Pov: Jules
The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the heater and Nathan's steady breathing. I rolled onto my side, staring at the faint gray light filtering through the blinds. Sleep had been a losing battle all nightâtoo many naps the day before, too many unfamiliar sounds, and too many thoughts circling my head like vultures.
Nathan's bed was occupied for once, his long frame sprawled across the mattress. One of his arms dangled off the side, his hand brushing the floor. His jacket was still slung over the back of his chair, and the faint smell of alcohol hung in the air, mixing with the faint scent of smoke that always seemed to linger.
He groaned softly and shifted, rolling onto his back. I'd heard him come in at some unholy hour, fumbling with the doorknob and practically tripping over his shoes. He hadn't said anythingâjust crashed onto his bed and passed out almost instantly.
It was nearly 7 a.m. now, and I'd given up on the idea of getting any rest. Slipping out of bed as quietly as I could, I reached for my notebook on the desk.
The chair scraped against the floor.
"Shit," I whispered, freezing.
Nathan stirred, groaning loudly. His eyes cracked open just enough to glare at me, his brow furrowing in irritation.
"Do you have to?" he muttered, his voice thick and raspy.
"Sorry," I whispered back, clutching the notebook to my chest.
"It's seven in the morning," he groaned, throwing an arm over his face.
"And?" I shot back, keeping my voice low.
"Normal people are still asleep."
"You don't strike me as normal," I said, before I could stop myself.
Nathan let out a dry laugh, though it sounded more like a grunt. "Fair. What are you even doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep."
"Obviously." He sighed and sat up slightly, leaning back against the wall. His hair stuck up in every direction, and there was a faint redness in his cheeks that made me wonder just how much he'd had to drink last night.
"So, what's the plan, Ghost Girl?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Gonna float around and haunt people?"
I rolled my eyes. "No, I'm getting coffee."
"Good luck with that."
"You don't have any recommendations?"
"Not really," he said, shrugging lazily. "More of a tea guy."
Of all the things I'd expected him to say, that wasn't one of them. I blinked, caught off guard. "You're serious?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm not," I said, turning toward the door. "But thanks for the help."
Nathan didn't bother replying, flopping back onto the bed with an exaggerated groan.
---
The campus was just starting to wake up, soft rays of sunlight breaking through the trees. I slid my headphones over my ears, drowning the world in music as I wandered toward the bench I'd found the night before.
The air was cold and crisp, stinging my cheeks as I settled onto the weathered wood. The bench felt more familiar now, like it was my little corner of this overwhelming place.
I pulled out my notebook, flipping to a blank page and letting the pen hover in midair. Doodling was easier than thinking sometimes, the repetitive motion of the pen on paper helping to steady my nerves.
A messy sketch of Juno began to take shape, his fluffy fur exaggerated and his wide eyes staring out of the page. I missed him more than I'd thought possibleâhis soft purring, the way he'd curl up next to me whenever I couldn't sleep, like he was trying to make everything okay.
---
My phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out, half expecting it to be another random notification. Instead, it was a text from my mom.
"Good morning! Hope you're settling in. Let us know if you need anything."
I stared at the message for a moment, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. They're trying, I thought. They always try.
Finally, I typed back: "Thanks, I'm doing okay. Miss you guys."
As soon as I hit send, I opened Instagram, scrolling mindlessly through a stream of carefully curated lives. The usual faces popped upâfriends from high school, random accounts I'd followed years ago.
Then there was Katie.
Her post was a group shot from some party, her smile bright and effortless. She looked good. She always looked good.
Before I could stop myself, I double-tapped. The heart turned red, and my stomach sank.
A moment later, a notification popped up.
Katie: "Wow. Didn't think you'd still be creeping on my posts."
I stared at the message, my chest tightening. Part of me wanted to reply, to defend myself, but I didn't trust myself to say anything that wouldn't make things worse.
Instead, I locked my phone and shoved it back into my pocket, staring down at the half-finished sketch of Juno.
---
By the time I got back to the dorm, the sun was higher in the sky, casting soft light through the window. Nathan was still in bed, though he stirred when I closed the door behind me.
"You're back," he mumbled, his voice rougher than before.
"Good observation," I said, setting my jacket on the chair.
He groaned, sitting up slowly and rubbing his temples. "What time is it?"
"Almost nine."
Nathan muttered something under his breath, his movements sluggish as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"Rough night?" I asked, unable to hide the smirk in my voice.
"You could say that," he said, squinting at me. "What's with the attitude?"
"No attitude," I said innocently. "Just curious."
"Right."
He grabbed a bottle of water from his desk, taking a long sip before leaning back against the wall. "You're awfully chipper for someone who doesn't sleep."
I shrugged, sitting down at my desk and flipping open my notebook. "I'm used to it."
Nathan's gaze flicked to the page in front of me, his expression unreadable. "What's that supposed to be?"
"None of your business," I said, quickly closing the notebook.
"Touchy," he said, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
I rolled my eyes, standing up and grabbing my bag. "I'm going out again. Don't trash the place while I'm gone."
"No promises," he said, leaning back with a lazy grin.
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