Campus Missed Connections Novels & Stories

United, they were formidable. "I'm in," Marcus Chen said first. "Me too," Sarah echoed. One by one, they all agreed. We were setting up a group chat and establishing protocols when my phone rang, an unknown number. "Hello?" "Mr. Cross, this is Peterson from campus security. I need you to come to the main administrative building immediately." My blood ran cold. "Why? What happened?" "Maya Cross has been reported missing from her dorm room. Given the circumstances, we need to speak with everyone who's been in contact with her today."

I can control it too— It took me a lot of training. But now I know why everyone was giving me looks when I came on campus earlier. The news was everywhere but somehow I didn’t know about it— Mira’s phone went off when she was texting me and she couldn’t inform me about it. My head hanging as I walked through campus. The sound of my phone vibrating in my bag broke me out of my thoughts. It was an unknown ID, It had given me several missed calls already, and I picked up on the third ring.

Close my eyes. My phone buzzes. I pull it out with shaking hands. Seventeen missed calls. All from the same collection agency. A text from Lily: Em, they're threatening to cancel my enrollment. I need the tuition payment by Monday. I'm so sorry. Another text from the treatment facility: James missed his counseling session again. Please call. I slide down the wall. Sit on the cold floor. Let my head fall back. For just one moment, I let myself crack.

I'm not going anywhere. By the time late afternoon rolled around, the academic buildings were practically emptying out as students migrated toward the athletic complex to snag the best seats for the opening hockey rallies. I found myself wandering toward the eastern wing of the campus, killing time before a study group, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a text from an unknown local number, followed by a screenshot of a campus forum thread speculating wildly about whether Liam was going to get kicked off the hockey team over the leaked video scandal.

I missed him with this sharp, stupid urgency that curled inside my ribs and refused to let go. Mason and I talked all the time. Every day. Practically every hour. It had become our rhythm. Good morning texts. Midday check-ins. “What are you eating?” “Do you miss me yet?” “Send me a photo.” We never ran out of reasons to stay connected. But today… it had been quiet. Too quiet. And I wasn’t handling it well. I tucked the phone back into my pocket with a sigh, trying to focus on where I was—walking across campus, boots clicking on the pavement, my bag slung heavy on my shoulder after a long meeting with my lecturer.

I still don't understand how but I'd rather not be the reason for an extended fued. I drop my highlighter on the page and grab my phone. I want to call her. If she needs me, I'll explain to the professor why I need to be absent just to be with her. The moment my phone unlocks, and I head to my chats, messages flood in. I've always been connected to the school WiFi so this kind of made me stunned.

There it was again. That possessive protective tone. It affected her far too much. Before she could respond, her phone suddenly buzzed violently inside her bag. Lucy pulled it out quickly. Then froze. Over twenty missed calls. Dozens of messages. Unknown numbers flooding her screen. Her stomach dropped instantly. "Oh no." Maya: LUCY WHERE ARE YOU??? Maya: THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IS TALKING ABOUT YOU Maya: VANESSA CAME TO SCHOOL Lucy's blood ran cold.

I knit my brows in confusion, but then shrug and move to my own car to drive back to campus, to the main campus where my lectures are held. Halfway through my drive, it’s already 12 and i shoukd be in class, but my phone rings. My heart skips, and then freezes when I see the caller ID. It is Rhett calling.

My mouth fell open. “Seriously?” I muttered, sitting up fast. I grabbed my phone from beside the clock and tapped the screen. Messages from Mary lit up one after another. Oh, My God! I had missed a ton of her calls. Mary: June!!! You alive? Mary: Call me when you get settled, girl. I miss you already Mary: Let’s meet up by evening? Cafeteria near the old spot tomorrow? We need to catch up. Mary: Don’t ghost me now that you’re in a mansion

I need to graduate, I need to attend the best art college, I need to be far away from my mum. “Oh my god.” Cassidy’s gasps tears through my thoughts. She’s looking down at her phone, fingers aggressively swiping. “What? What is it?” I jerk upright on the bed. Cassidy hands me her phone. My eyes go as wide as saucers when I finally see what has her so panicked. I’m staring down at a series of messages posted on the student webpage. Nexus arts and sciences dedicated a whole page for students to communicate their feelings—mostly anonymously—or to ask important questions.