Lana stepped onto the campus of New York University, her suitcase rolling unevenly over the cracks in the sidewalk. The energy of the city buzzed around her, horns blaring, people rushing past, a street musician playing jazz on the corner. Everything felt fast, chaotic, and completely different from the quiet town she had left behind.
She adjusted her backpack strap, taking a deep breath. This was it. College. A new city, a new life. No more small-town expectations, no more predictable routines. Just endless possibilities.
And, of course, Mason.
She scanned the courtyard, searching for the person who had been her pen pal for three years. It felt strange meeting someone she already knew so well, yet had never actually seen in person.
Their friendship had formed over letters, emails, and late-night rants about everything from bad teachers to their favorite movies. Mason had been the one who hyped her up when she doubted herself, who sent memes when she was stressed about exams.
A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Alright, which one of these lost freshmen is Lana Carter?"
She turned toward the sound and spotted him tall, broad-shouldered, with dark, slightly messy hair and a confident smirk. Mason was leaning against a bench, arms crossed, scanning the crowd like he was trying to pick her out.
Lana grinned. "That lost freshman would be me."
Mason's eyes landed on her, and for a split second, surprise flickered across his face—like the moment you meet a character from a book you've read a thousand times. Then, he broke into a wide grin.
"No way," he said, pushing off the bench and walking over. "You're real? I thought I was getting catfished."
Lana rolled her eyes. "Says the guy who never FaceTimed me once."
Mason chuckled and pulled her into a quick, one-armed hug the kind you'd give a long-lost sibling. "Welcome to New York, Carter. Ready to survive NYU?"
Lana looked around, taking it all in—the towering buildings, the sea of students, the undeniable thrill of a fresh start. She turned back to Mason, her first familiar face in this unfamiliar place, and nodded.
"Let's do this."
_________________________________________