In the heart of Harvard, Alessia Gilmore is ready to embrace her second year and the independence it brings. After a summer spent reconnecting with friends and discovering herself, she's determined to step out of her twin sister Rory's shadow and ca...
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Alessia lay sprawled on her bed, camera abandoned on the desk beside a mess of unedited photos and crumpled notes. The hum of conversation from the hallway outside her dorm felt distant, almost like white noise. She stared at her phone, biting her lip as her thumb hovered over Riley's name in her contacts. She hesitated for a moment before finally hitting the call button.
The familiar ringtone barely made it halfway through the first chime before Riley answered. "What's up, Alessia?"
"Hey," Alessia said, her voice coming out softer than she intended. She shifted to sit cross-legged on her bed, tucking the phone against her ear. "Are you busy?"
"Just finished up the first period," Riley replied. There was a faint background hum of noise-probably the team milling around the locker room. "What's up? You sound...weird."
Alessia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just miss you guys, that's all. Harvard's boring as hell without you two around. No one here knows how to actually have fun."
Riley let out a short laugh. "You? Bored? Did you forget how to stir up trouble, or is everyone at Harvard immune to your particular brand of sarcasm?"
"I'm serious," Alessia muttered, though the corner of her mouth twitched into a small smile. "It's weird without you and Beau. Everything here is so...quiet. I miss the chaos."
There was a pause on Riley's end, followed by a muffled sound-like someone shouting in the background. "Hold on a sec," he muttered before covering the phone. She could hear his muffled voice yelling, "Shut up, Beau, I'm on the phone!"
"Let me guess," Alessia said dryly. "Beau being Beau?"
"You have no idea," Riley replied, his voice clearer now. "He's convinced Julie hid his lucky tape, so he's tearing through everyone's bags like a maniac. It's chaos here, too, just so you know. You're not missing much."
"I am missing it," Alessia admitted, flopping back onto her pillows. "Even the dumb fights and Beau's constant dramatics. Harvard's just...so serious. It's like no one here remembers how to have a good time."
"Maybe they just need someone to teach them," Riley said lightly. "You could be the chaos Harvard never knew it needed."
"Or I could just transfer," Alessia joked, though the thought lingered more than she wanted to admit.
Riley snorted. "Yeah, sure. Like Rory would let you live that down. 'Oh, look, Harvard twin couldn't handle it.' She'd write a memoir about it."
Alessia groaned. "Please don't remind me."
The line went quiet for a moment, the comfortable kind of silence that came with years of knowing each other. Finally, Riley spoke again, his voice softer this time.
"Hey, for what it's worth, we miss you too. It's weird not having you around to call us out on our crap."
"Aw, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Alessia teased, though her chest tightened at his words.
"Don't get used to it," Riley shot back. "Now go find something to do. Stir up some trouble. You're Alessia freaking Gilmore. Harvard doesn't stand a chance against you."
Alessia smiled, shaking her head. "Fine. But only because you said so. Don't let Beau destroy the locker room, okay?"
"No promises," Riley said with a laugh. "Later, Alessia."
"Later," Alessia replied, hanging up.
She stared at her phone for a moment, the lingering warmth of the conversation settling in her chest. Riley was right-she'd figure it out. But for now, she'd let herself miss the chaos.
