The morning of departure carried a strange electricity. Maya woke early, her room still a battlefield of half-packed clothes, scattered sketchbooks, and pencils rolling onto the floor every time she moved. She had barely slept. Excitement buzzed under her skin, tangled with nerves, and though her bag was stuffed to bursting, she kept second-guessing what to take.
She shoved a cardigan into the corner of the suitcase, muttering under her breath. "College weather… could be cold… could be hot… ugh."
Her phone lit up. Aryan: "I'm outside. Don't make me carry your whole house, Maya."
Rolling her eyes, she typed back quickly: "Five minutes. Don't touch my sketchbook or you're dead."
Her mother peeked in, smiling faintly at the chaos. "You'll survive. Just don't forget to eat, okay?"
"I will, Mom," Maya said, zipping her bag shut with exaggerated effort. "See you in a week!"
She dragged the suitcase downstairs, heart hammering. This was it.
The Car
Aryan was already sprawled in the backseat, one arm slung across the headrest, smirking like he owned the place. His suitcase was shoved into the trunk with his usual reckless energy.
"Took you long enough," he said as Maya climbed in. "What, packing your entire wardrobe?"
Maya plopped down beside him, shoving her sketchbook protectively into her lap. "Unlike you, I actually wear more than three shirts."
Aryan gasped, pressing his palm to his chest. "Wow. Character assassination before we've even left the neighborhood. This is going to be a fun ride."
Maya smirked, leaning back. "You love it."
Before Aryan could retort, the door opened again. Aveed appeared, suitcase in hand, hair perfectly in place as always. He moved to slide into the seat next to Maya, but Aryan shifted at lightning speed, sprawling wide and blocking the space.
"Sorry, man. Seat's taken," Aryan announced with a grin.
Maya blinked at him, surprised. "You… grabbed it already?"
"Fast reflexes," Aryan said smugly.
Aveed's expression didn't falter. He closed the back door again and slid into the front seat instead. Buckling in, he smirked faintly. "Didn't know we were in a competition."
"You're just mad you lost," Aryan said, voice dripping with triumph.
Maya shook her head, hiding her laugh. "Honestly, you two are ridiculous."
Through the mirror, Aveed caught her eyes and raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching like he was holding back a laugh. Maya quickly looked away, cheeks pink.
Aryan noticed. His chest tightened, but he plastered on a playful grin.
The Ride
The car pulled onto the main road, the city slowly peeling away behind them. Conversation started light, then grew louder and sillier until even the driver sighed dramatically, muttering something about "college kids."
Maya tapped the glass with her pencil. "Cloud game. Go. That one looks like a dog."
Aryan squinted. "That's clearly a dinosaur."
"Dog," Maya insisted.
Aveed tilted his head. "Looks more like a teapot to me."
Maya spun around to face him, grinning. "Thank you. Finally, someone with taste."
Aryan groaned. "Oh great, now it's you two versus me. Fantastic. I'm outnumbered."
"You always are," Maya teased.
To distract himself, Aryan leaned dramatically on her shoulder. "Maya, tell them about the time you snorted juice out of your nose in class."
Maya shoved him off, laughing so hard she nearly dropped her sketchbook. "That was ONE TIME! And you were the reason — you made that stupid goat noise!"
Aveed raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "A goat noise?"
Aryan beamed proudly. "Best impression in town. Want a demo?"
The driver groaned. "Please don't."
Aryan ignored him and let out a bleat so convincing Maya doubled over laughing again. Aveed shook his head, hiding his smile behind his hand.
"See?" Aryan said, basking in the chaos. "This is why she can't live without me."
Maya wiped her eyes, breathless from laughter. "More like I survive despite you."
"Harsh," Aryan muttered, but the sparkle in his eyes betrayed his happiness.
Sketchbook Wars
Midway through the trip, Maya pulled out her sketchbook and pencil. "Okay, both of you — don't move."
Aryan leaned in immediately, puffing his chest. "Make me look like Thor. Abs, jawline, the works."
Maya rolled her eyes. "I don't draw fantasy."
Aveed smirked. "You'll just draw him as a clown anyway."
Aryan gasped. "The betrayal! First you steal my window seat, now my dignity?"
Maya giggled, sketching quickly. "Don't tempt me."
A few minutes later, she flipped the sketchbook around. Aryan's caricature had cartoon tears, a dramatic hand on his forehead, and the words "ETERNALLY BETRAYED" above his head.
Aryan stared. "Wow. Artistic cruelty. I'm framing this."
"And you," Maya said, turning to Aveed, "get this."
Aveed's drawing was sharp and confident, labeled "TOO COOL TO CARE."
He chuckled, eyes flicking toward her. "Accurate."
Aryan threw his hands up. "Oh sure, he gets 'cool' and I get 'betrayed'? Unfair."
"Life isn't fair," Maya said sweetly, closing her book.
Aveed smirked. "Some truths just hurt."
Aryan groaned, collapsing against the seat while Maya giggled uncontrollably.
Arrival
Hours later, when they finally reached the campus, the air was buzzing with noise — students hauling luggage, parents offering last-minute advice, groups forming on the lawn.
The trio lugged their bags inside, joking the whole way. Aryan balanced his suitcase on his head until it toppled dramatically. Maya laughed so hard she had to sit down on the curb. Aveed shook his head, picking up the suitcase like it weighed nothing.
"Show-off," Aryan muttered, dusting himself off.
"You tried to be a circus act," Aveed replied smoothly.
"Correction: I succeeded," Aryan said, holding his arms out like a gymnast finishing a routine.
Maya clapped sarcastically. "Ten out of ten."
Aveed added, "For effort."
Aryan groaned. "I hate both of you."
But his smile said otherwise.
That Evening
Maya's dorm room was a mess again within minutes. Clothes exploded from her bag, and her sketchbook lay open on the desk. She flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, memories of the ride playing in her head.
Aryan, always making her laugh until her stomach hurt. Aveed, calm and teasing with that quiet smile. Both so different, and yet both hers. Her best friends.
She hugged her pillow, a flutter in her chest. Why does it feel… different now?
Aveed sat in his apartment, clothes neatly folded away, books stacked on the desk. He moved with calm efficiency, but when he finally sat down, his mind betrayed him. He thought of Maya's laughter, the way she glanced at him in the mirror. He allowed himself the faintest smile before forcing it away.
Don't overthink it. Just… focus.
Aryan, meanwhile, paced his room like a caged tiger. Every smile Maya had given Aveed replayed in his head. Every glance. Every laugh. He pressed his fists into his eyes, muttering to himself.
"She's just… smiling. That's all. Totally fine. I'm not in love."
But even as he said it, his chest ached with the possibility.
The Quiet Between Them
That night, three different rooms carried three different versions of the same day:
Maya, sketching absent doodles and wondering why her heart felt confused.
Aveed, calm and collected, but secretly lingering on her laugh.
Aryan, restless, caught between denial and jealousy he couldn't explain.
The campus was alive with beginnings, laughter echoing through the halls. But in the quiet corners of their hearts, something more complicated had already begun to stir.
Together, somehow — but not as simple as it used to be.