Chapter 10 "Searching For Answers"
EMBER
The campus coffee shop aptly named "The Grind" was packed with students nursing oversized lattes and frantically typing papers on laptops covered in stickers. Ember arrived ten minutes early, her usual anxiety about being late overriding any sense of calm.
She claimed a small table near the window, ordered a chai latte she didn't really want, and tried not to look as nervous as she felt.
Adrian Crane wanted to study with her. Adrian Crane, who could have asked literally anyone on campus and they would have said yes immediately. Adrian Crane, who probably didn't even know her name until yesterday.
Stop overthinking, Ember told herself, pulling out her Sociology textbook. It's just studying. People study together all the time.
"Hey, you're early."
Ember looked up to find Adrian standing beside her table, his smile warm and genuine. He was wearing a simple grey hoodie and jeans, his hair slightly damp like he'd just showered after practice. Up close, he was even more attractive than from across a lecture hall strong jawline, kind eyes, a dimple in his left cheek when he smiled.
"I'm always early," Ember admitted, feeling her cheeks warm. "I have this irrational fear of being late."
"That's not irrational. That's called being responsible." Adrian pulled out the chair across from her. "Most people our age can't manage to show up on time if their life depended on it. I'll be right back gonna grab coffee."
He returned a few minutes later with a black coffee and a chocolate croissant he immediately offered to share. "I skipped lunch. Practice ran late and Coach was in a mood."
"Basketball?" Ember asked, then immediately felt stupid. Of course basketball. Everyone knew Adrian was on the team.
"Yeah. We've got a game this weekend against Whitmore. They're ranked third in the conference, so Coach is being extra intense." Adrian took a sip of his coffee. "But honestly, I needed a break from thinking about defensive plays. Sociology seemed like a good distraction."
"Sociology is... definitely a subject," Ember said, and Adrian laughed.
"That bad, huh?"
"I mean, it's interesting. I just don't think Professor Hartman realizes that assigning three chapters and a ten-page paper in the same week is cruel and unusual punishment."
"Agreed. Which is why I figured we could divide and conquer. You take chapters five and six, I'll take seven, and we'll compare notes?" Adrian pulled out his own textbook, which was significantly more worn than Ember's. Sticky notes protruded from multiple pages, and the margins were filled with handwritten notes.
"You actually read the chapters?" Ember couldn't help but ask.
"I know, shocking. But I'm on academic probation from last semester long story involving too many parties and not enough studying so I actually have to try now." He said it lightly, but Ember caught a hint of embarrassment. "My grandma will kill me if I lose my scholarship."
"Your grandma?"
"Yeah, she raised me after my parents died. Car accident when I was eight." Adrian's expression was matter of fact, like he'd told this story many times. "She's pretty intense about grades and 'living up to the Crane name' and all that."
"I'm sorry," Ember said softly. "About your parents."
"Thanks. It was a long time ago." Adrian opened his textbook, clearly ready to change the subject. "So, chapter seven. Social stratification and inequality. Thrilling stuff."
They fell into an easy rhythm, reading quietly and occasionally sharing observations. Adrian was surprisingly insightful, making connections between the textbook theories and real-world examples. He told funny stories about his teammates, asked Ember about her major, actually listened when she talked about her favorite books.
An hour passed without Ember noticing.
"Okay, break time," Adrian declared, stretching his arms above his head. "My brain is full. Tell me something that has nothing to do with school."
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Something about you. You're really quiet in class I want to know what you're thinking about when you look like you're a million miles away."
Ember felt her face heat. He'd noticed her in class? "I'm usually just... thinking about whatever book I'm reading. Or sometimes I'm writing stories in my head."
"You write?"
"Just for fun. Nothing serious."
"What kind of stories?"
Ember hesitated. "Gothic stuff, mostly. Dark romances, mysteries. I like stories where something's not quite right beneath the surface."
Adrian's eyes lit up. "Like Rebecca? Or Wuthering Heights?"
"You've read Wuthering Heights?"
"Don't sound so surprised. Jocks can read too." But he was grinning. "My grandma made me read all the classics growing up. She's big on 'cultural literacy.' I actually loved that book. Heathcliff is completely unhinged, but you kind of understand why."
"Exactly!" Ember leaned forward, animated now. "Everyone thinks it's a romance, but it's really about obsession and revenge and how trauma breaks people. It's tragic, not romantic."
"Finally, someone who gets it." Adrian's smile was genuine, warm. "All my teammates think I'm weird for reading 'old books.'"
They talked for another thirty minutes about books, about movies, about music. Adrian liked indie rock and jazz, spent his free time drawing, wanted to be a physical therapist after college. Ember found herself relaxing, laughing, forgetting to be anxious.
"I should probably go," Adrian said finally, checking his phone. "I've got a team dinner in an hour. But this was really nice. We should do it again?"
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Cool." Adrian stood, gathering his things. Then he paused, looking almost nervous for the first time. "Hey, um, there's a party Saturday night. After the game. I know parties might not be your thing, but if you wanted to come"
"I don't really do parties," Ember said quickly, memories of last Friday flashing through her mind. The drinking, the blackout, waking up confused and scared.
"Totally fair. But if you change your mind, text me? I'll make sure you actually have fun this time." Adrian's smile was gentle, understanding. "No pressure though."
After he left, Ember sat for a long moment, staring at her textbook without seeing it.
Adrian Crane had just asked her to a party. Sort of. Maybe.
And the strange thing was she actually wanted to go.
MAYA
Maya had been watching the clock since Ember left for her "study session."
She'd seen the text exchange this morning Adrian Crane asking Ember out for coffee. Ember had been nervous, flustered, excited in a way Maya hadn't seen her in months.
Under normal circumstances, Maya would be thrilled. Ember deserved to meet someone nice, to have fun, to live a little.
But these weren't normal circumstances.
Because three nights ago, Maya had watched her best friend sit up in bed with completely black eyes and speak in a language that shouldn't exist, and nothing had been normal since.
Maya pulled out her phone and scrolled to the contact she'd been debating calling all day: Kelly Thorne.
Ember's other best friend. The psychology major who was always at the library with them, who brought Ember coffee when she was stressed, who looked at her like she hung the moon even though Ember was completely oblivious.
If anyone would believe her if anyone would help it was Kelly.
Maya hit call before she could chicken out.
"Hey Maya, what's up?" Kelly's voice was warm, friendly. They'd hung out plenty of times in group settings, but rarely one on one.
"Are you free right now? Like, right now?"
"Uh, yeah? I'm at my apartment. Is everything okay?"
"No," Maya said, her voice cracking. "No, everything is very much not okay. Can I come over? I need to talk to you about Ember."
There was a pause. "Is she hurt?"
"Not exactly. But Kelly" Maya took a breath. "Something's wrong with her. Somethings really, really wrong. And I don't know what to do."
"Come over. I'll text you my address."