WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

26. A Quiet Monday Morning

Monday dawned gently over Dublin, casting a muted glow through the windows of the dormitory. Vanessa stirred, slowly surfacing from a peaceful sleep, her senses still wrapped in the remnants of a thrilling weekend. Memories from the night before played in her mind, making her smile. The laughter, the carefree moments with friends, the magnetic energy between her and Astra—it had been one of those nights that felt both infinite and fleeting. But today was Monday, and reality was already knocking.

She glanced at her watch; it was 7 a.m. A soft, exhausted sigh escaped her lips. Vanessa rose carefully, her movements quiet and deliberate so as not to disturb Giorgio and Michele, who were still sprawled asleep beside her, lost in their own dreams from the night before. Tiptoeing across the room, she gathered her towel and toiletries and made her way to the shower, savoring the hot water that washed away the lingering traces of smoke and the faint smell of spilled alcohol from last night's fun. The steam and quiet allowed her a moment of reflection—her honey-brown curls damp against her back as she toweled off, getting dressed quickly and slipping into her clothes with a practiced efficiency.

Ready at last, she took one last look back at the two boys, their peaceful faces cast in the soft morning light. With a fond smile, she slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her quietly, leaving them to their sleep.

The campus was still waking up as she headed toward the library. It was only 8 a.m., and a calm hung in the air, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves on the old trees that lined the paths. Vanessa's mind buzzed, not just with the weekend's memories, but with thoughts of Astra. She knew that if Astra was anywhere, she'd likely be here, along with Cassy and Amy, who often made an early start on their studies. As she approached the library doors, she felt her pace quicken, a subtle thrill adding to the anticipation of seeing Astra again.

Inside, the library was a quiet sanctuary. At one of the first tables, Vanessa immediately spotted Cassy and Amy, heads bent over their textbooks, already engrossed in study. She approached them with a casual smile, greeting them softly. "Hey, morning," she said, sliding into an empty chair next to them.

Cassy glanced up, her brow slightly furrowed with concern as she took in Vanessa's presence. "Hey, Vanessa! How are you feeling?" Her question hung in the air with a quiet worry that was echoed in Amy's expression.

Amy nodded, her own gaze soft with concern. "Yeah, we were thinking about Friday. Are you sure you're okay? You kind of had us worried."

Vanessa shrugged, offering them a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, really. Don't worry about it." Her tone was light, attempting to brush off their concern, but then her expression grew more thoughtful. "Actually, there's one thing I can't shake—I definitely need to talk to Jack about that whole... pill situation." She said this last part almost to herself, her gaze momentarily distant.

Amy and Cassy exchanged a look of quiet understanding, both clearly relieved to hear that Vanessa was taking some responsibility. After a brief chat about their weekend, Vanessa mentioned that she was actually on the lookout for Astra. She invited Cassy and Amy to join them for breakfast if they wanted, though they both shook their heads, smiling politely.

"Thanks for the invite," Cassy replied with a soft smile. "But I think we'll let you two have your morning moment."

Amy nodded, laughing lightly, "Yeah, you two deserve a bit of time alone. We'll catch up later."

Vanessa grinned, grateful for her friends' understanding. She left the two, her heart picking up its pace as she continued deeper into the library, hoping to find Astra among the rows of books and the quiet hush of early-morning readers.

It didn't take long to spot her. Astra was seated by a window, her head bent slightly as she scribbled in her notebook, a focused look in her green eyes that softened in the warm morning light. Vanessa felt a smile creep onto her face as she approached, feeling an odd mix of nerves and excitement.