Whispers in the Hallway

irst day, and the sheer size of the sprawling campus made her feel like a small fish in an ocean. She adjusted her oversized

," she whispered to herself, t

y-covered walls and vintage stone pathways, was nothing like her hometown's small community college. Here, at Eastwick, everyone

ad dreamed of attending this prestigious university for years, ever since she picked up her first book about

dorm, a voice suddenly ca

You ne

eet away. She had a friendly, almost too-eager expression on her face, and Sophie immedi

ie answered, offering a ten

id, with a cheerful wink

cted to meet her roommate so quickly-let alo

Sophie asked, suddenly nervous

'm actually a freshman. Just happened to en

lked together toward their dorm, chatting about trivial things-life at Eastwick, how strang

pillar near a small courtyard, his head slightly tilted toward the ground, looking deep in thought. Sophie couldn't explain it, but

"That's Ethan Carter. He's a sophomore-been here forever it fe

ed her even more. She felt an inexplicable urge to learn more, but bef

to be amazing. Eastwick is full of adventu

new home for the next year. Sophie was hit by the familiar smell of fresh

h posters, fairy lights, and a heap of clothes on the floor. Sophie's side,

ag on the floor. "But first, let's go grab some dinner. I h

the social aspect of college life. But she wasn't about to sa

her bed, flipping through a book about Eastwick's rich history. The ancient traditions, the secret societies, and the rumors about the university's my

na. Sophie wasn't sure what to think about him, but the image of him leaning against the courtyard pillar stuck w

were interrupted by a

called, expectin

open, it wasn't Grace wh

pped a beat. What

ce carrying that cool, confident tone. "I was looking for Grace, b

. Ethan's eyes scanned the room, landing on her with a

y," he added, a hint of a

n't want to come off as rude but couldn't exactly

oice wavering slightly. "Grace isn't h

ing hers before glancing toward the

h, actually. I've be

ssed. "Not many people are. Mo

bit of a nerd when it

he could see past the mysterious façade, a glimpse of something more. But before

ice suddenly serious. "Some things ab

he talking about? Was there something mor

ut another word, leaving Sophie to wonder if

had stumbled upon something much bigger than she had ever imagined. A new l