Chapter 5: What Goes up

AP Physics was turning out to be all I had dreamed it would be. Dr. Harper had a knack for making complex concepts clear and fascinating, and my classmates were actually supportive and insightful. Today, we were delving into the intricacies of quantum entanglement. I raised my hand, eager to answer questions and engage with the material.

"Excellent explanation, Cadence," Dr. Harper said, her eyes twinkling with approval. "You have a real knack for this. I want to talk to you about an internship opportunity that's coming up at the Teller Physics Lab in Austin. I think you'd be a great fit."

My heart soared. An internship at TPL could open so many doors for me. "Thank you, Dr. Harper. I'd love to hear more about it."

"We'll discuss it in detail after class," she said with a smile.

The rest of the lesson flew by, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. But the victory was bittersweet, tainted by the memory of the creepy text message from the night before: "I'm feeling lonely tonight. Got my eye on you. 👀😊" I didn't know whether to delete it to save my sanity or screenshot it for evidence. I shuddered at the thought.

After class, I wandered onto the quad and spotted Emma sitting with a group of popular girls who never seemed interested in learning my name. I walked straight up to them.

"Hey, Emma. How are you doing after... you know, Jake?"

Emma looked up, her face unreadable for a moment before she broke into a smirk. "Oh, we're back together. We do this from time to time. It’s like a routine. He knows better than to break up with me before Homecoming, though. Big meanie. It threw off my whole schedule."

Her friends giggled, and I felt a wave of irritation. "I see. Well, I'm glad you're feeling better."

Emma's smirk widened. "Thanks, Cade. Maybe one day you'll have a relationship to manage too."

Laughter erupted from her group. A dozen comebacks jumped to mind, but I figured a simple middle finger walkaway was the right way to handle it. Back to being enemies, I guess. Oh well. We'd always have the dining hall ice cream bar.

My bank account was looking dry, and while the scholarship covered most expenses, it left me almost nothing to live on if I wanted to do anything off-campus. Hence, my journey to the front office to inquire about on-campus jobs. As I entered, I was greeted by Ms. Palmer, the administrative assistant.

"Hello, Cadence. How can I help you today?" she asked, her tone warm.

"Are there any jobs for students on campus?" I explained. "I don't have a car, and..."

Ms. Palmer nodded, flipping through a folder. "Say no more. We have a few positions available. There's not a lot of demand for on-campus jobs, so you can pretty much have any one you want. The paperwork is a formality."

"That's great. What are the options?"

"There's an assistant position in the library, working with the groundskeeping crew, or you could help out in the admissions office."

The library sounded like a perfect fit. "Well, I love the smell of old books."

"Great choice," Ms. Palmer said, handing me a form. "Fill this out, and I'll forward it to Mrs. Rodriguez, the head librarian."

As I started filling out the form, my phone buzzed again. Another text from the mystery number: "Can't wait to see you again. You looked yummy today. 😊"

A shiver ran down my spine. Who was this? Why were they doing this? They were really starting to piss me off. I quickly finished the form and handed it back to Ms. Palmer, trying to hide my unease.

Walking back toward Lamar House, I decided to take a shortcut through the back garden. It was a peaceful spot, usually deserted, and I needed a moment to clear my head. As I turned the corner, I almost collided with a guy lounging against a tree, earbuds in, eyes closed.

"Whoa, sorry!" I said, stepping back.

He opened one eye and grinned. "No worries. Enjoying the day?"

"Trying to," I replied, taking in his relaxed demeanor. He was wearing a casual button-down shirt and jeans, his hair slightly tousled. There was an air of ease about him that was almost infectious. He pulled out an earbud, and I recognized the faint strains of Fleetwood Mac.

"Fleetwood, huh? You've got good taste," I said, smiling.

"They're timeless," he replied. "I'm Adrian, by the way."

"Cadence," I said, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."

He was sketching something in charcoal on a large pad of paper. I peered at it and saw what looked like a lopsided cat. "That's... interesting."

Adrian laughed, a sound that was warm and genuine. "You don't have to pretend. I know it's terrible. I'm not really an artist. I just enjoy doing it."

"Well, I admire the effort," I said. "We all need hobbies, right?"

"Exactly," he said, grinning. "And this is a good spot to escape."

I nodded. "Yeah, I figured that out. That's kinda why I'm passing through here."

He chuckled. "Touché. Well, I hope to see you around, Cadence."

"Same here," I replied, feeling a bit lighter as I walked away.

As I returned to my dorm, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The day had been full of ups and downs, but I was starting to feel like I could handle whatever Crownwood threw my way. Even my secret admirer. As I cleaned up before meeting Jordan for dinner at the dining hall to learn more about how to join the Starbound, I was filled with a sense of determination. Whoever was behind the texts, whatever challenges lay ahead, I would face them head-on. Crownwood was full of secrets, but I was determined to uncover them all.