We Were Never Strangers

CHAPTER 6

The next morning began with disaster.

"ISLA!"

A pillow hit her face.

Hard.

Isla jerked awake instantly.

For one glorious second, she had no idea where she was.

Then reality returned.

Dorm room.

University.

Classes.

And—

The clock.

"Oh no."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

"You're finally awake. Get ready, we are going ahead , and your coffee's on the table dont forget that. "

Maya says n moves out of the dorm.

Isla grabbed her phone.

8:47 AM.

Her lecture started at nine.

On the opposite side of campus.

Wonderful.

Absolute perfection.

Within five minutes she had brushed her teeth, thrown her hair into a quick ponytail, grabbed her bag, and sprinted out of the dorm building with a coffee she absolutely did not have time to drink.

The campus was already crowded.

Students moved between buildings.

Some carried coffees.

Others carried textbooks.

Most looked significantly more prepared for the morning than she was.

Isla rushed past them, weaving through groups of people while mentally calculating how many minutes she had left.

Then she noticed it.

People were staring.

Not everyone.

But enough.

A group near the fountain glanced her way and immediately started whispering.

Two girls outside the library looked at her before exchanging amused smiles.

A boy walking past nearly turned around to look again.

Weird.

Isla frowned slightly.

Maybe it was because she was practically running through campus like she was being chased.

That had to be it.

There was no other explanation.

Ignoring it, she continued toward the business building.

Unfortunately, the strange looks continued.

By the time she reached her classroom ofCommunication, Leadership & Professional Development, she was convinced half the campus had collectively decided to judge her cardio abilities.

The lecture hall was already half full.

Thankfully—

Professor hadn't arrived yet.

Victory.

Isla slipped inside and immediately searched for an empty seat.

Most rows were occupied.

Finally, she spotted one near the back.

Perfect.

She dropped into the chair and let out a relieved breath.

Made it.

Barely.

For approximately thirty seconds, everything was peaceful.

Then the door opened.

And her roommates arrived.

Together.

Which should have warned her.

Unfortunately, it didn't.

Maya spotted her immediately.

Her eyes widened.

Then narrowed.

Then widened again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Without hesitation, Maya marched toward her.

"YOU."

Several students looked over.

Isla already regretted existing.

"What?"

Maya dropped into the seat beside her dramatically.

"What do you mean what?"

Olivia sat down on her other side.

Looking far too entertained.

Serena settled into the row ahead.

Chloe looked guilty for some reason.

Never a good sign.

"Maya," Isla said carefully.

"No."

"Before you start—"

"No."

"I haven't even said anything."

"Exactly."

That somehow made less than zero sense.

Maya pointed accusingly at her.

"Explain."

"Explain what?"

"The rumor."

Isla blinked.

"The what?"

The entire group stared at her.

Then Chloe slowly pulled out her phone.

A terrible sign.

"Please tell me you know what everyone's talking about."

"I don't."

Chloe looked horrified.

"Oh my God."

Olivia laughed.

Actually laughed.

"What?"

Serena turned around in her seat.

"Half the business department thinks you're dating Adrian Blake."

Silence.

One second.

Two.

Three.

"What?"

Maya slapped the desk dramatically.

"THAT'S WHAT I SAID."

Isla stared.

Then laughed.

Nobody else did.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

"Wait."

"Exactly."

"People actually think that?"

"People are convinced of it," Olivia corrected.

Apparently things had escalated significantly.

Maya grabbed Isla's shoulders.

"Do you understand how betrayed I feel?"

"Oh no."

"OH YES."

Several nearby students had completely stopped pretending not to listen.

Maya pointed toward herself.

"I called dibs."

"You cannot call dibs on a human being."

"I absolutely can."

"You absolutely cannot."

"I saw him first."

"That's not how this works."

"It is in my heart."

Olivia buried her face in her hands.

Serena looked seconds away from laughing.

Chloe looked equally curious.

"Seriously though," Chloe said. "Is it true?"

"No."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

"Then why is everyone talking about it?"

Isla immediately thought of Noah.

That menace.

"I dont know about any of this."

"That is actually believable," Serena sarcastically admits.

Maya narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Then explain the arm."

"What arm?"

"The arm around your shoulders."

Isla froze.

Mistake.

A huge mistake.

Because every girl immediately noticed.

"There was an arm?" Chloe asked.

"There was an arm," Maya confirmed.

"There was not an arm."

"There absolutely was."

Olivia looked amused again.

"Interesting reaction."

"There is no reaction."

"There was definitely a reaction."

Isla dropped her forehead onto the desk.

This was a nightmare.

An actual nightmare.

"I am not dating Adrian."

Nobody looked convinced.

Not one person.

Maya leaned closer.

"Then why did he tell that girl he wasn't changing partners?"

Because he's stubborn.

Because he's annoying.

Because he's Adrian.

Instead she simply said,

"I don't know."

"Liar."

"Not helping."

Maya sighed dramatically.

"Fine."

Then pointed at her.

"But if you start dating him, I deserve advance notice."

"You are not getting advance notice."

"Rude."

Before Maya could continue her interrogation, the lecture hall doors opened.

Professor entered carrying a stack of papers.

Immediately, conversations died down.

Students hurried back to their seats.

Maya leaned over one final time.

"We're continuing this later."

"There is nothing to continue."

"We'll see."

Professor placed his notes on the podium.

And for the first time all morning—

Isla wished she was discussing project work with Adrian instead.

At least he was easier to deal with than her roommates.

The lecture hall doors opened exactly as Professor Reynolds began introducing the course syllabus.

Every head turned.

Including Isla's.

Adrian walked in first.

Luca followed behind him carrying an iced coffee and looking significantly less bothered about being late.

Professor Reynolds paused mid-sentence.

The silence lasted just long enough to be uncomfortable.

"How kind of you both to join us."

A few students laughed.

Luca looked completely unbothered.

"Traffic," he replied.

The professor glanced at his watch.

"Interesting. Because campus roads don't usually qualify as highways."

More laughter.

Adrian looked deeply unimpressed.

"We'll keep that in mind next time."

"Please do."

Professor Reynolds gestured toward the room.

"Now that our honored guests have arrived, feel free to take a seat."

Without another word, Adrian and Luca headed toward the back rows.

Isla watched them briefly before returning her attention to the front.

Unfortunately—

Maya noticed.

Of course she did.

The moment Adrian passed behind them, Maya slowly turned toward Isla.

Suspiciously.

Very suspiciously.

Isla immediately looked away.

Absolutely not.

Maya narrowed her eyes.

Then faced forward again.

For now.

A temporary victory.

Behind them, Adrian and Luca dropped into two empty seats.

Luca opened his notebook.

Adrian opened his laptop.

Everything seemed normal.

For approximately three seconds.

Then Luca leaned slightly toward him.

"So."

"No."

Luca grinned.

"I didn't even ask anything."

"You were about to."

"I was."

A beat.

Then Luca glanced toward Isla's row.

Then toward Adrian.

Then back toward Isla's row.

"Oh."

Adrian closed his eyes briefly.

"Don't."

Luca looked entirely too entertained.

"The rumor makes much more sense now."

Several nearby students immediately looked interested.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Luca."

"What?"

"Shut up."

Unfortunately—

Luca wasn't exactly whispering.

The people sitting around them had clearly heard.

A girl two rows over immediately pulled out her phone.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Luca raised both hands.

"Fine."

Then after a pause—

"For the record, I think you two would—"

"Focus on class."

The words came out significantly colder than necessary.

Luca finally laughed and leaned back in his chair.

"Touchy."

The lecture continued.

Thankfully.

Professor Reynolds moved through the course outline, attendance policies, assignments, presentations, and approximately seventeen warnings about professionalism.

Most students listened.

Some pretended to.

Others looked one inconvenience away from dropping the elective entirely.

Eventually the professor closed his folder.

"Before next class, I'd like everyone to read Chapters One and Two."

A collective groan echoed through the room.

Professor Reynolds ignored it.

"As future professionals, I expect better reactions to reading assignments."

Nobody looked convinced.

A minute later he dismissed the class.

Instant chaos followed.

Students packed bags.

Chairs scraped against the floor.

Conversations restarted.

And before Isla could escape—

Maya spun around in her seat.

Directly toward Adrian.

Accusatory.

Determined.

Dangerous.

"You."

Adrian looked up slowly.

Already regretting everything.

"What?"

"This rumor."

"What rumor?"

"The rumor."

"That narrows it down considerably."

Maya pointed dramatically between him and Isla.

"That one."

Adrian looked genuinely tired.

"It's not true."

"You started it."

"I didn't."

"You absolutely did."

"I absolutely didn't."

Maya folded her arms.

"I don't believe you."

"That sounds like a personal problem."

Serena immediately covered a laugh.

Olivia looked amused.

Chloe looked curious.

Isla looked exhausted.

"Can we not do this?" she asked.

"No," Maya answered instantly.

Then the lecture hall doors opened again.

A familiar voice interrupted.

"Hey."

Everyone turned.

Daniel.

Holding a coffee.

Looking entirely too cheerful for this hour.

His gaze landed on the group immediately.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"An investigation," Serena answered.

Daniel blinked.

"Should I be concerned?"

"Probably."

Maya sighed dramatically.

"Nobody appreciates my commitment to journalism."

Daniel wisely chose not to ask questions.

Instead he looked toward Isla and Chloe.

"What's your schedule after this?"

Chloe pulled out her phone.

"Marketing Principles."

"Same."

Daniel looked pleased.

"Nice."

He glanced toward Isla.

"And you?"

"Business Analytics."

Daniel nodded.

"Right. Then we have Business Foundations together after lunch."

"Unfortunately."

"Wow."

"I'm kidding."

"You sounded sincere."

"Maybe fifty percent."

Daniel placed a hand over his heart.

"Wounded."

A laugh escaped Isla.

Daniel immediately looked pleased with himself.

Across the row behind them—

the temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

Luca noticed first.

Then slowly turned toward Adrian.

Oh.

There it was.

That expression.

The one Adrian got whenever something annoyed him.

Which apparently happened to be Daniel's entire existence.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Meanwhile, Daniel remained completely unaware.

"See you guys later."

The girls waved goodbye as he headed toward the exit.

A second later the group began gathering their things as well.

Within minutes everyone was filing out of the lecture hall.

Adrian stood.

Closed his laptop.

And headed toward the door.

Luca walked beside him.

Silent for exactly three seconds.

Then—

"You know, I think Daniel's growing on me."

Adrian didn't even look at him.

"Try harder."

Luca started laughing immediately.

And somehow—

Adrian's mood worsened even further.

The garage studio attached to the Midnight Echo house was already loud before Adrian even opened the door.

A drum roll exploded from inside.

Then another.

Then a third.

Adrian closed his eyes.

"Ethan."

The drumming immediately became louder.

Luca laughed beside him.

The moment they stepped inside, Ethan stood up from behind the drum set and raised both sticks dramatically.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to today's performance."

A beat.

Then he started playing a ridiculously dramatic rhythm.

Noah jumped onto a chair.

Without warning, he began singing.

"Oh Adriannnnnn..."

Adrian immediately knew this was going to be a problem.

"No."

Noah ignored him.

"You put your arm around herrrr..."

Ethan added another drum beat.

Luca nearly choked laughing.

"Noah," Adrian warned.

But Noah was already committed.

"The whole campus sawwww..."

Drums.

"And now they're in loooveee..."

DRUMS.

Ethan looked seconds away from falling off his stool.

Luca was laughing openly now.

Adrian stared at all three of them.

Deeply unimpressed.

"Are you done?"

"No."

Noah pointed dramatically.

"The people deserve answers."

"There are no answers."

"There are rumors."

"You started them."

Noah gasped.

The betrayal.

"The accusation."

"You literally did."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

Noah pressed a hand against his chest.

"Hurtful."

Adrian folded his arms.

"The entire campus suddenly knows about one conversation."

"Correction."

Noah lifted one finger.

"The entire campus already saw you with your arm around her."

Luca nodded.

"Fair point."

Ethan nodded too.

"Very fair point."

Adrian looked offended.

"That means nothing."

"Sure."

"It doesn't."

"Of course."

"It was one moment."

"Mm-hmm."

Adrian hated all of them.

Noah grinned.

"To be fair, I may have provided a very tiny amount of assistance."

Silence.

Adrian stared.

Luca stared.

Ethan stared.

Noah spread his hands innocently.

"What?"

"You admitted it."

"I said tiny."

"How tiny?"

Noah considered.

"Like adding gasoline to a candle."

Luca dropped his head onto the table laughing.

Ethan nearly threw a drumstick.

Adrian looked moments away from homicide.

"Noah."

"What?"

"You are impossible."

"I prefer influential."

"You are a menace."

"Also true."

For a second, nobody spoke.

Then Ethan pointed.

"So are you going to tell us what's actually happening?"

"Nothing is happening."

"Nobody believes that."

"Not even a little."

Adrian rubbed a hand over his face.

Unbelievable.

Three grown men.

One collective brain cell.

And somehow he was the unreasonable one.

"Noah starts one rumor and suddenly everyone loses their minds."

"Interesting choice of words."

Adrian looked at him.

"What?"

"One rumor."

"Yes."

"Not the other one."

The room went quiet.

A little too quiet.

Adrian immediately realized his mistake.

Luca frowned.

"The other one?"

Noah straightened.

"There are multiple rumors?"

Ethan looked delighted.

"Oh this just got interesting."

Adrian sighed.

He should leave.

Immediately.

Unfortunately, Noah was already watching him carefully.

"Wait."

"No."

"Wait."

"Noah."

"No, seriously."

Luca slowly sat forward.

"You mean the engagement rumor?"

Silence.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

And unfortunately—

that silence answered the question.

Ethan's jaw dropped.

Noah blinked.

Luca froze.

"Oh my God."

Adrian closed his eyes.

Mistake.

Huge mistake.

"You are engaged?"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Suspiciously quickly.

Noah pointed immediately.

"That's a lie."

"It isn't."

"It absolutely is."

Luca looked stunned.

"Hold on."

He pointed toward Adrian's left hand.

"The ring."

Everyone looked.

The silver band.

The one Adrian never removed.

Ever.

Noah's eyes widened.

"Wait."

Ethan looked horrified.

"WAIT."

"You've been wearing that since freshman year."

Adrian regretted everything.

Absolutely everything.

Then Noah snapped his fingers.

"The schoolgirl rumor."

"What schoolgirl rumor?" Ethan asked.

"The one from first year."

Luca immediately groaned.

"Oh my God."

Ethan looked between them.

"What rumor?"

"There was a picture."

"A terrible picture."

"Very terrible."

"She was wearing a school uniform."

Ethan looked scandalized.

"What?!"

"Noah, she was literally his age."

"I know."

"Then why call her a schoolgirl?"

"Because it sounds dramatic."

Adrian looked seconds away from throwing something.

Then—

His phone rang.

The screen lit up.

One glance.

And Adrian stood immediately.

"I have to take this."

Noah pointed.

"YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE."

"Watch me."

"You literally admitted being engaged."

"I admitted nothing."

"You absolutely did."

Adrian was already heading toward the door.

"Noah."

"What?"

"Focus on the song."

Then he disappeared outside before another question could be asked.

The studio door shut behind him.

Silence.

A long silence.

Then Ethan slowly looked at Luca.

Luca looked at Noah.

Noah looked at both of them.

Nobody spoke for three full seconds.

Then—

"Holy shit."

"Yep."

"He's actually engaged."

"Maybe."

"No maybe."

Luca leaned back.

"The ring."

"The rumors."

"The way he never talks about relationships."

"The fact that he almost exposed himself trying to deny another rumor."

Noah looked thoughtful.

Then suspicious.

"Or."

Luca narrowed his eyes.

"Or?"

"What if that was a distraction?"

The room paused.

Ethan blinked.

"A distraction from what?"

Noah grinned slowly.

Then pointed dramatically toward the closed door.

"Coffee Girl."

Silence.

Then—

"Oh."

"Oh no."

"Oh absolutely no."

And suddenly none of them knew which mystery was more interesting.