Crossroads

SOPHIA’S POV

I woke up with my head pounding so bad I thought it was going to split in two. My eyes fluttered open slowly, trying to make sense of the sunlight hitting my face and that was when I realized that I wasn’t in my dorm.

Panic shot through me, making my stomach twist. Where the hell was I? My head still felt fuzzy from last night. 

I tried to move, carefully, but my body protested. Every muscle ached like I had ran a marathon or been hit by a truck.

I swung my legs off the bed and froze. I was in pajamas that weren’t mine. A soft pair, but definitely not the hoodie and shorts I had gone out in. My heart started hammering. Someone was here and someone knew I was here.

I tiptoed, trying to make my way toward the door, thinking maybe I could sneak out before whoever it was woke up. 

My foot hit something soft. I stumbled. “Shit…” I muttered under my breath.

Then I saw him.

He was in the kitchen half naked, wearing only sweatpants that hung low on his hips. His chest was broad. 

Muscles. Arms… everything. He froze when he noticed me, but not in a scary way. More… amused.

I yelped, covering my eyes with my hands. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

“Relax,” he said, voice deep and calm. “You’re okay.”

I peeked through my fingers. He had short dark hair, a strong jaw, and green eyes that… I knew. I knew that face. My brain spun, trying to remember where I’d seen him.

“I… I just… I don’t know where to start. Sorry for sneaking in like… I mean… I—” I trailed off, stammering. My mouth wouldn’t make sense.

He smiled faintly. “You were passed out outside last night. You needed help and I got you inside, okay?”

“Oh.” I blinked, heart pounding in my chest. “You… you saved me?”

“Yeah.” He stepped closer, rubbing the back of his neck. “You were… drunk. Couldn’t handle that guy at the club so I stepped in. You’re lucky I got there when I did.”

I swallowed hard. My lips felt dry. “I… I don’t even remember. Thank you so much.”

He nodded. “Don’t mention it. Just… maybe next time, don’t go out like that alone. It’s… dangerous.”

I felt my stomach twist. “Yeah… I know. I… I messed up.”

He chuckled softly. A low, almost amused sound. “A little,” he said, shaking his head. Then he tilted his head at me. “Name’s James.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. I know I look familiar to you but you don’t remember me, huh?”

I shook my head, confused. “I… I can’t… I just know your face. I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

He smirked faintly. “Maybe you have but right now, focus on breakfast. You need to eat. You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt worse.”

I hesitated, then nodded. I couldn’t think straight. My head was still pounding and my stomach churned.

But I followed him anyway, letting him guide me to a small table where breakfast was already set. Everything smelled… safe and comforting.

As I sat, I tried to make sense of everything. My head spun so fast I felt like I was going to throw up.

“So… you’re okay?” He asked, sliding a plate toward me as his eyes studied me like he could see right through me.

I nodded slowly. “I… I think so. I’m just really tired.”

He nodded. “Good. Eat and then we’ll figure out where you go next.”

I froze. Darcy. My mind immediately went to my best friend, my roommate, the girl I had been ignoring emotionally for days. What if she freaked out? What if she…

I shook my head. “I… I need to get home after this.”

James nodded. “Fine, but eat first. Please. You need something in your stomach.”

So I ate. My brain was still fuzzy, my stomach twisting. He didn’t pressure me, he just sat there, watching me.

Finally, after the last bite, I wiped my mouth with the napkin. “I… I should go. My friend will… she’ll worry.”

He nodded. “Yeah. Go, I’ll make sure you get home safely.”

The ride back was quiet. I tried to piece together where I knew him from, but nothing clicked. My head still pounded and my stomach was still not right.

When I finally got back to the dorm, Darcy was pacing in the common room like a caged animal. Her face lit up when she saw me. 

“Sophia! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been so worried!”

“I… I just… went out,” I said slowly, trying to sound normal. “Lost track of time. I’m sorry.”

She ran over and hugged me tightly. I felt her grip like chains. “Don’t do that to me again,” she whispered, voice shaking. “I can’t… I can’t handle it when you just disappear like that.”

I nodded. “I know. I’m… I’m sorry. Really.”

She didn’t let go right away, just pressed herself against me, holding me like she wouldn’t let go. “Promise me,” she said softly, “promise me you won’t scare me like that again.”

“I… I promise,” I said, even though my heart wasn’t really in it. My thoughts were back at James, the way he looked and the way he saved me.

Darcy let go slowly, but her eyes stayed on me, possessive, worried, like I was hers. And for a second, I felt guilty for even thinking about Eric again.

The rest of the day was a blur. Darcy stayed close, acting clingy, protective, like she always did. I didn’t push her away. I let her. 

But I couldn’t stop thinking about the mystery man. His face, his green eyes, his voice… everything. I tried to pin down where I had seen him before, but I couldn’t.

Hours passed. I tried studying, tried focusing on my Econ homework, but every time I closed my notebook, I saw him in my mind.

Then my phone buzzed and my heart jumped when I saw that it was from Eric.

A text… ‘Meet me. Off campus in an hour. No one can know.”

I stared at the message, thumb hovering over the screen. My head spun and my heart raced. I knew I shouldn’t, but… the pull. The pull was too strong.