As the morning sun cast its golden glow over the bustling streets of Washington D.C., Eliza Monroe made her way to college alongside her friends, Sarah and Lily. The air was crisp with the promise of a new day, and the trio chatted animatedly as they walked, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the city awakening around them.
As they approached the college campus, the familiar hum of activity filled the air, students bustling to and from as they made their way to their respective classes.Suddenly, as they turned a corner, Eliza collided with someone coming from the opposite direction. Books and papers flew through the air as both of them stumbled backward, caught off guard by the unexpected collision.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Eliza exclaimed, reaching out to steady herself and the person she had bumped into.
The young man she had collided with rubbed his forehead, a sheepish smile crossing his face. "No worries, it was my fault. I should have been watching where I was going."
Eliza's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she bent down to help gather his scattered belongings. "I really didn't mean to run into you like that. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he assured her, flashing her a reassuring smile.
Sarah and Lily joined them, concern etched on their faces as they surveyed the scene. "Is everything alright?" Sarah asked, her brow furrowed with worry.
Eliza nodded, gesturing to the young man beside her. "Yeah, we just had a little collision, but everything's fine now."
The young man chuckled, extending his hand in greeting. "I'm Jake, by the way. Nice to meet you."
Eliza shook his hand, returning his smile. "I'm Eliza, and these are my friends, Sarah and Lily."
"It's nice to meet you all," Jake said, his gaze lingering on Eliza for a moment longer than necessary.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Eliza couldn't help but notice the warmth in Jake's eyes and the gentle curve of his smile.
"Well, I should probably get going," Jake said, breaking the momentary silence. "I'll see you around campus, Eliza."
With a nod and a smile, Eliza watched as Jake walked away, his figure disappearing into the crowd.
"Who was that?" Lily asked, her curiosity piqued.
Eliza shrugged,. "Just someone I bumped into. His name's Jake."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. "He seemed nice. Maybe you should bump into him more often."
Eliza rolled her eyes, swatting playfully at Sarah's arm. "Oh, stop it. It was just an accident."
Ivan and Jannie exchanged a knowing glance as they watched Jake disappear into the crowd, their suspicions piqued by the seemingly innocuous encounter. Without a word, they moved swiftly to intercept him, their steps purposeful as they closed in on their target.
"Hey, you there!" Ivan called out, his voice cutting through the bustling chatter of the campus.
Jake turned around, a puzzled expression on his face as he faced the two strangers who had approached him. "Can I help you?"
Ivan and Jannie exchanged a quick glance before Ivan spoke again, his tone firm and authoritative. "We saw what happened back there with you and Eliza. Care to explain?"
Jake's eyes widened in surprise at the directness of Ivan's question, his mind racing to come up with a plausible explanation. "Oh, that? It was just an accident. I didn't mean to run into her."
Jannie folded her arms across her chest, her expression skeptical. "Funny how accidents seem to happen at just the right moment, isn't it?"
Jake's eyes darted between Ivan and Jannie, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he struggled to maintain his composure. "I swear, it was just a coincidence. I didn't have any ulterior motives."
Ivan narrowed his eyes, studying Jake carefully for any signs of deception. "You expect us to believe that? We know what you're up to, and we won't let you get away with it."
Before Jake could respond, Ivan and Jannie closed in on him, their expressions fierce as they continued to press him for answers. Caught off guard by their aggressive questioning, Jake stumbled backward, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a way out of the situation.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Jake protested, his voice tinged with desperation.
Ivan watched as Jake stumbled away, his mind still reeling from the encounter. Once Jake was out of sight, Ivan turned to Jannie, his expression thoughtful.
"I think we should keep an eye on Jake for now," Ivan suggested, his tone serious. "There's something off about him, and I don't trust that it was just a coincidence."
Jannie nodded in agreement, her gaze following Jake's retreating figure. "Agreed. I'll go check on Eliza and see if she's okay. You stay here and keep an eye on Jake."
With a nod of acknowledgment, Ivan watched as Jannie disappeared into the crowd, her determined stride carrying her towards Eliza's last known location. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, Ivan settled into a discreet vantage point, his focus unwavering as he kept a vigilant watch over Jake's movements.
Meanwhile, Jannie quickly made her way through the bustling campus, her thoughts consumed by concern for Eliza's well-being. Spotting Eliza sitting alone on a bench, Jannie approached cautiously, unsure of how Eliza would react to her presence.
"Hey there," Jannie greeted tentatively as she approached, offering a small smile. "I saw what happened with that guy. Are you okay?"
Eliza looked up, her expression wary as she took in the unfamiliar face before her. "Um, yeah, I'm fine," she replied hesitantly, eyeing Jannie with a hint of suspicion.
Jannie took a seat beside Eliza, giving her a reassuring smile. "It looked pretty intense. Are you sure you're alright?"
Eliza hesitated for a moment before nodding, though her guard remained firmly in place. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just a bit shaken up, that's all."
Sensing Eliza's apprehension, Jannie decided to tread carefully, offering a small gesture of support. "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to or just want some company, I'm here. My name's Jannie, by the way."
Eliza offered a tentative smile in return, appreciating the gesture despite her reservations. "Thanks, Jannie. I'm Eliza."
Jannie replied with a smile, "so we are friends?"
Eliza looked at her with her guards high but still said, "sure"
"So, what's next on your agenda?" Jannie asked, glancing at Eliza curiously.
Eliza shrugged, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Not much, to be honest. Probably just heading to class and then grabbing some lunch."
Jannie nodded in agreement. "Sounds good. Mind if I tag along?"
Eliza's smile widened, grateful for the offer of company. "Of course not. The more, the merrier."
"Great," Jannie said with a smile. "I'll be waiting in the canteen then."
With a nod of agreement, Eliza and Jannie parted ways, each heading to their ways.
After class, Eliza made her way to the canteen, where she found Jannie sitting at a table, scrolling through her phone. She approached her with a smile on her face.
"Hey, Jannie," Eliza greeted, sliding into the seat across from her.
Jannie looked up, returning Eliza's smile. "Eliza! How was your class?"
"Same old, same old," Eliza replied with a shrug. "But I'm glad it's over now. I'm starving!"
Jannie chuckled. "Well, you're in luck. The canteen has some pretty good options. What are you in the mood for?"
As they perused the menu and chatted about their day, Eliza spotted Lily and Sarah entering the canteen. She waved them over, eager to introduce them to Jannie.
"Lily, Sarah, over here!" Eliza called out, catching their attention.
Lily and Sarah made their way over, curiosity evident on their faces as they approached the table where Eliza and Jannie sat.
"Hey, Eliza," Lily greeted, giving her friend a hug before turning to Jannie. "And who's this?"
Eliza smiled, gesturing to Jannie. "Lily, Sarah, this is Jannie. She's a friend I just made today."
Jannie waved politely, offering a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you both."
Lily and Sarah exchanged a glance before smiling warmly at Jannie. "Nice to meet you, Jannie," Sarah said, extending her hand for a shake.
"Likewise," Jannie replied, shaking Sarah's hand before turning to Lily. "And you must be Lily. Eliza has told me a lot about you."
Lily's eyes widened in surprise. "She has?"
Eliza laughed, nudging Lily playfully. "Of course I have! I had to tell Jannie all about my amazing friends."
Lily grinned, feeling pleased by the compliment. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Any friend of Eliza's is a friend of ours."
The group settled into getting to know each other better as they enjoyed their lunch together.
As they continued their conversation over lunch, Jannie leaned in with a serious expression. "Actually, Vaughn and I are friends. He's out of the city for a few days, so he called me to come and stay for a while."
Eliza and her friends exchanged surprised glances, intrigued by Jannie's revelation. "Really?" Eliza asked, her curiosity piqued. "Why would Vaughn want you here?"