Hope and I made our way to the common room as she went on and on about the guy we were about to meet. She was practically bouncing with excitement. A few minutes later, we arrived and greeted Pat at the door.
"Hello, ladies. Liking your new room?"She smiled warmly at us.
"Yep! It's really great, Pat," Hope replied cheerfully.
Pat noticed Hope's enthusiasm and gave us a knowing look. "Well, I'm glad to hear it. Have fun, girls. I'll see you around." She gave us a wave and walked off.
"Come on, let's go!" Hope tugged on my arm, and we entered the common room together.
We scanned the space for a moment—until I heard Hope squeal."There they are!"
I followed her gaze. One of the boys had dark brown hair and wore a white T-shirt with jeans. He was standing next to someone who made my heart skip.
It's... him.I whispered it just loud enough for Hope to hear.
"Huh?"
"Hope... that's Gabriel," I said, my eyes locked on his beautiful green ones.
His gaze searched the room—until it landed on me. We both froze.
Then a voice shouted, snapping us out of it."Hope!"
She dashed over and threw her arms around the guy next to Gabriel.They laughed, hugging each other tightly. It was so sweet to see.
I slowly followed and stood beside them as they pulled apart.
"Alec, this is my best friend, Broba," Hope introduced me. Alec faked a shocked expression.
"Wow, a few months go by and I've already been replaced?" he teased.
Hope laughed and punched his shoulder. "Don't be dramatic."
"And this," she continued, turning to me with a glint in her eye, "is my best friend, Gabriel."
I looked over at him. He was already staring at me. I gave a shy wave, and he smiled and waved back.
Alec glanced between the two of us—then realization struck."Wait... this is that Broba?" he muttered, not nearly quiet enough.
Gabriel shot him a death glare that suggested Alec wouldn't survive the evening. He punched him in the arm and turned to me, clearly trying to play it cool.
"Heh... Sorry about him. He hasn't taken his meds today," he joked, earning another glare from Alec.
"Anyway..." Hope chimed in with a suspicious grin. She placed her hands on my shoulders and faced the boys."Broba here would love to get to know Gabriel... alone."
She shot Alec a wink, and he caught on instantly.
"Yeah, yeah," he said. "You two go ahead and chat. Hope and I can entertain ourselves."
He casually laced his fingers with Hope's, and she blushed. That's when it clicked.
I smiled. "Of course! You two catch up—we'll be fine."
Hope gave me a grateful look. I nudged her shoulder and whispered, "Take your time."
Alec led her away, and Gabriel turned to me with a crooked smile.
"Guess it's just you and me, then."
"Y-yeah... I gue-guess it is." I stammered. Again.
But if I wanted this to go well—for Hope's sake, and okay, maybe for mine too—I had to get it together.
I took a deep breath. "Sorry for being so... awkward. And, you know, borderline unintelligible with all the stammering."
He chuckled. "No worries. I get it. Meeting someone new can be tough."
Especially when they're as hot as you.(Okay, he didn't say that out loud—but it felt like he did.)
"Sooo... where are you from?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
We ended up talking for what felt like minutes—but hours passed. He was the first person I'd ever met who really got me. Who listened, who laughed with me, who understood.
I got butterflies every time he smiled or let out that soft, contagious laugh. When he laughed, it wasn't just noise—it was joy. It made you want to laugh too, even if you didn't know why.
"Stop laughing! It's not funny!" he cried, as I held my sides, laughing uncontrollably.
"It totally is!" I gasped between giggles.
"I was nine! Give me a break!" he said, laughing despite himself.
"Yeah, crying because you missed your mommy is completely justified at nine," I teased.
"Shhhh! Keep your voice down!" he whispered, eyes darting around.
"What, you don't want people to know you love your mommy?" I said, loudly and smugly.
He stared at me."Alright, that's it."
He leaned in, wiggling his fingers threateningly.
"NO! Please, no! I can't handl—"He cut me off by tickling me mercilessly. I shrieked and laughed like a maniac.
Finally, he stopped, and we were both breathless."Have you learned your lesson?" he murmured, his face close to mine.
I propped myself up on my elbows. "Hmm... I don't know."I leaned in a little. Raised my brows.
He laughed. "You really are something, Broba."
I smiled—and something in his eyes shifted. The teasing faded. Something softer took its place.
We stared at each other, our faces inches apart. His gaze flicked down to my lips, and my breath caught in my throat.
Then... I felt it.Someone was watching us.
I pulled back and glanced behind him. Hope and Alec were watching with the biggest, goofiest grins imaginable.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. I gestured behind him.
"Oh, please. Don't mind us," Hope said casually.
That's when I noticed how close she and Alec were sitting—almost in each other's laps. The connection between them was undeniable. Real. Sweet. Intense.
I wanted that.Wait. Maybe I already had?
I stood and smiled at everyone. "Actually, I'm pretty pooped. I think I'm gonna head out."
"Yeah, she's right," Hope added. "We've all had a long day."
She turned to Alec and gave him a soft smile. He hugged her tight and whispered something in her ear that made her blush and giggle.
"It was great meeting you both," I said, looking at Gabriel.He held my gaze."Yeah. Same here."
Hope and I linked arms as we left the common room.
"Bye, guys!" she called, her voice light and happy.