Zephyr couldn't help but steal glances at Lyra as the professor droned on about economic theories. He was surprised by how at ease he felt around her, despite the chaos Kiana had stirred up.
As the class wrapped up, Lyra gathered her things and smiled at Zephyr. "Hey, I'm Lyra Akira. Welcome to the madness."
Zephyr's heart skipped a beat as he took her outstretched hand. "Zephyr Vex. Nice to meet you."
Lyra's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So, Zephyr, what brings you to this neck of the woods?"
Zephyr hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just trying to lay low, you know?"
Lyra's expression turned knowing. "Ah, got a bit of a complicated story, huh?"
Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "You could say that."
The hallway outside erupted into chaos as students poured out of classrooms. Lyra nodded towards the door. "Want to grab coffee and get out of this madness?"
Zephyr's pulse quickened. Was she asking him out? "Uh, yeah. Sounds great."
As they navigated the crowded hallway, Lyra chatted effortlessly about everything from classes to favorite books. Zephyr found himself relaxing, forgetting about his family's name and the expectations that came with it.
They settled into a quiet corner of the campus café, sipping lattes and swapping stories. Zephyr was surprised by how much they had in common – love for indie music, thrift shopping, and old movies.
Lyra laughed, her eyes cr crling at the corners. "I'm glad you sat by me today. That Kiana can be a real..."
Zephyr chuckled. "Yeah, she's something else."
Their conversation flowed easily, and Zephyr felt a connection he couldn't ignore. As they finished their coffee, Lyra checked her watch. "Shoot, I have a study group. Rain check on more coffee?"
Zephyr nodded, not wanting the moment to end. "Definitely. Tomorrow?"
Lyra's smile was all the confirmation he needed.