chapter One: A Fresh Start

The morning sun shined through the tall glass windows of Cascadia University's student center as Ashley stepped onto campus. She already felt like it was going to go well and she silently promised herself that this semester would be different. No more distractions, no more drama, and no more heartbreaks. She was determined to leave all of that behind and start fresh.

She walked through the center filled with students chatting and rushing to their classes. Her eyes landed on her best friend, Alana, who was already standing near the coffee shop, already sipping on an iced latte. As soon as Alana saw her, a bright smile spread across her face.

"Hey, stranger!" Alana teased, leaning in for a quick hug. "Are you ready for this semester?"

Ashley laughed, tucking a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. "Definitely. No distractions, no drama, just focus."

"Uh-huh, we'll see how long that lasts," Alana replied with a knowing smirk. "Remember the last time you said that?

Ashley rolled her eyes but couldn't help grinning. "This time is different, I swear."

They caught up a bit more before heading their separate ways for class. Ashley waved goodbye and started to head to her first lecture of the day, History 201. She grabbed a seat towards the back and pulled out her laptop, waiting for the other students to come into the room. History wasn't her favorite subject, but Professor Hargrove had a way of making it tolerable.

Just as the class was about to start, her phone lit up on the desk. It was a message from the student affairs office, asking her to stop by after class. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. What could that be about? She shrugged it off, packed up her things, and walked over to the office.

⸻

When she entered the student affairs building, Mrs. Clark, the receptionist, gave her a warm smile. "You can head right in, Ashley."

Ashley pushed open the door and found the assistant dean, Mr. Douglas, sitting at his desk. Beside him stood a guy she didn't recognize. He was tall with dirty blonde hair, tattoos in random areas on his arms, and a confident stance.

"Ashley, thank you for coming," Mr. Douglas began, motioning for her to sit. "I know this is sudden but I need a favor. This is Jaxon Thomas, he just transferred here from Florida, and I was hoping you could show him around campus today. Help him get familiar with things."

Before Ashley could respond, the guy spoke up. "You can call me JT," he said with a casual smile.

Ashley nodded and glanced at the schedule JT handed her. "Looks like we have a couple of the same classes," she said, handing it back.

"Great. I'll probably need the help," JT chuckled.

After a quick rundown from Mr. Douglas, Ashley led JT out of the office, mentally going over the campus spots she needed to show him. The library, dining hall, athletic complex, and the campus buildings for classes.

"So, Florida?" she asked, breaking the silence as they walked across the busy campus. "What brings you all the way out to California?"

JT shrugged. "Change of scenery, I guess. Beaches are great, but I needed something different." He glanced around. "This place has its own vibe though."

Ashley smiled. "Yeah, it's not bad once you get used to it. Everyone's pretty laid-back."

They continued their tour, chatting lightly, and Ashley couldn't help but notice how effortlessly calm he seemed like nothing could really phase him. He had a way of blending in but still standing out, a kind of quiet confidence. It wasn't hard to imagine him fitting in with the more popular crowd on campus.

They finally reached the art studio, where they both had their next class. "We have Art Foundations next," Ashley said as they walked into the room together.

Mr. Everett, their professor, was already setting up at the front. "Alright, everyone, listen up," he called out as the class settled in. "Your first major project this semester is going to focus on creating portraits. We're focusing not only on the physical aspect of art but also on the emotional side. You can choose to work alone or pair up with a classmate to make portraits of each other. The project is due in two weeks."

JT nodded, listening to the instructions. He was in his element here. Art had always come naturally to him and it was one of his true passions.

Mr. Everett continued, "I want to see emotion in these portraits, something that tells a story about the person you're portraying."

JT turned to Ashley once the professor finished. "So, what do you think? Want to partner up?"

"Of course. Just don't make me look terrible," Ashley laughed softly.

"Deal," JT smiled with confidence. "But don't worry, I'll make sure to do you justice."

They then agreed to meet up soon to work on the project. Once the class wrapped up, they packed up, and JT pulled out his phone. "Here, give me your number. We can see whenever we're both free."

"Perfect," Ashley said with a smile, handing over her phone as well. They both placed their contacts in each other's phones and returned their devices.

Despite him being a stranger, JT was easy to talk to. He had a laid-back vibe that made Ashley feel at ease.

⸻

When lunchtime finally rolled around, she met up with Alana back in the campus center. Alana was already seated, eating her tenders and fries. Ashley rushed over to the table with her Caesar salad and sat beside her, nudging her playfully.

"Ashley!" Alana called out with a grin.

"Hey! Guess what? I had to introduce someone around campus today."

"Really? Who?" Alana raised an eyebrow, curious to know all the details.

"His name's Jaxon, but he goes by JT. He just moved here from Florida," Ashley explained.

Before they could say anything else, JT appeared at their table with his food in hand. "Hey," he said, giving them a half-smile. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Sure, why not?" Ashley said, motioning for him to sit down.

"This is Alana," she introduced. "Alana, this is JT."

"Nice to meet you, JT," Alana said, flashing him a friendly smile. "Ashley told me she had to give you the grand tour earlier."

"Yeah, lucky me," JT chuckled. "But seriously, thanks again, Ashley. Still getting used to everything."

As they ate, JT mentioned wanting to try out for the football team. "I played in Florida, and I'm thinking about trying out here."

Alana's face lit up. "Oh, Ashley will be cheering for you if you make the team. She's on the cheer squad."

Ashley shot her a look, half-smiling but slightly annoyed. "Yeah, well, I guess I'd be cheering... but seriously, you should try out. The coach is Mr. Davis, and his office is next to the athletics complex."

"Thanks, I think I'll actually go check it out now," JT said, standing up. "Nice meeting you, Alana. See you later Ashley."

As soon as JT walked away, Alana leaned in with a smirk. "He's cute. You should totally go for it."

Ashley shook her head. "That's not my focus right now."

Alana sighed, leaning closer. "Ash, you and my brother broke up months ago. It's okay to move on, babe."

Ashley looked down at her salad, pushing the croutons around with her fork. "It's not about Ethan. I just want to focus on myself."

"I get it. But don't close yourself off either. You deserve to be happy," Alana continued.

Ashley knew Alana meant well, but she wasn't ready for anything new. Not yet. Ethan had been her first love and the first guy who treated her right. When he transferred to a college in New York, they both knew long-distance wouldn't work. It was a mutual breakup, but that didn't make it any easier. For now, she just wanted to focus on herself. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.