Almost a week had passed without much incident. For once, there were no whispered rumors, no strange glances, no creeping dread that followed Elle Deveraux like a second shadow. Friday had arrived like a sigh of relief.
The psychology department was abuzz. Students walked with a little more pride, laughter filled the air with less restraint, and notebooks were packed with neatly highlighted assignments. Elle's group—comprising Amara, Noah, and Kai—had just received the top grade for their group psychology project.
"Top of the class!" Noah beamed, holding up their graded paper like a trophy. "Guess who did the formatting magic?"
"You spelled 'dissociative' wrong three times," Amara muttered, smirking.
"Still magic," he shrugged.
They were all standing near the classroom door as students filtered out, still chatting about the results.
"We're going to the canteen to celebrate," Kai said, glancing at Elle. "You coming?"
Elle adjusted the strap of her bag. "I need to fetch a few books from the library first. I'll join you guys after that."
Amara pouted. "Only if you promise not to take a decade."
"Ten minutes," Elle smiled.
"Famous last words," Noah sighed dramatically as the trio left for the canteen.
Vincent's POV
Vincent Alden stood near the hallway windows, pretending to study a flyer he'd seen ten times already. But it wasn't the notice board that had his attention.
It was her.
He spotted Elle walking alone toward the library, books clutched to her side like armor. She looked... peaceful. Unbothered.
And yet, he couldn't stop watching.
It would be easier to ignore her. Safer. But something about her presence constantly tugged at the part of him that rarely stirred—something old, restless, and curious.
He moved before thinking, intercepting her with ease.
"Deveraux," he said casually, falling into step beside her.
She blinked, surprised, but didn't shy away. "Vincent. Hey."
"Library?"
"Just a few books for our next psych module. We're covering cognitive distortions next week."
He nodded. "Good topic. Complex but rewarding. If you ever need help, let me know. I'm doing my PhD in criminology—it overlaps more than most realize."
She tilted her head, mildly surprised. "That's generous. Thanks."
"I'm aiming for the medical-legal route," he continued. "I'll be practicing at my father's hospital eventually. Forensic evaluations, criminal profiling… that sort of thing."
"That sounds intense. But it suits you."
A rare, soft smile played at his lips. "You think so?"
"You seem... analytical. Not just curious—but thorough."
He studied her. "What about you? What's the end goal?"
She hesitated a moment before answering. "I'm taking a combined path—Business Administration, Psychology minor, and Public Relations. I'll have to manage our family company someday, but I want to understand people too. Not just lead from the top, you know?"
He looked genuinely impressed. "You're building a kingdom with empathy. That's rare."
Elle smiled, slightly flustered. "You make it sound more noble than it is."
"You're easier to talk to than I expected."
"You're less terrifying than your reputation suggests."
Vincent chuckled quietly. "That's disappointing."
They arrived at the library entrance.
"Well," Elle said, pausing. "Thanks for walking with me."
He nodded. "And for what it's worth, I meant it—about helping with studies. Anytime."
She met his gaze, sincere. "I'll remember that."
And then she disappeared between the towering shelves, leaving him standing in silence.
Elle reached the canteen twenty minutes later. Amara immediately raised an eyebrow.
"Took you long enough," she teased.
"Long line at the library desk," Elle replied smoothly.
Kai watched her, curiosity in his eyes, but said nothing.
They sat beneath the lazy ceiling fans, laughter filling their table. Noah reenacted one of their professor's weird pacing habits, and Amara nearly choked on her drink. It was light, easy, and warm.
For once, Elle allowed herself to relax.
Later that evening, in the group chat "Surprise Party 🎉💣💀"
Time: 9:02 p.m.
Noah: Tomorrow's the big day!! 🎉
Amara: I still can't believe we managed to book Café Solstice!
Elle: Everything's ready. Let's make sure he doesn't suspect anything.
Noah: He's clueless. Perfect.
Amara: Operation Kai-Birthday is officially a go 😎
Saturday – October 7th
The morning began with the sound of laughter.
Kai's younger sister, Lily, barged into his room with a cupcake balanced on a plate and a gift-wrapped box in her hand.
"Happy Birthday, you fossil!" she grinned.
Kai blinked groggily, sitting up. "You're not even sixteen."
"Still cooler than you."
His parents followed with a full chocolate cake and candles. They all sang—off-key, loudly, and with far too much enthusiasm.
Kai's parents had gifted him a brand-new iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil—sleek, powerful, and perfect for his college presentations and design work.
Along with it, his mother gifted him a limited-edition leather messenger bag embossed with his initials, while his father gave him an elegant designer wallet.
His younger sister, Lily, gave him a pair of premium noise-cancelling headphones.
His mother leaned forward. "We've also been hearing a lot about a certain Elle."
Kai blinked. "What?"
"Don't pretend," Lily grinned. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"No!" he sputtered. "She's just a friend."
"Hmm," his dad said, noncommittal.
His mother winked. "We'd love to meet her sometime."
Kai laughed awkwardly, face flushed.
But he couldn't stop the little twist of happiness in his chest.
Evening – Café Solstice
"Why this place?" Kai asked as he and Noah approached the glowing entrance of the most hyped café in town.
"Just trust me," Noah said, barely hiding his grin.
They stepped inside the reserved glass cabin.
"Surprise!!"
Kai froze.
Amara had tossed confetti. Elle stood in the center with a small gift box. Noah clapped him on the back.
"You guys…" Kai stared. "You said you weren't coming!"
"We lied," Elle smiled.
He blinked at her, surprised and quietly touched.
The café was beautiful—dim lighting, warm tones, and vintage jazz humming softly. The table was decorated with little fairy lights and handwritten note cards with silly jokes.
Kai's gifts were laid out with care. Elle and Amara gifted him a custom-made branded wristwatch—sleek and minimal—with one of his favourite novel quotes engraved on the back:
"In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself."
Noah gave him something more personal: a friendship bracelet they'd made as kids, now re-crafted into a braided leather keychain with a small charm that read: "Still us."
Lastly, they handed him a vintage-style wooden photo frame, where they'd planned to insert their party pictures together—a frame that would soon hold not just a memory, but a moment.
Kai stared at it for a long second. "This is... perfect."
Noah smirked. "Told you we nailed it."
Amara grinned. "We had to make it special—it's not every day you turn… well, older."
Elle said softly, "I'm glad you liked it, Kai."
They took group photos with a Polaroid camera, laughing and posing.
Dinner was easy and full of laughter.
Amara spilled her drink, Noah dared Kai to order dessert in an exaggerated British accent, and Elle—Elle simply watched them all with a soft smile, laughter dancing in her eyes.
Later, Elle excused herself to the restroom.
As she stepped out of the café, the night air greeted her like a whisper. Moonlight pooled over the pavement, and the streetlights flickered gently.
Then… a strange prickle ran down her spine.
She turned around.
No one.
But something… felt off. A shadow just out of sight. A stare that pressed into the back of her neck.
"Elle! Let's go!" Amara called.
Elle blinked and turned quickly. Noah, Amara, and Kai stood near the parked cars, waiting for her.
The tension dissolved—almost.
They said their goodbyes. Noah offered to drop Amara home since she lived nearby. Elle got into her car, waving at them.
Kai stood at the edge of the curb, hands in his pockets, watching her taillights disappear.
Something had shifted.
He didn't know what it was yet.
But for the first time in a long while, he hoped it would stay.