Through the flame

Sparks and New Beginnings

The sky was streaked with soft hues of pink and gold as Amber Gates parked her car in the student lot of Blake's College. Today, she vowed, would be different. After yesterday's whirlwind of nerves and adjustment, she was determined to dive into her classes and prove to herself she belonged here.

Her first class of the day, Biology 101, flew by in a blur of note-taking and rapid-fire introductions. By the time her second class ended, she was juggling her tote bag and a stack of textbooks, mentally mapping out her path to the administration office to finalize some paperwork.

Amber picked up her pace, her heels clicking against the tiled floor of the main hall. The sprawling campus was alive with chatter, laughter, and the occasional blaring ringtone. She tried weaving through the clusters of students without tripping over her own feet.

And then it happened.

As she turned a corner at full speed, Amber collided with something—no, someone—so solid she staggered back, her books and papers spilling to the floor in a chaotic mess. She barely managed to catch herself before falling completely.

"Watch where you're going!" a deep, irritated voice barked.

Amber looked up, her breath catching in her throat. Standing before her was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark, unruly hair that framed his chiseled face. His piercing gray eyes, like storm clouds, pinned her in place. His expression was one of barely concealed annoyance, his jaw clenched tightly.

"I—uh—sorry," she stammered, her cheeks flushing. Her hands instinctively went to gather her scattered belongings, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from him.

"Sorry doesn't cut it if you're not paying attention," he snapped, his tone sharp enough to make her flinch. He crouched to retrieve one of her books but didn't hand it to her. Instead, he stood, glanced at the cover, and then down at her, as if assessing her.

"Maybe try looking where you're going next time," he added curtly, placing the book on top of the pile she was gathering before straightening.

Amber bristled at his tone, the apology she'd been about to utter dying in her throat. Instead, she stared up at him, her blue eyes meeting his stormy gray ones in a silent battle. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, and all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat hammering in her ears.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, his long strides making it clear he had no intention of looking back.

Amber let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Well, that was… something," she muttered under her breath, her cheeks still burning. Gathering the last of her papers, she stood and brushed herself off, determined to shake off the encounter.

By the time Amber made it to her third class, her mind was still replaying the intense exchange with the stranger from earlier. She had no idea who he was, but something about him had left an impression—a mixture of frustration, intrigue, and a spark of something she couldn't quite name.

Shoving the thought aside, she stepped into the classroom, a smaller lecture hall with rows of desks arranged in a semi-circle. She quickly found a seat in the middle row, setting her things down with a sigh.

"Hi! Mind if I sit here?"

Amber turned to see a tall girl with chestnut-brown hair cascading in loose waves over her shoulders. Her outfit—a perfectly tailored blazer over a cropped top and high-waisted jeans—looked like it had come straight out of a fashion magazine. The girl's hazel eyes sparkled with energy as she gestured to the empty seat next to Amber.

"Sure," Amber said, offering a small smile.

"Great! I'm Sapphire, by the way," the girl said, plopping down into the chair and setting her designer tote bag on the desk. "Sapphire Bennett. Weird name, I know. My mom has a thing for gemstones."

Amber chuckled, finding Sapphire's energy oddly refreshing. "I'm Amber Gates. Nice to meet you."

Sapphire's eyes lit up. "Amber—like the gemstone! Guess we're a match made in geology heaven."

Amber laughed. "I guess so."

Sapphire leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Okay, so this is my first time taking a class this early. I'm not really a morning person, but my dad insisted I take a full course load. He thinks I'll be less distracted that way."

Amber raised an eyebrow. "Distracted?"

"Boys," Sapphire said with a dramatic eye roll. "But jokes on him—I already have a boyfriend. His name's Joshua. Total sweetheart, but kind of a buzzkill sometimes."

Amber couldn't help but smile at Sapphire's bluntness. "You're a chatterbox, aren't you?"

"Oh, absolutely," Sapphire said with a grin. "But don't worry, I'm a good listener too. So, tell me—what's your story, Amber? First-year? What's your major? Do you have a boyfriend?"

Amber blinked at the rapid-fire questions but decided to humor her. "Yes, I'm a first-year. Pre-med major. And no, no boyfriend."

"Pre-med? Wow, brains and beauty. I like you already," Sapphire said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "And no boyfriend? That's crazy. A girl like you should have guys lining up around the block."

Amber shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I've been… busy, I guess."

Sapphire studied her for a moment, then leaned back with a knowing smile. "You're one of those 'focused on my goals' types, aren't you? That's good. You'll keep me grounded."

Before Amber could respond, the professor entered the room, and the class began.

By the time the lecture ended, Amber felt a surprising sense of camaraderie with Sapphire. They'd exchanged phone numbers and made tentative plans to grab coffee sometime soon.

"Need a ride?" Sapphire asked as they walked out of the classroom.

Amber shook her head. "Thanks, but I've got my car."

"Good. Because as much as I'd love to show off my Porsche, I'm pretty sure I'm a terrible driver," Sapphire said with a laugh. "See you tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Amber said, smiling.

As she walked to her car, she couldn't help but feel lighter. Meeting Sapphire was a reminder that college wasn't just about academics—it was about forming connections and finding people who could make the journey a little less daunting.

Still, as she drove home, her thoughts drifted back to the stranger she'd bumped into earlier. She didn't even know his name, but something about him had unsettled her in a way she couldn't explain.

"Focus, Amber," she muttered to herself. But deep down, she had a feeling she hadn't seen the last of him.