Between The Lines

Chapter 5: Questions and Doubts

Jason sat in the lecture hall, pen in hand, but his mind was elsewhere. The professor’s voice droned on in the background, barely registering in his consciousness. His eyes flickered to the side, catching Nate a few rows away, slouched in his seat, his gaze flicking back and forth, never really focused on the lecture.

Jason exhaled, rubbing his temple. He couldn't figure this guy out. Nate was everywhere—always appearing just when Jason least expected him, always throwing in cryptic comments or watching him like he was some sort of puzzle he was trying to solve. It was unnerving.

Does he have something against me? Jason wondered. Or is he just trying to get something from me?

He shook his head and forced himself to focus on the board, scribbling half-hearted notes. But the suffocating feeling remained.

The lecture dragged on, each second stretching longer than the last. When the professor finally dismissed the class, Jason felt like he could breathe again. He reached for his phone immediately, needing a distraction. His fingers hovered over Derby’s name for a second before he started typing.

Jason:Hey, how’s your day going?

Immediately he hit send, a hand tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

"Jason."

His breath hitched. He knew that voice instantly—smooth, gentle, and familiar. He turned around, and there she was.

Derby.

She stood with her arms crossed loosely, a small, knowing smile on her lips. "You look like someone deep in thought."

Jason pocketed his phone and smirked. "You caught me. What’s up?"

"I just thought I’d come say hi before heading out," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Jason leaned back slightly. "That’s funny—I just texted you."

Derby raised an eyebrow before pulling out her phone. A small chuckle escaped her lips when she saw his message. "Oh wow. Looks like I beat technology this time."

Jason chuckled, feeling a little ridiculous for even sending the message when she was right there. "Do you have a few minutes? Let’s find somewhere quieter to talk."

Derby hesitated for half a second before nodding. "Sure."

They walked outside together, navigating through the crowd of students spilling out of the lecture hall. Just a few steps away, a shaded bench stood under a large tree. Jason gestured toward it, and they sat down—not too close, not too far.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The breeze rustled through the trees, carrying snippets of laughter and conversation from passing students.

Jason finally broke the silence. "You always look beautiful, you know."

Derby laughed, shaking her head. "You don’t have to tease me."

Jason smirked. "I don’t give out compliments often, but when I do, I mean them."

Derby rolled her eyes playfully, though a faint blush touched her cheeks. "Well, thank you. You’re looking pretty good yourself."

Jason leaned back slightly, grinning. "Now that’s a compliment I’ll take."

The conversation flowed easily after that. They talked about classes, professors, and the overwhelming amount of assignments piling up already. But when Derby mentioned struggling with a few courses, her expression shifted, the usual light in her eyes dimming slightly.

Jason noticed immediately. "Hey, don’t worry. You’ll catch up. If you ever need help, just let me know."

Her eyes met his, searching his face as if gauging his sincerity. Then, she smiled again. "Really?"

"Of course. Anything for you," Jason said smoothly. He watched her carefully, curious to see her reaction. He half-expected her to call him out for being too forward, but instead, she just laughed.

Jason chuckled along with her, but a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind.

Should I ask her about last night?

He hesitated.

Last night, he had waited for her reply—watched his screen light up with every notification, hoping it was her. And when she finally did respond, it was hours later, a simple apology.

He wanted to ask. Wanted to know what had kept her from replying. But he also knew how it might come off.

What if she thinks I’m being clingy?

So, he pushed the thought aside.

They continued talking, laughter breaking through the easy rhythm of their conversation.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw something—or rather, someone.

A familiar presence.

His stomach clenched.

Across the courtyard, near the entrance to the lecture hall, stood Nate.

He wasn’t talking to anyone. Wasn’t walking. Wasn’t even pretending to be occupied.

He was just standing there. Watching.

Jason stiffened. His mind raced, trying to rationalize it. Maybe Nate just happened to be there. Maybe he wasn’t watching Jason specifically.

But the uneasy feeling creeping up Jason’s spine told him otherwise.

Derby must have noticed his shift in focus because she tilted her head slightly. "Jason?"

He forced his attention back to her, trying to mask his unease. "Yeah?"

"You suddenly look like you saw a ghost."

Jason exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Nah, it’s nothing. Just… lost in thought."

Derby didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push. Instead, she glanced down at her phone. "I should probably get going soon."

Jason nodded. "Yeah, sure. I’ll see you later?"

"Definitely." She flashed him one last smile before standing up.

Jason watched her walk away, feeling a strange mix of emotions.

Then, reluctantly, he turned his head toward where Nate had been standing.

But Nate was gone.

Jason’s body tensed the moment he realized Nate was gone. He stood up abruptly, scanning the crowd, searching every face. His eyes darted from one student to another, but Nate was nowhere to be seen.

Had he imagined it?

His chest tightened. The doubt he had tried to give himself—that maybe Nate’s presence was just coincidence—was slipping away. He needed to be sure.

Jason exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. I need to tell Shaw about this. The thought hit him harder than expected. Maybe he was overthinking things, but something about Nate didn’t sit right with him. If anyone could help him make sense of it, it was Shaw.

But as Jason turned to leave, another thought crept in. What if I’m just being paranoid? What if Shaw laughs it off?

His footsteps slowed.

Maybe he should wait.

Maybe he should keep this to himself a little longer.

Or maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t something he could afford to ignore.