Sophia sat at her small desk that evening in her dorm room, absentmindedly scrolling through the class group chat, her mind wandering back to the orientation. Silverwood University was everything she had hoped for—new opportunities, new people, and a chance to start fresh. Leah had already introduced her to a couple of people, and Ivy, her introverted roommate, was good company despite keeping mostly to herself.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. A message from a number she didn't recognize.
"Hey, quick question—have the products arrived yet?"
She frowned at the screen, confused. She checked the name, but it wasn't familiar. No profile picture, just a blank avatar. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she tried to figure out what the sender could possibly mean. Maybe they had mistaken her for someone else?
Sophia: "I think you've got the wrong person. No products here, lol."
She hesitated before hitting send, wondering if maybe it was some sort of prank. She didn't know many people on campus yet, so it was hard to tell.
---
On the other end, Ethan leaned back against his couch, a smirk tugging at his lips as her reply came through. It was exactly what he expected—curiosity, but no hint of suspicion. He typed back casually.
Ethan: "My bad, I must have gotten you mixed up with someone else. Freshman, right?"
Sophia stared at the reply for a moment. The way he smoothly shifted the conversation was a little too slick for her liking, but she didn't feel the need to be rude.
Sophia: "Yeah, first year. Who's this?"
The reply came almost instantly.
Ethan: "Just a second-year looking out for the newbies. Name's Sam."
Sam? Sophia wasn't sure she had heard that name in any of the introductions from orientation, but with so many new faces, it wasn't impossible to miss someone.
Sophia: "Thanks, Sam. Guess I'm the newbie then, lol. You studying PR too?"
Ethan paused, his fingers hovering over the keys. It was easy to lie, but he needed to be careful not to trip himself up later. Instead, he chose to keep it vague.
Ethan: "Nah, I'm in Computing. Different world, but we all mix at some point."
Sophia smiled to herself. That made sense. She hadn't met many students outside her course yet, but it was refreshing to talk to someone new, especially since most guys she met seemed to be all about showing off.
Meanwhile, Ryan, unaware of Ethan's current game, messaged again.
Ryan: "You in yet? Freshman girls are always fun."
Ethan glanced at the message and ignored it for the moment. He had his own plans, and Ryan's enthusiasm was starting to grate on him. Ryan was a bit too eager, too obvious. Ethan preferred subtlety.
---
Back in her room, Sophia was still chatting with "Sam," though her responses were getting shorter. She had a new novel to read and couldn't afford distractions.
Sophia: "Anyway, thanks for reaching out. Maybe we'll run into each other on campus. I've gotta get back to work, though."
Ethan could sense the polite brush-off, but he wasn't ready to let the conversation end just yet.
Ethan: "Sounds good. Hey, before you go—if you ever need help around campus, just let me know. We second-years have all the shortcuts."
Sophia hesitated, but she didn't want to seem rude.
Sophia: "Appreciate it. See you around."
Ethan put his phone down, satisfied for now. It wasn't much, but he'd planted the seed. Freshman girls were always the same—innocent, trusting, and easy to impress. All it took was a little patience, and Sophia Mills would be no different.
---
Sophia back in her dorm room, pushed her phone aside and leaned back in her chair, thinking about the strange conversation. There was something off about it—something too smooth, too convenient. But she brushed it off. Maybe she was just overthinking things, and "Sam" was just trying to be nice.
She sighed and returned to her novel, unaware of how this casual interaction would soon weave itself into the complicated web that was Ethan's life.
It was soon 7pm and Sophia's stomach growled in protest. She glanced over at Ivy, who was scrolling through her phone while lying on her She'd just come out of the shower and finished getting dressed.
"Ivy," Sophia groaned, "I'm starving. Do you know where we can grab some food around here?"
Ivy sat up, eyes brightening. "Oh! I remember Kendra mentioning 'The Vibe' having all kinds of facilities. It's supposed to be the famous hangout spot on campus where she spends most of her time. There's a diner there—I think it's called 'Nonna's' We could check it out?"
Sophia grinned. "Sounds perfect. Let's go!"
With a burst of energy, the two roommates quickly grabbed their jackets and headed out, eager to explore the campus and satisfy their hunger. As they strolled through the dimly lit paths of Silverwood, they spotted groups of students heading toward the same general direction, so they assumed they were on the right track.
"The Vibe is kind of like the go-to place for everyone," Ivy explained. "Kendra said it has everything from a diner, a salon, a cafe, a club, and even a mini bookstore."
Sophia nodded, excitement building. The thought of a cozy diner serving delicious comfort food after such a long day was exactly what she needed.
When they finally reached The Vibe, the area was buzzing with activity. The neon lights flickered above the entrance, and the hum of laughter and conversation filled the air. Sophia scanned the different signs, trying to locate 'Nonna's,' the diner they were looking for.
"I think it's over there!" Ivy pointed toward a section of the building, her voice full of certainty. Without much thought, the two made their way inside. The place was dimly lit, and Sophia noticed a group of students seated in a circle, their heads bent together in animated conversation.
"Kind of an odd setup for a diner, don't you think?" Sophia whispered as they walked further in. She was expecting tables with cozy booths and the smell of burgers or fries, but instead, there was a strange thumping sound coming from deeper inside.
As they walked closer, the music grew louder, and the crowd thicker. Sophia squinted, trying to make sense of the room. Suddenly, colored lights began to flash across the walls, illuminating students who were clearly not eating but dancing.
Ivy stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open. "Uh... Sophia... I think this isn't 'Nonna's.'"
Sophia's eyes widened in realization as the flashing lights caught a large sign on the far wall: PULSE. They had stumbled right into the club section of The Vibe. The two stood frozen for a moment, eyes wide as the reality of their mistake sank in.
Before they could turn to leave, a group of students at a nearby table noticed them.
"First years!" one of them shouted, laughing as he nudged his friends. "Trying to grab dinner at the club, huh?"
Sophia's face turned bright red, and Ivy covered her mouth, stifling a laugh as embarrassment washed over them. The group continued chuckling, and one of the girls at the table grinned playfully.
"Looking for Nonna's huh?" she called out. "It's on the other side, love. This is Pulse!"
Sophia tried to smile through her mortification, nodding sheepishly. "Y-yeah, thanks," she stammered, tugging at Ivy's arm. "Come on, let's go."
Ivy couldn't hold it in any longer. As soon as they stepped outside, she burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "Oh my gosh, did you see their faces? They totally knew we were first years!"
Sophia groaned, covering her face with her hands. "That was so embarrassing! I can't believe we thought the club was a diner."
Still laughing, Ivy wiped a tear from her eye. "To be fair, we were pretty hungry. Desperation makes people do weird things!"
Despite herself, Sophia started laughing too, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. It was the kind of thing that she knew she'd look back on fondly once the embarrassment wore off.
The two finally found the real diner, 'Nonna's,' tucked away on the quieter side of The Vibe. As they entered, the smell of hot food immediately washed over them, soothing their hunger. They ordered burgers and fries, and as they sat down to eat, Sophia couldn't help but glance around, making sure they were actually in the right place this time.
Ivy gave her a playful nudge. "At least we know where not to go next time we're starving."
Sophia shook her head, still smiling. "Lesson learned. No more clubbing until we've had food."
The night ended with full stomachs and lighter hearts. Sophia felt a sense of relief wash over her—despite the awkward start, she was beginning to feel like Silverwood might actually be the fresh start she was hoping for. And who knew? Maybe even Pulse would be fun someday—just not when she was searching for a burger.