Chapter 239: getting to know I
By the time the four girls left the dining hall, the evening had settled over St. Albion.
The corridors were quieter now.
Most students had already returned to their dormitories, while others remained scattered around the common areas with books open before them, trying to make the most of the remaining hours before the midterms.
The four girls walked together until they reached the residence hall.
Their conversation gradually shifted away from Evelyn and toward tomorrow’s workload.
"I’m actually going to study tonight," Amelia announced.
Claire looked at her.
"You say that every night."
"This time I’m serious."
"You said that yesterday."
"I was serious yesterday too."
Eleanor smiled.
"I think we should all study."
Vivienne sighed.
"Unfortunately, I agree."
They reached the corridor where their rooms were located.
Amelia and Eleanor said their goodnights before disappearing into their respective rooms.
Claire and Vivienne continued a little farther.
Their room was at the end of the corridor.
Claire unlocked the door, pushed it open, and immediately dropped her bag onto her desk.
Vivienne followed behind her.
The familiar room felt considerably quieter than the dining hall.
Two desks.
Two beds.
Books already beginning to accumulate in increasingly untidy piles.
Claire glanced toward Vivienne.
"I’m going to review History first."
Vivienne nodded.
"I’ll do Economics."
"Of course you will."
Vivienne smiled.
"It’s my best subject."
"I know."
Claire pulled out her notebook.
"And don’t get distracted."
Vivienne gave her an innocent look.
"Why would I?"
Claire stared at her.
"Because you’re you."
Vivienne laughed.
"Fair."
They settled into their respective desks.
For the next hour, the room was filled with the quiet sounds of studying.
Pages turning.
Pens moving.
Occasionally, one of them would sigh.
Vivienne worked through several Economics problems, reviewing the material Professor Hawthorne had covered that morning.
She was focused.
Mostly.
But eventually, her eyes drifted toward the clock.
Then toward the small stack of papers beside her.
She had been studying for nearly an hour.
That was enough for tonight.
At least for a few minutes.
Vivienne leaned back in her chair.
Her gaze wandered toward the nightstand.
Her phone was lying there.
She had barely thought about it all day.
In fact—
She hadn’t checked it once.
Vivienne reached for it.
The screen lit up.
A few messages were waiting.
One from Amelia earlier.
A text blast from the university reminding students about tomorrow’s classes.
Nothing particularly important.
She skimmed through them without much interest.
Then paused.
Her thumb hovered over the phone.
There was one person she had briefly expected to hear from.
Damian.
After yesterday’s pool party, she had thought he might find some excuse to approach her today.
Perhaps one of those supposedly accidental encounters.
Or maybe a message.
He had her number.
But then again...
Damian wasn’t really the sort of person who texted her.
Even when they were simply being friends, he rarely initiated conversations that way.
So perhaps this was perfectly normal.
Maybe he simply preferred speaking in person.
Vivienne shrugged lightly.
Whatever the reason, it wasn’t particularly important.
She put the thought aside.
Her attention shifted to another name.
Christopher.
A small smile appeared before she could stop it.
That was different.
She had actually wanted to talk to him.
Not because she expected anything from him.
Not because she had been trying to provoke anyone.
She simply liked talking to him.
He was easy to speak with.
Thoughtful.
Intelligent.
And, unfortunately, very handsome.
Vivienne glanced toward Claire.
Her roommate was still absorbed in her notes.
Good.
She picked up her phone again.
For a moment, she simply looked at Christopher’s name.
Then she smiled.
It had been the entire day since they’d last spoken.
That was long enough.
Her thumb moved to the message field.
She began typing.
Good evening, How was your day?
She paused.
Too generic.
Deleted it.
She tried again.
Good evening. Have you had dinner already?
Vivienne looked at the message.
A faint smile appeared.
That sounded normal.
Completely normal.
She sent it.
Then immediately placed the phone face-down on the desk.
She stared at it.
Three seconds.
Five.
She turned it over again.
Nothing.
Vivienne sighed.
This was ridiculous.
It had been less than a minute.
She returned to her Economics notes.
Then her phone vibrated.
Her eyes immediately dropped toward it.
A message.
From Christopher.
Vivienne’s smile appeared before she even opened it.
Good evening. I have. Have you?
She bit back a smile.
He had replied.
She typed quickly.
Yes. I had dinner earlier with my friends.
A moment later, another message appeared.
Christopher: How was your day?
Vivienne’s expression softened.
There was quite a lot she could tell him.
Her classes.
Professor Vale announcing that midterms were next week.
The academic discussion that had somehow turned into another disagreement with Evelyn.
And, unfortunately, the fact that she had lost.
She smiled faintly.
She could tell him all of that.
But perhaps not every detail.
She didn’t want their conversation to become a complaint about someone else.
So she settled on the simplest answer.
Vivienne: It’s been a long day.
She sent it.
The reply came a moment later.
Christopher: Tell me about it.
Vivienne paused.
Then smiled.
She glanced toward Claire.
Her roommate was still studying, completely absorbed in her notes.
Vivienne looked back at her phone.
He had asked.
So she could tell him.
She typed:
Vivienne: You asked me to.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then she began typing.
This time, she didn’t try to make it particularly short.
--
Christopher read her message.
Vivienne: You asked me to.
A small smile appeared on his face.
He could almost imagine the expression she would have while typing it.
And then the messages began arriving.
Vivienne: We had class this morning, and Professor Vale announced that midterms are next week.
Vivienne: Everyone looked absolutely miserable.
A moment later—
Vivienne: Which was probably the least pleasant way to start the day.
Christopher smiled when he read it.
Another message arrived.
Vivienne: Then in our next subject we had a discussion about the reading, and Evelyn Sinclair and I ended up disagreeing.
Christopher smiled.
He didn’t know who Evelyn Sinclair was.
Another message appeared.
Vivienne: I wasn’t even planning to argue with her.
Then:
Vivienne: It just happened.
Christopher laughed quietly.
There was something almost amusing about the way she was telling the story.
Not bitter.
Not particularly angry.
Just animated.
He could practically hear her voice.
Vivienne: She challenged one of my points, so obviously I answered.
Vivienne: Then she challenged that.
Vivienne: So I answered again.
Vivienne: And somehow we ended up going back and forth for far longer than necessary.
Christopher shook his head, smiling.
Then another message arrived.
Vivienne: And before you ask, yes, she won.
Christopher smiled at the screen.
Christopher: She did?
Vivienne sighed.
Vivienne: Unfortunately.
Then another message appeared.
Vivienne: Although I suppose I deserved it.
Christopher raised an eyebrow.
Christopher: Why?
Vivienne smiled.
Vivienne: Because I may have been a little sarcastic.
A pause.
Vivienne: Apparently, my professor said that sarcasm isn’t an argument.
Christopher laughed quietly.
Christopher: Apparently?
Vivienne stared at the screen.
Vivienne: It was a very good argument.
His smile widened.
Christopher: I’m sure it was.
Vivienne: That doesn’t sound sincere.
Christopher: I was trying to be diplomatic.
Vivienne laughed under her breath.
Vivienne: Well, it didn’t work.
Then, after a moment:
Vivienne: Anyway, that was basically my day.
Vivienne: Aside from the rest of my classes, studying, and realizing I have far too much to do before next week.
She paused before adding:
Vivienne: How about you? Tell me about yours.