New friends

The day was warm, the sun streaming in through the classroom windows as Emily entered the lecture hall, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was her first day of college, and while she had been excited for this new chapter in her life, she couldn't deny the anxiety gnawing at her. She was used to the quiet, controlled environment of the orphanage, not the bustling energy of a college campus filled with students chatting, laughing, and rushing from one class to the next.

As she made her way to an empty seat at the back, a bubbly voice suddenly cut through the noise.

"Hey there! Are you new here?" the voice asked, and Emily turned her head to find a girl with short, brightly colored hair, a wide grin on her face, and a pair of sparkling eyes. The girl was practically bouncing in her seat, her energy infectious.

Emily blinked, slightly startled by the sudden attention, but she managed a shy smile. "Uh, yes, it's my first day."

The girl’s eyes lit up. "I knew it! You look like you could use a friend!" She immediately sat down next to Emily, throwing an arm around her shoulders in a friendly manner. "I’m Sophie, by the way. You should totally sit with me! I’ve been going to this college for a year, and I know all the best places to eat around here. You’ll love it!"

Emily, a little overwhelmed by Sophie’s enthusiastic welcome, nodded shyly. "Okay, um, I’m Emily."

Sophie smiled widely. "Emily! That’s such a cute name. So, tell me everything! Where are you from? What’s your major? Do you like sports? Oh, do you like coffee? I know the best cafe on campus, it has the most amazing pastries, you have to try it—"

Emily tried to keep up with the rapid-fire questions but could only manage a few words in between. "I, um, I don’t really know anyone here, and I’m majoring in... business." She smiled weakly, feeling a bit out of place, but Sophie didn’t seem to mind her quietness. Instead, she kept chatting away, filling the silences with stories and little bits of gossip about the college and its quirks.

It was oddly comforting, though. Despite her shyness, Emily found herself enjoying Sophie’s company. Sophie was kind, friendly, and most importantly, she wasn’t asking too many questions about Emily’s past or where she came from—things Emily didn’t know how to answer. She was just happy to have someone talking to her, someone who made her feel, for the first time in a long while, like she belonged.

As the class finally ended, Sophie jumped up excitedly. "Okay, let’s go! I’m starving, and I’m sure you are too!" She grabbed Emily’s hand, pulling her towards the door before Emily could even gather her things.

Emily hurried to follow, feeling a bit out of breath as she tried to keep up with Sophie’s quick pace. The moment they stepped outside, Sophie froze. Her eyes widened as she looked past Emily, and her mouth hung open slightly.

"Is that... is that... your bodyguard?" Sophie asked, her voice dripping with awe.

Emily followed her gaze, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the tall, imposing figure of Viktor standing outside near a sleek sports car. He was leaning against the vehicle, his posture relaxed but his expression serious, as if he were waiting for her. The sight of him, so effortlessly cool and collected, made Emily feel strangely warm inside.

"Uh, yes," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That’s Viktor."

Sophie’s jaw dropped. She looked back at Emily, then back at Viktor, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No way. No freakin' way. That gorgeous Greek god is your boyfriend?" Sophie asked in a tone of complete awe, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Emily’s face turned crimson at the question. "H-He’s not my boyfriend, he’s... he’s my fiancé," she said shyly, her voice barely audible. She couldn’t believe she was saying it out loud, but it was the truth, even if it felt strange to admit.

Sophie’s eyes widened even further, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O.’ "Your fiancé?! No way! He’s... he’s... oh my God, Emily, you’re like living a fairytale!" Sophie squealed, her voice high-pitched with excitement. "He looks like he stepped out of a romance novel or something. I can't even..." She trailed off, clearly overwhelmed by the sight of Viktor.

Emily nodded, feeling embarrassed and not sure how to respond. "I know, he’s... different. But he’s really nice," she said quietly, even though part of her wasn’t sure how to describe Viktor. He was so many things—protective, serious, and occasionally tender—but she didn’t feel comfortable revealing too much to Sophie just yet.

Sophie looked back at Viktor, shaking her head in disbelief. "I swear, he’s like an angel in disguise. He’s got that whole ‘I own the world’ vibe going on, you know?" She turned back to Emily with a mischievous grin. "So, like, are you two living together already? I bet it’s like one of those super luxurious apartments with a million-dollar view. I wanna see it!"

Emily felt her face redden even more at Sophie’s enthusiasm. "I... I don’t think he’d let you see it," she said, glancing down at her feet.

Sophie’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Ahh, I see. He’s protective. I bet he’d do anything to keep you safe. Not that I blame him—no one should let a girl like you out of their sight," she added with a wink.

Before Emily could respond, Sophie quickly pulled out her phone. "Okay, okay. I have to have your number! So when we go out, I can tell you all the best places to eat and we can hang out."

Emily’s face flushed again, and she shuffled awkwardly. "I... I don’t have a phone."

Sophie blinked, stunned. "What?! No phone? How do you survive without one?!" She looked at Emily with a mixture of confusion and sympathy. "Well, when you’re back at Viktor’s, you need to ask him to buy you one. Seriously, you can’t go through college without a phone! It’s, like, a necessity."

Emily smiled shyly, nodding a little. "I’ll... I’ll ask him."

Sophie nodded sagely. "You totally should. And if he says no, let me know. I’ve got ways of making people do things, if you know what I mean," she said with a wink, making Emily giggle despite herself.

"Thanks," Emily said softly, feeling both touched and slightly overwhelmed by Sophie’s enthusiasm.

As they made their way toward Viktor, who had been silently observing them from a distance, Sophie continued to chat non-stop, her energy infectious.

But Emily couldn’t help but steal a glance at Viktor, who was watching her with his usual intense gaze. Despite his quiet demeanor, there was something comforting in the way he stood there, waiting for her.

When they finally reached him, Viktor’s gaze shifted from Emily to Sophie. Sophie, ever the bold one, didn’t seem intimidated by his imposing presence. Instead, she gave him a bright, teasing smile. "Well, look at you, Mr. Greek God. You really do look like you walked off the pages of a magazine."

Viktor raised an eyebrow but said nothing in response, his focus solely on Emily. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his touch surprisingly tender.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked softly, his voice much gentler than before.

Emily nodded, giving Sophie a shy wave as she followed Viktor to the car. She didn’t know exactly what the future held, but for the first time, she felt a strange mix of comfort and excitement. There was so much to learn, so much to experience, and for the first time in a long while, Emily felt like maybe—just maybe—this was where she was meant to be.

And, with Viktor by her side, she didn’t feel quite so alone anymore.