The Grapevine

Chapter Four

The following day, Sean's morning began in its usual rhythm: a quick shower, breakfast, and a drive to campus. The dashboard held a few keepsakes: a small, well-worn compass his brother had given him, a keychain shaped like a violin, and a folded ticket stub from a concert he'd attended the previous summer.

As he pulled into the university parking lot, he took a deep breath, grounding himself. Today felt different, as if the air around him carried a kind of anticipation. With the rumors still circling and his unexpected conversation with Eric in the practice room replaying in his head, he knew he'd need to stay focused. Eric's words echoed in his mind: "Maybe we should give people something to talk about."

Sean tried to shake off the thought. He wasn't here for drama—he was here to study, to learn, and to enjoy the simple, routine moments that university life brought. He made his way to the central courtyard, he took in the familiar sights: groups of students chatting on the benches, a few playing Frisbee on the grass, and the low hum of conversation and laughter filling the air.

In his morning lecture, Sean took his usual seat near the window, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight streaming through. He was flipping through his notes, preparing for a quiz, when Daniel slid into the seat beside him, shooting him a grin.

"You look lost in thought," Daniel observed, nudging him. "Something on your mind?"

Sean shook his head, chuckling. "Just trying to focus. There's a quiz coming up, and I need to make sure I'm ready."

Daniel laughed, his voice warm and familiar. "Come on, Mr. Perfect GPA, you know you're going to ace it."

Sean rolled his eyes. "Not if I get distracted by you."

"Oh, please, I'm a great influence," Daniel replied, leaning back in his chair with a mock-offended expression. "And hey, at least I'm not the one putting rumors out there."

Sean groaned, feeling his cheeks flush slightly. "Don't even start."

Daniel smirked, crossing his arms. "Maybe it's the universe trying to tell you something."

Sean laughed, brushing off the comment, though he couldn't ignore the way Daniel's gaze lingered on him. There was a softness there, a warmth that went beyond simple friendship. It was subtle, something that Sean couldn't quite put his finger on, but it was there—constant, unwavering.

The professor arrived, and the lecture began. For the next hour, he tried to focus on the material, jotting down notes on the impact of environmental factors on gene expression, a topic that had always fascinated him. As the professor dove into the intricacies of epigenetics, Sean found himself captivated, soaking in every detail. Genetics had a kind of elegance to it, the way small changes could ripple out and alter the course of an entire organism's life.

After the lecture, Sean and Daniel walked toward the student center. The café inside was their usual hangout, a spot where they'd spent countless afternoons together, surrounded by the hum of student life.

As they settled at a table by the window, Daniel leaned forward, looking around as if to make sure no one was listening. "So, about that practice room incident... care to spill the details?"

Sean blinked, caught off guard. "What? There's nothing to tell. We just... talked."

Daniel raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Right. And that talk included Eric suggesting you two should give people 'something to talk about'?"

Sean's cheeks flushed. "How do you know about that?"

Daniel shrugged, feigning innocence. "People talk. I have my sources."