The hallway in Building C smelled like reheated coffee and chalk, the way it only did during the first few weeks of classes. Senior year. Just thinking about it made my stomach twist—a good feeling and a bad one at the same time.
I found Lara leaning against my locker, messing around on her phone with that little smile she only wore when she was texting someone she shouldn't be.
“Good morning to you too,” I said, nudging her shoulder.
LARA: “Hey! I didn't even see you come in.” She put her phone away way too quickly.
I didn't ask. I already had a pretty good idea who it was.
We headed to the courtyard, where Pietro had already claimed our usual table beneath the only tree that provided decent shade at that hour. He waved at us with the cheese from his snack in his hand.
PIETRO: “Guess who barely passed Calculus?”
“You,” I said, sitting down beside him.
PIETRO: “Me.”
Eduardo arrived right after, with his usual way of looking like he'd just walked out of an important meeting, even though it was only a Tuesday class. He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss before sitting.
EDUARDO: “Last college registration. Can you believe it?”
“It still hasn't sunk in,” I admitted.
That's when I saw the black car pulling into the parking spot on the other side of the lot. Sebastián got out unhurriedly, helmet tucked under his arm, with that air of someone who didn't owe anybody an explanation. He didn't even look in our direction—he never did, really—just crossed the courtyard with his hands in his pockets and disappeared toward the main building.
I don't know why my eyes followed him all the way to the door.
“Giulia.” Eduardo's voice brought me back. “I was asking if we could have dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, we can,” I replied, forcing my attention back onto him.
That was when Alex showed up, tossing his backpack onto the table hard enough to nearly knock over Pietro's juice.
ALEX: “You guys aren't going to believe who came back to town.”
Everyone stopped.
ALEX: “Annie.”
Lara suddenly grew serious, and I realized I wasn't the only one who felt the air change around that table.