The lecture hall was quiet, save for the rhythmic scratching of pens against paper. Julianne's focus was unwavering as she meticulously jotted down notes, trying her best to keep up with the professor's fast-paced lecture. She glanced to her left, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed Misha, who was furiously typing away on her phone with a mischievous grin plastered across her face.
Julianne felt a wary stir in her chest. She knew that grin all too well. It was the kind of grin that always preceded trouble.
It had been a week since Julianne moved to the University of Florida, and in that short time, she had become close friends with Misha, Rebecca, Nathan, and Samuel. They spent nearly every spare moment together, laughing, talking, and simply enjoying each other's company. Julianne had never really had friends like this before, and she was immensely grateful for their presence in her life. For once, she felt like she truly belonged somewhere.
Misha flashed a smile at Julianne, then raised an eyebrow with a playful glint in her eyes. Julianne's expression was one of silent questioning.
"You'll find out soon," Misha mouthed, winking dramatically.
Julianne sighed, shaking her head in resignation. She had spent enough time with Misha to know that her friend was always up to something. Misha's energy and mischief were a constant, and although Julianne couldn't help but be wary of the trouble she often stirred up, she hoped this particular plan wouldn't be too dangerous. After all, it was usually the people around Misha who ended up facing the consequences of her wild schemes.
Trying to focus, Julianne turned her attention back to her notebook, making sure to take down every detail of the lecture. She needed to be thorough, knowing that after class, she'd be spending time studying. With a part-time job interview at the library just two days away, Julianne had no room for distractions. If she got the job, it would relieve her of some financial burden, as her savings were already running low.
Her thoughts were briefly interrupted by the end of the class. Misha, however, was already tugging at Julianne's arm, leading her out of the lecture hall.
"Why are we going to the parking lot, Misha?" Julianne groaned, her exhaustion evident. She had been looking forward to heading back to her dorm and collapsing into bed, but Misha had other plans.
"Just a few minutes, then you can go," Misha replied with a teasing grin. "And it's the weekend, not Monday—show me some energy!"
Julianne rolled her eyes, but despite her protests, she followed Misha, knowing that arguing would only delay the inevitable.
"Hey, Julie, are you okay? You look tired," Samuel's voice cut through the noise of the crowd. He had noticed Julianne's exhaustion as she trudged along beside Misha.
Julianne straightened at the concern in his voice, offering him a small but reassuring smile. "I'm okay, thanks."
Misha scoffed from behind them, arms crossed. She knew exactly what Samuel was doing. His attempts to get closer to Julianne had not gone unnoticed, but what made her smirk was how completely oblivious Julianne was to his advances. Julianne, in all her innocent sincerity, had yet to understand that Samuel, despite his charm, wasn't really the type for anything serious. Misha had thought about telling her, but decided against it. She knew Julie wasn't the kind of girl to fall for casual flings.
"I've decided what we're doing tomorrow, so everyone be ready by 9 AM. Wear simple, comfortable clothes," Misha declared with a confident grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Where are we going?" Julianne asked, confusion furrowing her brow.
Misha's grin widened, and Nathan, who had been walking beside them, whistled in approval. He knew Misha well enough to understand that whenever she had something planned, it was never going to be boring.
"It's the weekend! I've planned something exciting for all of us," Misha replied, clearly pleased with herself.
Julianne hesitated. "But…" she started, only to be interrupted by Rebecca, who had overheard the conversation.
"No buts. You're coming. You haven't even left campus since you got here. You need to see more of this place," Rebecca insisted with a knowing smile.
Julie thought about it for a moment. She hadn't stepped outside the campus at all since arriving, and Rebecca had a point. It was time to explore, to see what else the city had to offer. So, after a brief internal debate, she nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I'm coming," Julianne said, her voice brightening.
Nathan, ever the optimist, gave her a high-five. "That's the spirit!"
After agreeing to meet up the next morning, the group parted ways for the evening. It was nearly 6 PM by the time they all left the campus, the once-crowded halls beginning to empty as students trickled out. The campus remained bustling with activity, but there was a quiet hum in the air as the evening unfolded.
Little did they know, one person had been eavesdropping on their conversation. As the group split up, the figure emerged from the shadows and made a call, the tone in their voice betraying a sense of urgency as they relayed the plan to someone on the other end of the line.
---
The next morning, Julianne awoke to the sound of her alarm ringing in her ears. Groggy but determined, she quickly freshened up and made her way to her closet. Recalling Misha's instructions to wear comfortable clothes, Julianne settled on black leggings and a loose red knitted sweatshirt. She braided her long hair into two neat braids, keeping her look casual but functional. A quick swipe of lip gloss and sunscreen completed her look—she didn't need anything too heavy.
As she was about to leave her dorm, her phone rang. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips when she saw Misha's name on the screen.
"I'm coming in a sec," Julianne answered before Misha could speak.
"Thank God someone's responsible in our group," Misha quipped from the other end.
Julianne raised an eyebrow at her words. "Look who's talking about responsibility," she retorted, her tone amused.
Before Misha could respond, Samuel snatched the phone from her hand. "Ignore her," he said smoothly. "We're waiting for you at the entrance of the dorm."
Julianne could hear Misha grumbling in the background, but she waved it off with a chuckle. "I'll be there in a minute."
When she reached the parking lot, she saw Misha sulking in the back seat of Samuel's car, her arms crossed tightly in front of her chest. Samuel, on the other hand, looked almost... entranced. He was staring at Julianne as though seeing her for the first time, and it didn't escape her notice.
"What happened to her?" Julianne asked Samuel quietly, nodding toward Misha.
Samuel blinked, clearly startled, before shaking himself out of his daze. "Uh… I didn't let her ride her bike," he said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
Julianne laughed softly, knowing how much Misha loved her bike. Misha wasn't like most girls. She didn't care about makeup or fancy clothes—she preferred a good pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and nothing made her eyes light up more than the thought of racing her bike. It was one of the many things Julianne admired about her.
Misha shot Samuel a glare from the back seat, but Julianne just smiled and shook her head. She had quickly learned that Misha was more than just a friend—she was someone who didn't care for societal expectations. And Julianne loved that about her. She also loved how the group never made her feel like an outsider. They didn't flaunt their wealth or status; they were just... themselves.
As they drove off, Julianne turned to face Misha, who was still pouting in the back seat.
"Don't tell me you're going to sulk all day. I'd rather stay in my room if that's the case," Julianne teased.
Misha's face immediately brightened, and she leaned forward in her seat. "Okay, okay, I'm smiling now! See?" she said, flashing a wide, exaggerated grin.
"Good," Julianne replied, laughing as the car pulled out of the parking lot.
Rebecca, having joined Nathan in his car, waved at them as the two cars headed toward their mystery destination.
As the miles ticked by, Julianne couldn't help but wonder where they were headed. "Where exactly are we going?" she asked Misha, her curiosity piqued.
"It's a surprise," Misha said with a gleam in her eye. "You'll see when we get there."
Julianne turned her gaze toward the window, suspicion dancing in her eyes. She knew better than to expect any details from Misha. Shaking her head, she resigned herself to whatever adventure awaited them.