The space between us

New connections

A few days after move-in day, it was finally time for Orientation, and the freshmen students made their way to the hall. Jordan's eyes scanned the crowded orientation hall, searching for an empty seat. As he spotted one, he quickly made his way over, dodging enthusiastic freshmen and frazzled parents. Just as he sat down, a girl with long, curly brown hair and bright green eyes plopped down beside him.

"Sorry about that," she said, flashing a warm smile. "I'm Audrey." "Jordan," he replied, feeling a spark of electricity as their hands touched briefly during the handshake. The presenter began to drone on about academic policies, and Jordan found himself zoning out. Audrey, however, seemed engrossed, scribbling notes furiously in her binder. Jordan couldn't help but sneak glances at her, admiring the way her hair fell in loose waves down her back. As the presentation dragged on, Audrey turned to Jordan and whispered, "Do you understand what they're talking about?" Jordan chuckled. "Honestly, no." I'm just trying to stay awake. Audrey giggled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Same here." I think I'm going to need a flowchart to keep track of all this." Jordan smiled, feeling an unexpected connection. "Maybe we can study together later and figure it out?" Audrey's eyes sparkled. "That sounds like a plan." As the orientation continued, Jordan found himself looking forward to the breaks, hoping to catch Audrey's eye again. When she'd notice, he would quickly turn away and think about how beautiful she looked, her light skin glowed in the fluorescent lighting and a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose added to her natural beauty. As they filed out of the hall for a lunch break, Audrey turned to Jordan and asked, "Want to grab lunch together?" I'm starving." Jordan's heart skipped a beat. "yeah sure". Jordan couldn't help but notice how Audrey's curls bounced with each step, and how her smile lit up the entire area. He felt a flutter in his chest, but quickly pushed the feeling aside, reminding himself that he was already in a relationship. He was just being friendly. Once they got to the cafeteria, Jordan couldn't help but notice the way Audrey's eyes sparkled when she laughed. There was a radiant energy about her that drew people in, and he found himself feeling more and more at ease in her presence. Audrey suggested they grab some sandwiches and sit outside. Jordan agreed, and they made their way through the lines, chatting about everything from their favorite songs to their summer vacation plans. As they sat down at a table outside, Audrey turned to Jordan and asked, "So, what's your major?" Jordan hesitated for a moment before responding, "I'm still undecided, but I'm leaning towards computer science." Audrey nodded thoughtfully. "That's cool, you must be like really smart" ermm, I know some s**t, but i wouldn't call my self smart, I do dumb s**t all the time, Jordan said facetiously. What about you? he asked. She smirked before she responded, "My parents are both in business, so I think it would be a good fit for me." Jordan smiled. "That makes sense." Do you know what you want to do after graduation? Audrey's eyes lit up. "I want to start my own company." I've always been passionate about sustainability, and I think there's a lot of potential for innovation in that field." Jordan was impressed. "That's really cool." I've always been interested in entrepreneurship too. As they continued to talk, Jordan found himself feeling more and more drawn to Audrey. She was smart, funny, and had a passion for life that was infectious. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to spend more time with her. But as much as he enjoyed Audrey's company, Jordan couldn't shake the feeling that he was being unfaithful to Rachel. He had been with Rachel for a few years, and he loved her dearly. He didn't want to hurt her, and he wasn't sure what to do about his growing feelings for Audrey. As they finished their lunch and prepared to part ways, Audrey turned to Jordan and asked, "Want to study together later this week?" You seem smart, and I could use some help with my math homework." Jordan hesitated for a moment before responding, "Yeah, that sounds great. "What's your snap? let me get real quick, and we can figure out a time that works for both of us." Audrey smiled and nodded, and Jordan couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the prospect of spending more time with her. As they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, Jordan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew he had to be honest with Rachel about his feelings, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up. He didn't want to hurt her, but he couldn't deny the connection he felt with Audrey.

Over the next few days, Jordan found himself thinking about Audrey more and more. He sent her a text to set up a study session, and they agreed to meet up on Wednesday afternoon. As he waited for her to arrive, Jordan couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. He was excited to see her again, but he was also nervous about how things might develop between them. When Audrey arrived, she was carrying a large backpack and had a determined look on her face. "I'm ready to tackle this math homework," she said, smiling. Jordan laughed and nodded, feeling a sense of relief that they were just going to study. As they worked through the problems together, Jordan found himself feeling more and more comfortable around Audrey. She was easy to talk to, and he enjoyed her company. But as the hours passed, Jordan couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking a thin line. He cared about Rachel, but he couldn't deny the connection he felt with Audrey . He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew he had to be honest with himself and with those around him. As they finished up their study session and said their goodbyes, Jordan felt a sense of uncertainty. He knew he had to navigate his feelings carefully, and he wasn't sure where things would go from here. But one thing was for sure — he was excited to find out.