At Sprout Well
As they took the stairs down from Sprout Well, Marcus let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Cheez, you really broke that poor guy's spirit. He even covered for you while you were sleeping—and you still shut him down like that."
Caroline didn't even look back.
"Shut up, Marko," she said, dismissing him like background noise before he could drag it out.
Marcus grinned wider. "It is funny. I don't think anyone's going to disturb you again anytime soon. You've officially set a campus record for fastest emotional damage."
Caroline shot him a sideways look but said nothing. If anything, her expression suggested she was already done thinking about the incident.
They had walked a little distance away from Sprout Well when Caroline suddenly slowed. Her gaze fixed ahead, past the flow of students moving around them.
At a distance, she noticed a guy entering Catenburg. The way he walked, the shape of his shoulders, the slight tilt of his head—it all felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Without turning her head, she spoke casually, as if the thought had just occurred to her. "I liked the juice at Catenburg yesterday," she said. "I'm planning to get one. Do any of you want something?"
Daisy looked up at her immediately. "Why don't we go together?" she suggested, already adjusting her bag strap.
Caroline shook her head lightly. "It'll take time. I can grab the juice quickly while you guys order and save us a place at Dolls Den. It's pretty far too."
She turned slightly toward them, her expression relaxed, almost cheerful. "I'll be quick. See you."
Before anyone could respond, she turned and rushed toward Catenburg, her steps purposeful.
Kevin slowed to a stop and watched her go. "Is it only me," he asked cautiously, "or did that feel… sudden?"
"No," Daisy said, frowning slightly. "I felt it too."
Marcus had noticed it as well. The timing. The excuse. The direction.
But instead of voicing it, he smoothed over his expression and spoke casually. "Don't worry. She's like that when she suddenly craves something. Happens a lot."
He glanced between Daisy and Kevin. "I'll go give her company. You two continue and grab us a spot. We'll join you shortly."
Before either of them could object, Marcus turned and walked steadily toward Catenburg.
Daisy watched him go, unease creeping into her face. "Why do I feel like they're hiding something," she said quietly, "or am I just overthinking?"
Kevin shrugged as they resumed walking. "We've only known them for two days. We'll probably learn more about each other as time goes by."
Daisy nodded slowly. "True. I just hope we can all be good friends."
She smiled, hopeful, though something about Caroline's sudden departure lingered in her thoughts.
At Catenburg
Catenburg buzzed with lunchtime energy—voices overlapping, trays clattering, the smell of food mixing into something warm and chaotic.
Caroline entered and stopped just inside, scanning the hall. She positioned herself near the counter but deliberately stayed away from the queue, pretending to examine the stalls as if deciding what to order.
Her eyes searched the crowd.
Then she spotted him.
There he is.
Lean. Tall. The same build as the guy I'd seen that night with Derik.
He was wearing a bright red T-shirt, impossible to miss even in the crowd. He stood near one of the stalls, waiting for his turn.
Caroline leaned against the counter and pulled out her phone, scrolling aimlessly. From the corner of her eye, she kept checking his movements.
She waited for him to turn around.
A moment later, Marcus entered Catenburg. He immediately noticed Caroline standing awkwardly at the counter, not ordering, not in line.
He scanned the hall instinctively, his gaze sharp, alert.
Then he walked up beside her, lowering his voice. "Waiting for me?"
Caroline had already noticed his shoes approaching. She pressed her lips together briefly. "Yes," she said smoothly. "Can you get me the mango juice now?"
Marcus studied her face for half a second. Then he followed her line of sight—but he didn't see any seniors, no obvious trouble.
He exhaled quietly. "Wait here," he said, turning toward the juice stall.
Caroline nodded. "Ok."
The moment he walked away, she straightened slightly.
The guy collected his tray and turned.
She stopped scrolling.
Lucas.
Caroline stared at him for a second longer than she intended to. Then she quickly turned her head toward Marcus, who was still in line.
Is he the one? she thought.
She couldn't be sure. Not yet.
Test first, she decided.
An idea formed quickly.
She walked toward the table where Lucas was sitting with a few others.
"Hi, Lucas," she said calmly.
Lucas and the others turned their heads at once.
Lucas blinked, clearly surprised. After a few seconds of staring at her unfamiliar but strikingly composed face, he replied, "Hi."
"What's the name of the dish you're eating?" Caroline asked, peering briefly at his tray.
"Quinova rice bowl," Lucas answered, confused.
"Which stall did you get it from?" she asked, pointing vaguely. "This one or that one?"
What is wrong with her? Lucas wondered. She can check directly at the counter.
Still, he answered, pointing. "There."
"Thank you. Enjoy your food," Caroline said politely.
She walked past them without another word.
Lucas frowned after her.
"Dude," the guy beside him whispered, "what was that? Are you two friends now?"
"Didn't you hear how she talked?" Lucas muttered, irritated. "Making friends with a monkey is easier than dealing with her."
The others looked confused.
One of them, however, had been watching Caroline from the moment she entered. He noticed the way she pretended to scroll, how her attention never truly left Lucas, how her expression shifted—just briefly—when recognition set in.
She wasn't here for food.
Not for conversation either.
She was checking on him.
The understanding settled easily, without effort. And for reasons he didn't bother questioning, his mood lifted. Not because of Lucas—but because of her.
Marcus returned with the mango juice just as Caroline finished walking away from Lucas. He slowed slightly, observing the interaction from a distance.
Even without hearing a word, he knew she had done it deliberately.
He decided to stay quiet.
They met near the exit and left Catenburg together, walking toward Dolls Den.
"Marko," Caroline said quietly, her voice steady but low, "we need to help Lucas."
Marcus glanced at her. "Cheez, what did you see?"
"Not now," she replied. "But I can tell you this—drugs are involved."
Marcus looked down as they walked. "So it's as expected," he murmured.
The rest of the walk passed in silence, the weight of the realization settling between them.
At Dolls Den
They reached Dolls Den without another word.
Caroline pulled out her phone and called Daisy. "Where are you guys?"
"I see you," Daisy replied immediately. "To your right."
Kevin stood up and waved enthusiastically.
Caroline glanced at the table. "Looks like ordering was quick."
"Yeah," Daisy said. "Not many people come here for lunch. Limited menu, but everything's fresh."
On the table sat their food:
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.
Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup.
Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies.
"Not bad for a limited menu," Caroline said, her mood lifting slightly. "Let's dig in."
"We got two of everything," Kevin added, pouring soup into bowls. "So we can share."
Caroline and Marcus both gave him an approving thumbs-up.
They ate quietly, the earlier tension easing as warmth returned to the table.
For now, at least, their stomachs were full—and so was the silence between them.