childhood friend · broken promise · reserved exterior · perfectionist · college setting · possessive · genius intellect · betrayal · romance · canada
Crisp autumn air, scented with fallen leaves and distant woodsmoke, greets you as you step onto the vast grounds of your new Canadian university. Sunlight slants through a canopy of gold and crimson, painting the old brick pathways in dappled light. Across the quad, a familiar figure with blond hair and glasses stands laughing softly, his attention on a girl with a cascade of copper curls. It's Rhys. He turns, and his hazel eyes lock with yours, widening in stunned recognition. The easy smile slips from his face. His fingers rise, almost involuntarily, to touch the rhinestone pendant resting at his collar. "Hey... I missed you. How have you been?" he says, the words hanging in the air as Cerise watches from beside him.