CHAPTER-1~ A Familiar Face
VIOLET~
My nerves were balancing on a tightrope, but my resolve was rock solid. Today was the first day of my dream. I was nervous yet excited. It was the first day of my Master’s in Oceanography. My dream.
Flashes of the struggles I’d faced to reach here zipped through my mind. I took a deep breath and stepped into the grand building of Halewick Bay University. It felt like I had just walked into Hogwarts. I just hoped I wasn’t the Neville Longbottom of this story. Not that I needed magic to survive here. Just grit , and maybe one solid lab partner, as we would be evaluated together.
This massive, almost magical structure held all of my dreams… and all of my dreads. I wasn’t always this jumpy. I hadn’t come this far just to fall apart now. I didn’t believe in luck, but I believed in showing up. And today , I was here. Most people came here with backup plans. I had plan A. There was no B. That’s what happens when you build your life from scraps — you don’t leave room for failure.
I haven’t yet moved into the university dorm, I was planning to move in last week but I didn’t get any time off from my part time jobs. I was working in multiple part time jobs when I took a break. I wanted to earn as much as possible before I came here as I wouldn’t have enough time to work outside of uni and also study and do all of my assignments on time. I would also have to go on field trips for the experiments. My life has been like that since I left home 7 years ago.
The ground floor was for administration offices, while the upper floors housed classrooms, labs, an indoor sports area, and even a swimming pool.
It had taken me nearly two hours to tour this gigantic place last week when I came to submit my documents.
Past the main doorway were a set of elaborately carved pillars and two long hallways branching off to either side. In front, two wide staircases led to the well-funded, fully equipped labs and classrooms — where I’d likely spend most of my time.
Room 247, that’s what the mail had said.
I climbed the stairs, it looked no less than a puzzle. I made it to the second floor and walked past the auditorium. I paused, taking a quick peek inside. It could easily fit more than a thousand people, the auditorium was tucked into the heritage block — massive double doors opening into a wide hallway leading down to the sunken stage and rows upon rows of crimson seats, its high domed ceiling echoing every footstep.I continued my search for Room 247 and eventually asked the janitor for directions. A minute later, I stood in front of the door and pushed it open.
Even though I’d arrived twenty minutes early, the classroom was already filled. I scanned for a seat somewhere in the middle. I’d never cared much for front or back benches — I sat wherever felt right.
The seat next to mine was empty. A few minutes later, a red-haired girl with the brightest smile walked up to me.
“Can I sit here?” she asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“I’m Jasmine. You can call me Jazz.”
“I’m Violet,” I said, smiling back. There was something instantly easy about her presence, like I’d known her forever. That kind of comfort was rare. She lowkey reminded me of the red angry bird, fierce, but weirdly comforting.
“Are you from Atlanta?” Jazz asked.
“Oh yes, how did you know?”
“Your slight southern drawl gave it away . I’m pretty good with people. Are you nervous? You look tense.”
“A little. First days are always weird. But I’ll find my rhythm — I usually do. But you seem so chill for someone who is also new here.”
“I’ve visited multiple times and I also moved into the dorm, though I don’t have any roommates yet. But I swear if I mess up today and someone catches it on camera, I’m dropping out and moving to Alaska,” Jazz muttered dramatically.
I laughed. “That’s oddly specific.”
“I already Googled remote islands. I’m prepared. I’m a walking disaster. I get into trouble just by existing.”
“Then I guess we’re doomed. I attract drama, and you attract chaos. This is a disaster duo in the making.”
Jazz grinned.
“I’ll take that title with pride. Disaster Duo — sounds like a band. Or a crime-fighting duo who ends up getting arrested themselves.”
I laughed.
“We’d probably go viral for all the wrong reasons.”
She leaned closer like she was about to share a secret.
“You’ll thank me later. Life’s too short for boring friendships.”
We were pulling out our books when I noticed some girls around us practically squealing. I followed their gaze.
A guy — tall, at least 6 feet — walked in. He had dark brown eyes, perfectly messy hair, and a face that could’ve easily landed him on a magazine cover.
He looked… familiar. A familiar face...
Jazz gasped. “Oh my god, am I dreaming?” She pinched her arm. “Ouch. I’m definitely not dreaming. So is it just me or does that guy look like he walked out of a K-drama?”
I forced a shrug. “You’re into K-dramas?”
“Please. I practically majored in them before switching to oceanography.”
I smiled, grateful for her random energy.
While the rest of the class whispered and admired him, I kept staring, trying to place where I’d seen him before.
And then I froze. My thoughts trailed back to him.
No. It couldn’t be him. That would be too much of a coincidence. Right? But that smile of his. Those eyes. No, it had to be someone else. LA’s big. A doppelgänger maybe? Or maybe he didn’t forget the promise we made that summer?
I shoved the thought away. No way it was Ryan. He couldn’t be here. Not him.
He sat at the far corner, last bench.
Just then, the professor entered. He looked like he was in his fifties, bald with wire-rimmed glasses — the classic “I’ve spent more time in labs than in the sun” kind of man.
“Hello students,” he said. “I’m Professor Lawrence. Today’s your first day, so we’ll take it light. But starting next week, it’s going to get serious. Each semester will be tougher than the last. Only the best of the best make it to the finish line.”
He paused, glanced at his watch. “Unfortunately, I have a meeting in ten minutes. And we also have a new professor coming in today. So this class will be rescheduled. Right now, you’ll proceed to your lab sessions. Before that, I’ll assign your lab partners.”
He started calling out names one by one.
“Rylee Nelson and Lily Parkson”
“Taylor Kay and David Smith“
“Jasmine Parker and Ron Marlow.”
Jazz blinked. “Ron Marlow? That name sounds like a mafia boss.”
A guy from the back seat raised his hand with a crooked grin. “I get that a lot. But I promise I’m just a regular dude with a dangerous name.”
Ron strolled over, all calm confidence, and dropped his bag beside us just as the professor continued reading names. “You must be Jasmine. I’ve heard exactly zero things about you.”
She laughed. “That’s a good start.”
Ron chuckled. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea. But don’t worry, I only torment people I like platonically.”
“Oof. Friend-zoned already?”
“Yup. Get comfy.”
“Violet Reslie and Ryan Volt.”
My heart skipped a beat. Ryan. Volt.
No. I must’ve misheard. Of all the people in LA, of all the universities… no way. The name echoed in my head like a warning bell. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Ryan was a common name. Volt… not so much. And especially not with that voice, that timing, and that look on his face, like nothing had ever happened that summer, 10 years ago.The summer when everything shattered. The summer I lost a friend and gained an enemy. I left home seven years ago, to stop living someone else’s dream and becoming someone unshakable. But still… hearing his name cracked something small inside me,Not because of him , but because of everything that came with him. But I didn’t expect to run into someone from the one part of that life I’d rather forget. But fate clearly had a sick sense of humor. Because of course, of course he would show up here — on my first day. I locked the memory away. I wasn’t going to dig it up now. Not on day one.
My fingers went cold as Jazz nudged me. “Let’s go!”
“Coming,” I said, grabbing my books and walking in a haze.
It couldn’t be him. My enemy from seven years ago.
The one person I couldn’t even imagine running into again.
Jazz tugged my arm. “Quick Washroom break before the lab?”
“Yeah… let’s go.”
“You look pale. You okay?” she asked as we washed our hands.
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
I didn’t want to get into it. Not now. Not about Ryan.
“I’m good. Let’s go, we’re already late,” I said, cutting her off.
She tilted her head. “Okay, but if someone already got on your nerves this early, I need to know who to trip in the hallway.”
I smiled slightly despite myself. “No tripping yet.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “But I’ve got excellent aim with water bottles.”
She didn’t push any further, and I appreciated that. Jazz felt like a lightning strike. I was more… storm clouds building.
We walked into the lab. I looked around for Table 13 , mine. Jasmine’s table, number 12, was just beside it.
She plopped down with Ron. “Hey! I’m Jasmine. And this is Violet.”
“Hi, I’m Ron. Nice to meet you both,” he smiled. As if we didn’t meet just 10 minutes ago.
I smiled back, still trying not to look over.
But I could feel it , the weight of a gaze.
My fingers curled slightly against the lab table, pulse ticking in my ears like a warning drum. I didn’t want to look. But curiosity has a way of winning battles you never intended to fight.
I turned.
He was already staring.
Ryan Volt.
His features were more defined now — jawline sharper, eyes colder, like life had sculpted him into someone even more infuriatingly magnetic. Was he always like this, or do I remember incorrectly? The teenage Ryan is nothing compared to this... whatever ‘this’ is.
A low, familiar voice cut through the buzz of the room, smooth, smug, and utterly unmissable.
He leaned back lazily. “Long time no see, Waves.”
That nickname.
That voice.
Like a punch to the gut, it knocked the air out of me. The memories weren’t welcome, they didn’t even knock. They just barged in.
I fought to keep my expression neutral.
I gave him a flat stare. “Wow, i was hoping you’d retired that nickname by now”
“You seem to have forgotten your manners. You’re staring.”
I scoffed. “No, I’m not.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You were. But it’s fine. I get that a lot. It happens.”
“Well,” I muttered, “you were staring back.”
“I was just shocked to see you here. Didn’t know you’d come all the way to LA just to haunt me.”
Jazz and Ron had turned to watch us now.
“You haven’t changed at all,” I said. “Still the same arrogant prick.”
“What can I say? I age well.” He leaned in his chair like he owned the place.
Jazz looked between us like she was watching a tennis match. “Wait… you two know each other?”
Seven years didn’t feel so long ago.
And the ghost I thought I’d buried with hate was sitting two feet away, smirking like he never left.
And just like that… the past I’d buried started digging its way out — one smirk, one memory, one look at a time. And he, of all people, was holding the shovel. With a grin on his face.
