Reunion

It was eleven in the morning, and my first day of classes had just begun. I felt a rush of nerves as I realized I missed the very first lecture. An uneasy feeling came over me. Hurriedly, I went into the lecture room, only to find it empty—the break had cleared everyone out. 

I quickly took a seat in the back row and noticed him. He came over, leaning on the desk. Gently, he lifted my chin, smiled, and said, "I had a feeling you would be here." I was left speechless, unable to respond. 

His eyes met mine, and a strong desire to kiss him surged, but I held back. His thumb touched my lip, sparking a fiery sensation. Before I could say anything, he grabbed my neck, pulling me closer. Our lips met, and I gave in to the intense connection. Each kiss felt binding, and in that moment, I was ready to do anything he wanted, swept away by emotions. 

Suddenly, I woke up from the dream, letting out a sigh. What a dream it was. The lingering sensations stayed with me as I got ready for my first day at university, wondering if reality could ever match the intensity of that enchanting encounter. 

My heart raced as I walked through the busy campus on my first day of university. The smell of excitement filled the air, and the lively energy of new beginnings surrounded me. I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as I moved through the crowd of unfamiliar faces. 

As I got closer to the university building, I couldn't stop thinking about my dream. The last time I saw Nick was on the day we graduated from high school. The unspoken tension between us, the lingering looks that said a lot, and the shared but unspoken feelings were like ghosts from a not-so-distant past. 

Nickolas, or Nick as I liked to call him, had been my best friend since childhood. We grew up together, sharing secrets, dreams, and even the uncharted territories of our teenage emotions. But, as fate would have it, we never took the step into a romantic relationship. 

Now, here I was, stepping onto the university grounds, hoping for a fresh start. Little did I know destiny had other plans. 

My first class was in a large lecture hall, and as I entered, my eyes scanned the room for an empty seat. I spotted an empty spot toward the back, but as I made my way there, my gaze locked with a pair of familiar eyes. 

Nickolas. 

He was already seated, his eyes fixated on me. A myriad of emotions flickered across his face – surprise, recognition, and a hint of something I couldn't quite place. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to take the seat next to him. The atmosphere between us crackled with unspoken words, and the air seemed to thicken with unresolved tension. 

"Isabella," Nick greeted me, his voice a mixture of warmth and restraint. 

"Nick," I replied, offering a tentative smile. The past two years had changed us both, and yet, in that moment, it felt like time had stood still. 

As I was lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a feminine voice coming from front row. I lifted my gaze and to my surprise, it was one of my long-time acquaintances. I had been caught up in a daydream, pondering kissing my former friend who I had just encountered after several months. The realization of my inappropriate thoughts made me feel ashamed, and I swiftly pulled myself back to the present moment. 

As I approached Ava, I greeted her with a friendly "Hey, hi!" and she welcomed me with a comforting hug that lasted for about 5-10 seconds. 

As I took a seat, I greeted her and couldn't help but express my surprise at how long it had been since we last saw each other. "It feels like forever since we last caught up. How have you been?" I asked, eager to hear about what she's been up to. 

"Let me see if I got this right," Ava responded, contemplating for a moment. "If my memory serves me well, we're talking about a span of seven years, aren't we?" she questioned, seeking clarification. 

"I agree," I replied with a simple affirmation. 

"It's wonderful to see you here! I must admit, I wasn't expecting you to show up. I heard that you were leaving the city, and Nick didn't mention anything about your return. Nevertheless, it's a pleasure to have you as a classmate once again," Ava was speaking non-stop, and although I was paying some attention, my mind was also wandering. 

"I must admit, it's quite a pleasant surprise to find ourselves reunited as classmates," I said, my words betraying the true feelings I harbored. 

During my primary schooling years, Ava was a schoolmate of mine. However, she later moved schools, and although we resided in the same neighborhood, we only exchanged casual greetings whenever we crossed paths. While I do not harbor any animosity towards her, I find her presence to be rather exhausting, as her energy seems to sap my own. Additionally, Ava understands Nick and I used to be friends, and I anticipate that she will continue to inquire about our relationship. It has become increasingly clear to me that Nick is no longer my closest confidant. In fact, we do not communicate at all these days. How can I delicately convey this message to Ava without being awkward? 

The professor started the lecture, but I found it challenging to focus. I could feel Nick's presence beside me, a magnetic force pulling my attention away from the academic discourse. The tension between us simmered beneath the surface, like a dormant volcano threatening to erupt. 

After the class, I couldn't escape the feeling of Nick's eyes on me as we both exited the lecture hall. We exchanged polite small talk, catching up on the basics of life since high school. 

As we navigated the first day of classes, the tension between me and Nick escalated. Each encounter, each shared smile or accidental touch, fueled the unspoken desire that lay dormant for too long. It was a dance of restraint and longing, a delicate balance that both wanted to maintain and disrupt. 

As the day progressed, I found myself lost in my own thoughts, seemingly drifting through one lecture after the other. It wasn't until the end of the day, when it was time to leave college, that I finally snapped out of my daze. My classmate Ava had asked if I wanted to join her and her father on their way out, but I declined, feeling like I had already had enough of her for the day. Instead, I craved some fresh air and solitude, so I decided to walk home at a leisurely pace. Although it wasn't exactly close, it wasn't too far away either, or I estimated it would take me about an hour to get there. 

As I walked, I let my mind wander and listened to some music, trying to clear my head. To my surprise, he passed by my side and asked me for a cup of coffee, and I could not say no. 

Later in the day, we found ourselves at a coffee shop on the campus outskirts. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the outdoor seating area as we sipped our drinks. The conversation flowed effortlessly, memories of our shared past intertwining with the present. Yet, beneath the surface, the tension grew thicker. 

Nick's fingers drummed lightly on the table, a nervous habit I knew all too well. The unspoken words hung in the air, like a melody that begged to be played. I mustered the courage to address the palpable tension. 

"Nick, we can't ignore what happened," I said, my eyes locking onto his. 

His gaze held a mixture of vulnerability and longing. "I know, Isabella. It's just... complicated." 

I nodded, understanding the complexity of our shared history. The proximity between us seemed to close the gap between friendship and something more profound. I felt the pull, the magnetic force that had drawn us together since childhood, now amplified by the currents of newfound desire. 

The atmosphere shifted, charged with unspoken emotions. Nick leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a hesitant, tentative kiss. It was a culmination of years of suppressed feelings, a release of the tension that had woven itself into the fabric of their connection. 

Our lips met again, this time with a fervor that spoke of longing and desire. My heart raced as the kiss deepened, and the coffee shop's ambient noise faded into the background. The world around us ceased to exist, and in that moment, it was just me and him, navigating the uncharted territory of our feelings. 

Little did we know, the reunion on the university campus marked the beginning of a journey that would unravel the complexities of our intertwined destinies, leading them down a path of love, longing, and self-discovery.