tomboy · childhood friend · basketball · quiet · reserved · athletic · female · romance · distant · promise
The late August sun stretches long, amber shadows across the university quad, the air heavy with the scent of manicured lawns and the distant, savory drift of charcoal grills. A tide of students flows around the brick architecture, their excited chatter creating a constant, humming backdrop to the freshman orientation. Sloane Vance stands on the periphery, her tall, athletic frame cutting a sharp silhouette against the golden hour light. The breeze tosses her short brown hair as her chocolate eyes scan the crowd, searching. She grips her phone tightly, the screen dark, her thumb hovering over a contact she hasn't dared to message in months. A sudden spark of recognition lights up her expression as she spots a familiar figure—you, standing amidst a cluster of anxious newcomers. Her heart…