Gracie jolted awake at the sound of her alarm, groggy and disoriented. Her hair was a bit scattered, a testament to the restless night of sleep she had endured. She groaned softly as she rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of drowsiness that clung to her.
Yesterday had been a long day; her class had stretched on longer than expected, with the lecturer passionately diving into the subject matter until 8 PM. Gracie had been eager to leave but found herself engrossed in the discussion, even if it meant a later return to her dorm. Though the dorms were conveniently close to campus, navigating the evening crowd for a shuttle proved to be a challenge.
After a fruitless wait for a ride, she made the decision to walk back to her hostel, the cool evening air refreshing yet slightly unsettling as shadows danced around her. By the time she finally reached her dorm around 10 PM, she was utterly exhausted, her legs aching from the unexpected trek. The feeling of relief washed over her as she stepped through the door, grateful to be home.
Emma had been anxiously waiting for her, her worry palpable in the dimly lit common room. "I was starting to get really worried! You were so late, and I couldn't reach you!" Emma exclaimed as Gracie entered, her brow furrowed in concern.
Gracie sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry! My phone died while I was still on campus, and I didn't realize until I was on my way back," she explained, running a hand through her tangled hair. The thought of her phone battery dying had slipped her mind amidst the chaos of the day.
Emma's expression softened, and she nodded in understanding. "I figured something must have happened. I'm just glad you're okay!" she replied, relief flooding her voice. Gracie appreciated Emma's concern; it was comforting to know that her friend had been looking out for her.
After that, Gracie shuffled to the bathroom, the weariness of the day weighing heavily on her shoulders. She turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her, washing away the exhaustion and the stresses of the day. The steam enveloped her like a comforting blanket, and for a fleeting moment, she felt rejuvenated.
Once she was clean and refreshed, she headed straight for bed, her body craving rest. She was not in the mood to pick up any books to read; her mind was too foggy to concentrate on anything beyond the soft comfort of her sheets.With a deep sigh, she nestled into her pillows, grateful for the sanctuary of her bed.
Before drifting off to sleep, she remembered to check her class group chat, just in case there was any important information regarding the next day. The lecturer had mentioned during class that he would organize another session tomorrow, despite it being her scheduled free day. Gracie felt a mix of dread and resignation at the thought of an unexpected class disrupting her plans.
As she scrolled through the messages, her eyes landed on a confirmation from the class representative. "Just to confirm, the class will be held tomorrow morning at 9 AM," the message read. Gracie's heart sank a little; she had hoped for a day free from academic obligations.
After seeing this, she reluctantly set her alarm for the next morning, the beeping sound feeling like an unwelcome intruder into her peaceful evening. With a final glance at her phone, she turned off the screen and placed it on her bedside table.
Presently, Gracie glanced at her phone with an annoyed look, her brow furrowing as she read the notification that had just come through. The class she had set her alarm for had been unexpectedly canceled. A wave of frustration washed over her as she processed the news.
She had rearranged her plans the previous night, choosing to forgo reading or catching up on her favorite shows in favor of getting a good night's sleep so she could wake up early for the class. Now, all of that seemed pointless. The realization that she could have enjoyed her evening instead left her feeling irritable.
What annoyed her even more was the fact that she was wide awake and unable to drift back to sleep. The cancellation felt like a cruel twist of fate, robbing her of both her planned class and her precious rest. She tossed and turned in her bed, the sheets becoming a tangled mess around her as she tried to find a comfortable position, but sleep remained elusive.
Gracie sighed in frustration, staring at the ceiling as her mind raced with thoughts of what she could have done instead. "I could have studied, or at least watched that new series everyone's been talking about," she muttered to herself, the annoyance bubbling just beneath the surface.
She glanced back at her phone, half-expecting another notification that might somehow change her situation. But the screen remained silent, reflecting her disappointment. It felt unfair to have sacrificed her evening for a class that wasn't even happening.
Emma had left the dorm at 7 AM to meet up with some of her colleagues for an early project meeting, leaving Gracie feeling a bit isolated. She wished she could share her frustration with her friend, but it seemed like fate had conspired against her.
As she continued to dwell on the annoyance of her canceled class, she was suddenly jolted from her thoughts by the familiar sound of a notification on her phone. Curiosity piqued, she glanced back at the screen and felt a flicker of excitement when she saw it was a message from Adrian.
"Good morning! How was your night?" the text read, instantly lifting her spirits. Gracie felt a wave of relief wash over her; here was someone she could share her frustrations with. Without hesitation, she tapped out a response, pouring out her thoughts about the class cancellation and how she had rearranged her evening only for it to be in vain.
Adrian's reply came swiftly, and she could almost sense the understanding in his words. "I totally get it. Mr. Winston always cancels his classes last minute, and if he doesn't, he just ends up extending them. It's quite frustrating," he wrote, hoping to validate her feelings.
Gracie appreciated his empathy; it was comforting to know that she wasn't alone in her frustrations. She could almost hear the playful tone in his voice as she imagined him shaking his head at the thought of Mr. Winston's unpredictable schedule. "Luckily, his classes are only compulsory for freshmen," he added, trying to lighten the mood.
Feeling a bit better, Gracie responded with a smiley face and thanked him for understanding.
Gracie and Adrian had been sending texts to each other every day after exchanging their numbers. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and the occasional deep discussion. When they had nothing to say, Adrian would often send her hilarious memes or entertaining reels, each one guaranteed to brighten her day.
Their bond was growing slowly but surely, and Gracie cherished the connection they were building. Each message felt like a step closer to friendship, making her look forward to their exchanges more and more.
As they continued their conversation, Adrian sent another text. "Seeing as you have nothing to do today, why don't you and I hang out?" he suggested, his casual tone making the invitation feel light and inviting.
Gracie's eyes lit up at the suggestion, her heart fluttering at the thought of spending time with him. The idea of hanging out felt thrilling, and she could already picture the two of them laughing and enjoying each other's company. However, as quickly as excitement surged within her, a wave of realization hit her—she had something planned for her free time that she couldn't just brush aside.
"Unfortunately, I don't think I can hang out today; I have something planned," she replied, her heart sinking slightly as she typed the message. A hint of disappointment lingered in her chest as she hit send, wishing that the timing was different.
She hoped Adrian would understand her situation. Gracie appreciated his invitation and the thoughtfulness behind it, but she also knew she needed to honor her prior commitments.
Adrian understood that Gracie might have had a previous commitment, although he felt a twinge of disappointment at her response. He valued their budding friendship and didn't want her to feel guilty for not being available. So, he took a moment to craft a reply that would keep the mood light and reassuring.
"Totally get it! Maybe another time? 😊" he texted, hoping to convey that he was supportive of her plans and looking forward to hanging out in the future.
After a brief pause, Gracie received his message and felt a smile spread across her lips. Adrian had sent her a funny meme that perfectly captured the ups and downs of college life, and it was just what she needed to brighten her morning. The humor in it made her chuckle, and she appreciated his ability to lift her spirits even when she couldn't meet up.
She quickly replied with a laughing emoji, feeling grateful for the lightheartedness he brought to her day.
With a bounce in her step, Gracie dropped her phone onto her bed and turned her attention to getting ready for the day. The disappointment of missing out on hanging out with Adrian faded as she focused on her plans, energized by the interaction and the laughter they shared.
As she moved about her room, picking out her outfit and preparing for the day ahead, she couldn't help but think about the next time they might hang out—and how enjoyable it would be.
What she had planned on doing today was surprising Alex at his dorm. After their call the last time, promising to meet up, they both were not chanced to meet.
Their schedules kept clashing, luckily today Alex also had nothing on his schedule. However, he was under the impression that Gracie would be in class which was clearly not the case.
Gracie wanted him to be unaware of her visit or not have any hint that she was going to come. She decided not to reply to the message he had sent her earlier.