Clara Thomson's Home
Evening | Post-College
The sun dipped low, casting a warm orange glow through the windows of Clara Thomson's cozy two-story house. She pushed open the creaky gate, the familiar scent of freshly baked cookies hitting her as she stepped inside. Kicking off her sneakers, she grinned. "Mom, you trying to fatten me up or what?" she called, tossing her backpack onto the couch.
In the kitchen, Sophie, her mother, stood by the counter, a tray of golden-brown cookies and a plate of sandwiches ready. With her dark hair in a messy bun and a comfy sweater, Sophie looked more like Clara's older sister than her mom. "Oh, please, you skinny thing," she teased, sliding the tray forward. "Eat before you waste away. So, college—spill the tea."
Clara plopped onto a stool, grabbing a cookie and biting into it with a dramatic moan. "Mom, you're a wizard. These are *divine*." She leaned in, eyes glinting with mischief. "College was wild. Okay, picture this: I'm on the fourth floor, total ghost town, creepy vibes. Then I hear this guy whining like he's in some tragic movie—'Why'd you leave me?'—all that drama. So, I poke my head in, and he *flips out*. Throws a tray at a window! Can you believe it?"
Sophie's eyes widened, but she burst out laughing, clutching her coffee mug. "Clara, you little troublemaker! You probably scared the poor boy half to death. Did you apologize?"
"Nah, not yet," Clara admitted, munching on a sandwich. "I kinda… mocked him first. Called him a sob story. He got mad." She giggled, then her face softened. "But Dana and Lila chewed me out. Said I was mean, that he might be, like, really messed up. So, I'm gonna track him down tomorrow and say sorry."
Sophie shook her head, smirking. "You and your big mouth. You're lucky I love you, kid." She ruffled Clara's hair. "But good on you for owning it. Just don't start more wars with tray-throwing boys."
Clara stuck out her tongue. "No promises, Mom. Oh, and the profs? One's a riot—calls himself Martin Luther, like he's leading a revolution. The other's a drill sergeant, all 'tie your hair, no flashy clothes.' Total buzzkill."
Sophie snorted, leaning back. "Sounds like college. You'll survive. Now, eat another cookie and tell me more about this tray guy. Was he cute?"
"Mom!" Clara laughed, tossing a crumb at her. "Didn't see his face! Too busy running for my life. You're the worst."
The two dissolved into giggles, the kitchen warm with their friend-like banter, where no topic was off-limits.
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...St. Thomas University Hostel
Night | Birthday Chill
The hostel room glowed softly under a string of fairy lights, the air filled with the hum of a lazy ceiling fan and the faint smell of pizza crusts piled in a corner. Lucas sprawled on a beanbag, orchestrating plans like a laid-back DJ, while Adrian fiddled with a Bluetooth speaker, testing a playlist. Matt lounged on his bunk, one leg dangling, his usual broodiness dialed down as they plotted a chill surprise for Jake, a hostel mate turning 19.
"Alright, boys," Lucas said, tossing a plastic cup in the air and catching it. "Jake's birthday hits at midnight. We keep it simple: sneak in, dump a bucket of cold water on him, then smear cake on his face. Done deal."
Adrian grinned, holding up a small bucket he'd swiped from the bathroom. "Got the water ready. We'll catch him snoring, douse him, and hit him with the cake before he knows what's up."
Matt chuckled, leaning forward. "He's gonna hate us. Last year, he slipped trying to dodge the water and swore revenge." He sounded almost eager, a rare lightness in his voice as he grabbed a lopsided chocolate cake from a box on the desk. "This thing's perfect—frosting's already melting. It'll be a mess."
Lucas smirked, giving Matt a playful shove. "That's the spirit, Grayson. You're on cake duty. Make sure it's a direct hit."
The trio laughed, the vibe easy and relaxed as they finalized the plan. Adrian synced the speaker to blast Jake's favorite indie rock song as a wake-up call, and Lucas stashed the cake behind a pile of textbooks. "We move at 11:55," Lucas said, checking his phone. "Gives us time to eat these leftover chips first."
The celebration went off without a hitch. At midnight, they crept into Jake's room, stifling giggles. Adrian tipped the bucket, sending a cascade of cold water over Jake, who bolted upright, yelling, "You jerks!" Before he could swing, Matt smeared a handful of cake across his face, the frosting dripping onto his pajamas. Jake sputtered, half-laughing, half-cursing, as the speaker blared and the boys high-fived, dodging his flailing arms.
Back in their room, the mood was still light, and Lucas, ever the instigator, grabbed a leftover chunk of cake and lobbed it at Adrian, who ducked just in time. "Missed me, you amateur!" Adrian taunted, retaliating with a flicked chip that hit Lucas square in the forehead. The room erupted in laughter, Matt even cracking a grin as he tossed a crumpled napkin into the fray.
But the energy faded as Matt leaned back on his bunk, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted to Anna—her laugh, the way she'd ditched him for some arranged marriage, leaving him hollow. His face tightened, a quiet sadness settling in.
Adrian, sprawled on the floor with a soda, noticed. "Yo, Matt, you're zoning out again. What's up?" He sat up, nudging Lucas. "Let's switch gears. Tell us about that girl from the dark room—the one who got you all riled up on the fourth floor."
Matt's sadness morphed into irritation, his eyes narrowing. "That fresher? She's got some guts, I'll give her that. Calling me a 'sob story' like she's hot stuff. Who the hell does she think she is? A silly little fresher mocking a senior? She's gonna regret it."
Lucas perked up, his playboy grin returning. "Oh, I'm in. That's a girl I need to meet. I'm finding her tomorrow, no question. Gotta see who's bold enough to mess with Matt Grayson. What's the deal—any clues?"
Matt leaned back, his voice sharp. "She was loud, snappy. Had these annoying hair clips, jingling like a wind chime when she ran. Couldn't see her face, but that sound? It's stuck in my head."
Lucas's eyes lit up. "Jingling clips? That's my lead. I'm hunting every fresher with noisy hair tomorrow. Bet she's a firecracker."
Matt didn't smile, his thoughts still tangled in Anna's memory and the fresher's audacity, but Lucas's enthusiasm sparked a flicker of curiosity in him.
To be continued...