All Chapters of Layover : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Ella stood outside the office door, staring at the small silver nameplate.Dr. Victor Hayes Department of Research StudiesShe swallowed.Just yesterday, he'd been the man she shared the most honest night of her life with.Today...He was her lecturer.She raised her hand and knocked softly."Come in."His voice was calm.Professional.Taking a deep breath, Ella pushed the door open.Victor was standing beside the large window overlooking the campus courtyard.Sunlight poured into the office, illuminating bookshelves packed with journals and research papers.He turned as she entered.For a brief second, neither of them spoke.Then Victor gestured toward the chair opposite his desk."Please... have a seat."Ella sat, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her skirt.Victor remained standing for another moment before taking his own seat.The silence felt heavier than either of them expected.Finally, Victor smiled faintly."I wasn't expecting to see you again."Ella let out a nervous laugh.

Ella stretched her arms above her head before glancing at the growing stack of books beside her.Three hours.She had been sitting in the same chair for nearly three hours.Research methods wasn't exactly the exciting fresh start she'd imagined, but she refused to fall behind.She rubbed her tired eyes and looked around.The library buzzed with quiet activity.Some students whispered over group projects while others typed furiously on their laptops.A librarian pushed a trolley of returned books down one of the aisles.Everything felt peaceful.Normal.Exactly what Ella had hoped university life would be.Her stomach growled.She laughed softly."I guess that's my cue."Closing her notebook, she packed her laptop into her backpack before carrying the pile of borrowed books to the return desk.Outside, the campus had become livelier than usual.Students crossed the courtyard carrying coffee cups, bicycles rolled past, and somewhere in the distance a guitarist played a familiar tune.El

Ella stared at the glowing screen of her laptop, willing the words to change.Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Victor Hayes.She blinked.Refreshed the page.The name remained."No..."She refreshed it again.Still the same."This has to be a mistake."She leaned back against the sofa, pressing her fingers against her temples.Out of every lecturer in the department...Why him?She had promised herself she would start over.Victor had promised they would remain professional.Now fate had placed them together once again.She let out a long sigh before shutting the laptop.Tomorrow.She would go to the department first thing tomorrow.There had to be another supervisor.The next morning, Ella arrived on campus earlier than usual.The administration office had barely opened when she stepped inside.Behind the reception desk sat a cheerful middle-aged woman wearing reading glasses on the edge of her nose.She looked up and smiled."Good morning.""Good morning.""What can I help you with?"Ella of

By the time Ella left the library, the campus had changed.The bright afternoon sky had disappeared behind heavy gray clouds, and a cold wind swept through the nearly empty courtyard.She hugged her books closer to her chest."I should've left earlier," she muttered.The first raindrop landed on her hand.Then another.Within seconds, the rain came pouring down.Students ran in every direction, laughing as they searched for shelter.Some hurried beneath covered walkways while others opened umbrellas they had wisely remembered to bring.Ella sighed."Of course."She looked inside her bag.Notebook.Laptop.Wallet.No umbrella.Perfect.She stepped beneath the roof outside the library and watched the rain bounce against the stone pavement.It didn't look like it would stop anytime soon.She checked the weather app on her phone.Heavy rainfall expected for the next two hours.She groaned softly."I'll be here all evening."A few minutes passed.The courtyard became quieter as most studen

Ella had barely stepped into her apartment when her phone buzzed.She dropped her bag onto the sofa and kicked off her shoes before unlocking the screen.University EmailShe frowned."Another one?"She opened it.The subject line read:Annual Faculty Dinner & Academic Excellence ReceptionShe almost closed it.She assumed it was another general announcement.Then her eyes caught the first line.Dear Miss Anderson,Congratulations. You have been selected by the Department of Research Studies as one of this year's Outstanding Postgraduate Representatives.Ella blinked.She read it again.Then a third time."No way..."A smile slowly spread across her face.For the first time since arriving in this country, she felt like all her hard work had been noticed.Her phone rang almost immediately.Sophie.Ella answered with a laugh."Don't tell me you got the email too.""I DID!" Sophie practically screamed."I knew you'd call.""Do you know what this means?"Ella smiled."We're going to the d