Sophie's Life

Chapter 33: The Project

We decided to meet at a cozy little café near campus to work on the project. Adam couldn't make it—something about an emergency club meeting—so it was just me, Alan, and Daniel. I sipped my coffee, trying to push thoughts of James and Ayla out of my head, but part of me still felt on edge, as if expecting to see them walk in any minute.

The café was buzzing with students, and we managed to grab a table in the corner. The smell of freshly ground coffee filled the air, and the soft hum of chatter made it feel almost peaceful. Alan was surprisingly focused for once, taking notes as we brainstormed ideas.

"Okay," Alan said, glancing over his notes. "So, if we're talking about building brand loyalty, we need something memorable. Like, maybe a slogan that sticks?"

"That could work," I said thoughtfully, doodling in the margins of my notebook. "Something that really connects with the audience. Maybe a phrase that's simple but catchy."

Daniel nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah, like...a call to action, something that makes people feel part of the brand. It needs to feel personal, like they're a part of something bigger."

"Exactly!" I smiled, excited that we were all on the same page.

Just as we started refining our idea, I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. I looked up, and there they were—James and Ayla, standing in line for coffee, laughing together as if they didn't have a care in the world. I quickly averted my gaze, pretending to be focused on my notes, but I could feel the uncomfortable weight of their presence.

We worked through our notes, and I could feel Daniel's gaze flicker between me and them, noticing the slight tension in my shoulders.

Once we finished, Alan stretched and closed his notebook, grinning. "Alright, team, I think we've got something solid. We're going to kill this project!"

But before I could respond, James and Ayla walked over to our table. My stomach twisted; none of us were really friends with Ayla, so I wasn't sure why they'd come over.

"Hey," James greeted us, his usual casual confidence radiating. Ayla smiled too, but it was that kind of smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. I could feel myself tense up, and I knew Daniel noticed.

He leaned forward, his gaze hardening as he looked at James. "Look, if you and your girlfriend want to hang around, you're going to have to find another table. We're busy."

James raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback, while Ayla's smile faded. Alan, always the diplomatic one, chimed in with a quick laugh, trying to ease the tension. "Yeah, man, we're all good here, just working on our project," he said, keeping his tone light, but I could see the hint of annoyance in his eyes too.

Ayla looked uncomfortable, and James hesitated, glancing at me as if waiting for me to say something. I didn't meet his eyes, keeping my gaze fixed on my coffee cup.

"Fine," James muttered, his expression unreadable. He gave me a final look before turning around with Ayla in tow. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

Daniel rolled his eyes, watching them walk away. "Can't he take a hint? You looked so uncomfortable, I thought I was going to have to drag him out myself."

Alan laughed, giving me a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry about it. Let him be wherever he wants to be with her. We've got our own thing, and I think it's way better."

I smiled, grateful for both of them. "Thanks, guys. I just...I don't know. It's hard seeing him around all the time."

Daniel gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. "Well, you've got us. And besides, we've got a project to crush, and we don't need distractions."

Alan grinned, raising his coffee cup in a mock toast. "To killing it in this competition. Let's show them what we're made of."

I raised my cup, feeling a renewed sense of determination. With friends like Daniel and Alan by my side, maybe this was the start of something better.