Claire noticed Mila before she realized she was noticing her.
It happened in small, almost meaningless ways.
The way Mila always sat with her shoulders slightly hunched, like she was trying not to take up space. The way her voice softened at the end of sentences, as if she were leaving room for someone else to interrupt. The way her eyes lingered—not in a way that felt uncomfortable, just… attentive.
Claire told herself she was just being observant. She'd always been good at reading people. It came with being the older sibling, the one who smoothed things over, who made sure no one felt left out.
Still, she found herself looking for Mila when she arrived at the dining hall.
"You're staring," Evan muttered, elbowing her lightly.
"I'm not," Claire said automatically.
He smirked. "You totally are."
Claire rolled her eyes and reached for her drink. "Relax. I'm just making sure you don't ditch your friend."
Mila arrived a moment later, sliding into the seat across from Claire with a quiet smile. "Sorry I'm late. My lab ran long."
"No worries," Claire said. "We just got here."
That wasn't entirely true. She and Evan had been sitting there for almost ten minutes. But it felt easier to say it that way, like Mila hadn't missed anything important.
Conversation flowed easily enough. Evan talked about his classes, his dorm, the professor who scared everyone in his calculus lecture. Claire listened, chiming in occasionally, teasing him just enough to make him laugh.
But her attention kept drifting.
Mila laughed quietly at something Evan said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Claire felt a strange, almost pleased warmth at the sight.
That's nice, she thought. She's getting comfortable.
Nothing more.
After dinner, Evan excused himself to meet someone from his floor, leaving Claire and Mila alone at the table.
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. Just… present.
"You don't have to babysit him all the time, you know," Mila said gently.
Claire blinked. "What?"
Mila smiled. "Evan. You're always checking on him."
"Oh." Claire shrugged. "Habit. He's my little brother. Kind of my job."
Mila nodded, fingers tracing the edge of her cup. "He's lucky."
Something about the way she said it made Claire pause.
"You think so?"
"Yeah," Mila said. "You care. That matters."
Claire felt an unexpected tightness in her chest. She wasn't used to being seen that way—noticed for the quiet things she did without thinking.
"Thanks," she said, softer than she meant to.
They walked out together, the evening air cool against their skin. Campus lights flickered on around them, casting long shadows across the paths.
Mila hesitated at the intersection leading toward the freshman dorms.
"I should head back," she said.
"Right," Claire replied. She didn't know why the word felt heavier than it should.
There was a brief, awkward pause. Then Claire smiled, the easy one she always used. "It was good seeing you. We should… hang out again sometime."
Mila's breath caught—just barely. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Claire waved as Mila turned away, watching until she disappeared into the crowd of students.
Only then did Claire realize something was off.
Not in a bad way. Just… different.
She felt oddly disappointed that Evan hadn't been there to slow things down, to give her something else to focus on.
The thought surprised her.
She shook her head, dismissing it as nothing more than concern. Being nice came naturally to her. Wanting people to feel welcome wasn't new.
And whatever that small, lingering feeling was—
It didn't mean anything.
At least, that's what she told herself as she walked home.