THE BOYS' DORM – MORNING
The sun came through the blinds in thin, angry stripes.
Aaron was already awake. He hadn't slept well. Vicky had left before dawn; something about a study group, something about needing space. He didn't believe her. He didn't not believe her. He just watched the door close and listened to her footsteps fade.
Charlie was still asleep, his mouth open, his arm dangling off the bed. Wesley was gone; his bed was made with military precision, the corners tucked like a hotel. Oliver sat on his own bunk, legs crossed, eyes closed. Meditating. Or pretending.
"You're up early," Aaron said.
"I didn't sleep."
"Bad dreams?"
Oliver opened his eyes. "The usual."
The usual meant water. Drowning. The pool. The glow sticks. The way the light looked from underneath.
Aaron didn't push. He never pushed.
His phone buzzed.
Kosi (7:15 AM): Zizi told me you and Vicky are back together. You want to explain or you want me to pretend I don't care?
Aaron (7:16 AM): Pretend.
Kosi (7:16 AM): Cool. Meet me at the clinic later. I need to vent about my mother.
Aaron (7:17 AM): Your mother loves you.
Kosi (7:17 AM): That's the problem.
Aaron almost smiled. Almost.
THE CAFETERIA – LATE MORNING
Vicky sat with Zuru and Zizi, picking at a plate of jollof rice. She hadn't told them she'd spent the night at Aaron's. She didn't need to. Zuru could smell it on her.
"You're back with him," Zuru said. Not a question.
Vicky didn't answer.
Zuru put down her fork. "Vicky."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You never want to talk about it. That's the problem."
Zizi touched Zuru's arm. "Leave her."
"No. I won't leave her. She's making a mistake. Again. And I'm supposed to sit here and watch?"
Vicky looked up. Her eyes were tired. "He explained everything."
"He explained. Or he explained in a way that made you feel sorry for him?"
"What's the difference?"
Zuru stared at her. "You don't even know. That's the saddest part."
She stood up and walked away.
Zizi stayed. She reached across the table and took Vicky's hand.
"I'm not going to tell you what to do," Zizi said. "But I am going to tell you to be careful."
"Of Aaron?"
"Of yourself. You give too much. You always have. And people like Aaron... they take. Not because they're evil. Because they're hungry. And you're the only one who feeds them."
Vicky pulled her hand back. "You don't know him."
"No," Zizi said. "But I know you."
She stood up and followed Zuru.
Vicky sat alone, staring at her plate.
THE CLINIC – AFTERNOON
The waiting room was empty. A miracle.
Chuks was at the front desk, scrolling through his phone, laughing at something.
"Arie!" he called out. "Come see this."
Aaron walked over. Chuks turned his phone around. A video of a cat falling off a shelf.
"That's not funny," Aaron said.
"The cat is fine. Look at its face. It's embarrassed."
Aaron shook his head. "You have too much time."
"I have exactly the right amount of time." Chuks leaned back in his chair. "So. I heard you and the angry girl are back together."
"We're not calling her that."
"What should I call her?"
"Vicky."
"Vicky." Chuks nodded. "Pretty name. Angry face. Sad eyes." He looked at Aaron. "You know what they say about sad eyes?"
"What?"
"They've seen too much. And they're waiting to see more."
Aaron didn't answer.
Kosi walked in, carrying two cups of tea. "Your boy is here," he said to Aaron. Then he looked at Chuks. "You're the fat guy who tells stories."
"I prefer 'voluminous raconteur.'"
"Cool. I'm Kosi."
They shook hands. Chuks's hand swallowed Kosi's.
"You're Zizi's brother," Chuks said.
"Unfortunately."
"She's pretty. Is she single?"
Kosi stared at him. "She's also my sister."
"So?"
"So if you touch her, I'll kill you."
Chuks laughed. "Finally. Someone with boundaries."
Aaron took his tea and walked to the back office. Kosi followed.
They sat in the small, windowless room. The walls were beige. The air was stale.
"Your sister hates me," Aaron said.
"Zizi doesn't hate anyone. She just doesn't trust you."
"Is there a difference?"
Kosi thought about it. "No. I guess not."
They drank their tea in silence.
"My mother wants me to drop out," Kosi said.
"Why?"
"She thinks I'm wasting my time. She wants me to come home, work in her shop, marry a nice girl from church."
"Are you going to?"
"No. But I'm tired of fighting her." He looked at Aaron. "You're lucky. Your mother loves you. Even when you're an idiot."
"I'm not lucky. I'm just good at pretending."
Kosi nodded. "Same thing."
THE BOYS' DORM – LATE AFTERNOON
Charlie was on his bed, staring at his phone.
Josephine had texted him three times. He hadn't replied. He didn't know what to say.
Wesley walked in, carrying a bag of groceries.
"Your birthday is tomorrow," Charlie said.
"I'm aware."
"Are you going to do anything?"
"I'm going to exist. People will come. That's enough."
Charlie sat up. "Do you ever feel bad? About anything?"
Wesley put the groceries on his desk. "Sometimes."
"When?"
"When it's too late to do anything about it."
Charlie stared at him. "That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Wesley started unpacking. Snacks. Drinks. A small cake.
"You bought your own cake," Charlie said.
"Someone had to."
"I could have bought it."
"You could have. Would you have?"
Charlie didn't answer.
Wesley looked at him. "You're still angry."
"I'm not angry. I'm disappointed. In you. In Cynthia. In myself."
"That's fair."
"Is it?"
Wesley shrugged. "I'm not going to apologize. I'm not sorry. But I am... aware. Of what I did. Of what it cost."
Charlie lay back on his bed. "That's almost an apology."
"It's the closest you'll get."
They sat in silence. Not comfortable. Not uncomfortable. Just... there.
ROSE – HER DORM, EVENING
Rose stood by the window, looking out at the campus.
The flyers were everywhere now. On every bulletin board. Outside every lecture hall. The task force had a name now: MU's Shield. It sounded like protection. It was a sword.
Kelly was sitting on the bed, scrolling through her phone.
"Three more people have been called in for questioning," Kelly said.
"Who?"
"Names I don't recognize. Second years. A few third years."
Rose turned around. "Anyone we know?"
"Not yet."
"That means it's coming."
Kelly put down her phone. "What do we do?"
"We wait. We watch. We don't panic."
"You're not scared?"
Rose walked to her desk. Picked up a marker. Looked at the list on her wall.
"I'm terrified," she said. "But terror is fuel. Use it."
She crossed out a name. Someone she'd never met. Someone who wouldn't be missed.
"Scapegoats," she said. "That's how you survive."
Kelly nodded. She didn't ask questions.
She didn't want to know the answers.
THE COURTYARD – NIGHT
Charlie found Josephine sitting on the same bench, a bottle of something dark in her hand.
"You're predictable," he said, sitting beside her.
"I'm consistent. There's a difference."
She handed him the bottle. He took a sip.
"How was your day?" she asked.
"Terrible."
"Good. Terrible days make for good stories."
"What's your story?"
Josephine was quiet for a moment. "I don't have one. I just... exist."
"That's not true."
"No. But it's easier than explaining."
Charlie looked at her. The way the light caught her face. The way her eyes held something heavy.
"I'm not going to sleep with you," he said.
"I didn't ask you to."
"Everyone asks."
"I'm not everyone."
He nodded. "I know."
They sat in silence. The stars were out. The campus was quiet.
"You're different," he said.
"So are you."
"How?"
"You're still here. Most people leave after they realize I'm not going to put out."
Charlie laughed. "Maybe I'm not most people."
"Maybe you're not."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. He let her.
For the first time in weeks, he didn't feel alone.
THE PARKING LOT – LATE NIGHT
Oliver sat on the hood of his car, staring at the sky.
Peculiar was beside him, her feet dangling, her purple tips catching the light.
"You're quiet," she said.
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
"About how easy it would be to use again."
Peculiar turned to look at him. "Are you going to?"
"No."
"Then why think about it?"
"Because thinking about it is the only thing that stops me from doing it."
She reached over and took his hand.
"Then keep thinking," she said. "I'll stay here."
He squeezed her hand.
They watched the stars.
THE DORM – MIDNIGHT
Aaron lay in bed, alone.
Vicky hadn't come back. He'd texted her twice. No reply.
He stared at the ceiling.
The water stain looked like a face. Sad. Watching.
His phone buzzed.
Mandy (11:58 PM): I know you told her I assaulted you.
He didn't reply.
Mandy (11:59 PM): You're a coward, Aaron. But I still miss you.
He deleted the messages.
Then he typed back from a different app.
Aaron (12:00 AM): I miss you too.
He sent it.
Then he turned off his phone and closed his eyes.
Tomorrow was Wesley's birthday.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
Or maybe it wouldn't.
Tomorrow was just another day.
VOICEOVER
That night, Charlie sat under the stars with a girl who asked for nothing. Rose built a wall of names to protect herself. Oliver held onto something he wasn't ready to name. And Aaron reached for a fire he knew would burn him. The quiet before the storm is always the most dangerous. Because you don't hear it coming. You just feel the air change. And by the time you look up, it's already too late.