A Growing Friendship
Emily couldn't help but think about Jennifer after their meeting at the coffee shop. There was something about her that intrigued Emily, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She found herself daydreaming about their conversation and wondering if she would ever see Jennifer again.
Over the next few weeks, Emily and Jennifer began to run into each other more often on campus. They would exchange friendly greetings and sometimes stop to chat for a few minutes. Emily found that she was enjoying these interactions more and more, and she began to look forward to seeing Jennifer around.
One day, as Emily was sitting in the library studying, she heard a voice behind her say, "Hey, do you mind if I sit here?"
She turned to see Jennifer standing there, holding her backpack and looking a bit sheepish.
"Of course not," Emily said, smiling warmly.
Jennifer settled into the chair next to her, pulling out her own textbooks and notebooks. They began to study together in companionable silence, occasionally pointing out interesting facts or sharing a laugh over something funny.
As the weeks went on, Emily found herself seeking out Jennifer more and more. They would study together regularly, and sometimes grab lunch or coffee in between classes. Emily enjoyed the easy camaraderie between them and found herself opening up to Jennifer in ways she never had with anyone else before.
But even as their friendship grew stronger, she dismissed any twinges of attraction she felt as just a passing curiosity or admiration for Jennifer's intelligence and humor.
One night, as Emily was finishing up a paper in the library, she realized that it was almost midnight. She packed up her things and headed for the door, only to find Jennifer sitting in the lobby, staring at her phone.
"Hey, you're still here too?" Emily said, surprised.
Jennifer looked up, looking a bit frazzled. "Yeah, I had a lot of work to do. And my phone died, so I was just waiting for it to charge."
Emily nodded sympathetically. "I know how that goes. Want to walk back to our dorms together?"
Jennifer smiled gratefully. "I'd like that, thanks."
As they walked through the deserted campus, Emily felt a sense of peace settle over her. She had always found the night to be calming, and being with Jennifer only added to the feeling.
Suddenly, Jennifer stumbled over a loose stone in the path and nearly fell. Emily caught her by the elbow, steadying her.
"Thanks," Jennifer said, looking up at Emily with gratitude.
Emily felt her heart skip a beat at the contact, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. They were just friends, after all.
As they arrived at their dorms, Jennifer turned to Emily and said, "Hey, thanks for walking me back. I really appreciate it."
Emily smiled warmly. "Anytime. See you tomorrow?"
Jennifer nodded. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
Emily watched as Jennifer disappeared into her building, feeling a sense of emptiness settle over her. She realized then that she had been relying on Jennifer's company more and more, and the thought of not seeing her for a few days over the upcoming break made her feel uneasy.
------
The next day, Emily found herself daydreaming about JJ during class, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. She couldn't concentrate on the lecture and found herself doodling in her notebook instead.
After class, Emily packed up her things and headed out into the hallway. As she walked, she spotted JJ leaning against a nearby wall, scrolling through her phone.
"Hey," Emily said, approaching her. "What's up?"
Jennifer looked up, smiling. "Not much, just waiting for my next class. What about you?"
Emily shrugged. "Same. Do you want to grab some coffee before our next class?"
JJ's face lit up. "Yeah, that sounds great. Let's go."
As they walked to the coffee shop, Emily found herself stealing glances at JJ. She couldn't help but admire the way her hair fell in soft waves around her face, or the way her eyes lit up when she talked about something she was passionate about.
They arrived at the coffee shop and ordered their drinks, settling down at a table in the corner. They talked about their upcoming break, and Jennifer mentioned that she was planning to visit her family in California.
Emily felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of not seeing Jennifer for a whole week, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. They were just friends, after all.
As they finished their coffee, JJ looked up at Emily with a mischievous grin. "Hey, do you want to go on an adventure with me?"
Emily raised an eyebrow. "What kind of adventure?"
JJ shrugged. "I don't know, we could go explore the city or do something fun. I just feel like we should make the most of our free time before the break."
Emily smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement in her stomach. "Sure, why not? What do you have in mind?"
Jennifer pulled out her phone and began scrolling through it, looking for ideas. "Well, there's a museum exhibit that just opened up that I've been dying to see. Or we could go on a hike, or check out that new restaurant on Main Street."
Emily felt a sense of anticipation building within her. She had always been a bit of a homebody, but the thought of going on an adventure with JJ was too tempting to resist.
"Let's do the museum exhibit," Emily said, feeling a rush of adrenaline. "I've heard it's really cool."
JJ grinned. "Awesome, let's go!"
They quickly finished their drinks and headed out of the coffee shop, heading towards the museum. As they walked, Emily felt a sense of excitement building within her. She couldn't wait to spend more time with JJ, and the thought of exploring the city with her felt like a dream come true.
As they arrived at the museum, Emily and JJ quickly made their way through the exhibits, marveling at the artwork and historical artifacts. They laughed and joked together, occasionally stopping to take a selfie or admire a particularly impressive piece.
As they left the museum, Emily felt a sense of satisfaction at having had a fun afternoon with Jennifer. She realized then that she had been foolish to dismiss Jennifer as just a passing acquaintance or colleague. She had become a good friend, and Emily was grateful for her presence in her life.