The late spring air of Los Angeles buzzed with life, but Jackie couldn't shake the quiet ache in her chest. It had been nearly a year since she left Bloomington, and she'd worked hard to bury the memories of that place, of Catherine. Yet, as she walked through the crowded streets, the ghost of that night still lingered.

After storming out of Catherine's house, Jackie had wasted no time booking the earliest flight back to LA. The semester was nearly over anyway, and she'd had enough. Enough of the small-town whispers, enough of the painful reminders, enough of Catherine. Or so she told herself. In truth, leaving had been her only way of coping with the betrayal she'd never seen coming.

For a year, they'd stayed out of each other's lives. No texts, no calls, not even a stray email. It was easier that way, or at least it seemed so on the surface. But in the quiet moments—during late nights on set or early mornings before the city awoke—Jackie's thoughts always wandered back to Catherine. She wondered if Catherine thought of her, too, or if she'd moved on without a second glance.

The feature film Jackie had poured herself into over the past year had been a resounding success. Critics hailed it as a revival of her career, her return to the industry she'd once dominated as a child star. But the acclaim felt hollow. Somewhere along the way, she'd realized she wasn't doing it for herself. The love she'd once had for acting was gone, faded into something mechanical. Mark—her manager—had always been her anchor, her reason for persevering in the industry. But now? She wasn't so sure.

Mark would never have wanted her to sacrifice her happiness for a career that no longer brought her joy. That thought had been a turning point for Jackie. After the film wrapped, she made the decision to step away from the spotlight. Her next move shocked everyone around her: she enrolled to finish her degree. And not just at any school. She was going back to Bloomington.

The choice hadn't been easy to explain, not even to herself. There were countless other universities she could have chosen, ones with better programs or less painful memories. So why return? The question gnawed at her, and she'd dismissed the idea that it had anything to do with Catherine. It was ridiculous to think she'd go back just to see her. Right?

Still, as Jackie stepped onto campus that first day of her sophomore year, a strange mix of nerves and anticipation churned in her stomach. Bloomington hadn't changed much in a year. The familiar brick buildings, the sprawling lawns, and the groups of students bustling between classes—it all felt the same. And yet, it wasn't. She wasn't the same.

Taking a deep breath, Jackie adjusted the strap of her bag and started toward the main hall. Her heart raced as she walked, a small part of her wondering if she'd run into Catherine. Was she still here? Would she recognize her? Would she care?

The thought was absurd. Jackie shook her head, trying to clear the spiral of emotions threatening to consume her. She was here for herself. For her education. For her future. Catherine Stark was nothing more than a ghost of the past she was determined to leave behind.

Or so she tried to convince herself.

Jackie stepped into her first class of the semester, Developmental Psychology. As she entered the room, she immediately felt the weight of dozens of eyes on her. The whispers began almost instantly. A few students leaned toward each other, murmuring, while others blatantly snapped pictures with their phones. Jackie's face burned with embarrassment as she scanned the room for an empty seat.

She finally spotted one near the middle and hurried to it, keeping her head down. The attention was overwhelming, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. The whispers grew louder, a cacophony of excitement and curiosity, until a soft voice beside her broke through.

"Hey, you're Jackie, right?"

Jackie turned to see the woman sitting next to her. She was stunning, with light skin, straight dark hair that reached down to her rib cage, and eyes that sparkled with warmth. She looked Middle Eastern, her features sharp yet inviting. Jackie nodded hesitantly, grateful for the distraction from the staring crowd.

"I'm Amina," the woman said, offering a friendly smile. "It's nice to meet you."

Jackie returned the smile, her nerves easing slightly. "Nice to meet you, too. And yeah, I'm Jackie."

"You're kind of famous," Amina said, her tone light and teasing. "Everyone here's been buzzing about you."

Jackie sighed. "Yeah, I've noticed."

Amina laughed softly. "Don't worry, it'll die down. People here are nosy, but they get bored quickly."

As they chatted, Jackie learned that Amina was Egyptian and also a sophomore double majoring in psychology and medicine. The revelation surprised Jackie, who couldn't help but admire Amina's ambition. It didn't take long for Jackie to realize that Amina was well-liked; a few students stopped by to greet her, and she seemed to know everyone. Despite the attention, Amina focused entirely on Jackie, making her feel seen in a way that was rare and comforting.

Before their conversation could go deeper, the door at the front of the classroom opened, and a man in his mid-forties walked in. He had a kind smile and an approachable demeanor as he placed his bag on the desk and turned to address the room.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor Andrews, and I'll be teaching Developmental Psychology this semester."

The chatter in the room subsided, and Jackie turned her attention to the front, grateful for the chance to fade into the background, at least for a little while.

When class ended, students began filing out, but Amina stayed seated, glancing at Jackie. "Hey," she said, catching her attention. "Do you have another class right now, or are you free?"

Jackie shook her head. "I've got some time. Why?"

Amina smiled warmly. "Great. Let's grab a coffee and talk for a bit. We can head to the cafe nearby—it's quieter than most places around here."

Jackie hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, that sounds nice." She appreciated the gesture—it had been a while since someone made her feel genuinely welcome.

As they walked out together, Jackie couldn't help but feel a flicker of relief. Amina's easygoing nature was a welcome contrast to the stares and whispers. When they arrived at the campus café, Amina surprised Jackie by insisting on buying them both drinks and some food. Jackie was touched by the gesture and thanked her sincerely.

Settling into a corner booth, Jackie leaned back and glanced around the cozy café. "How come I've never seen you before?" she asked, curiosity creeping into her voice.

Amina chuckled softly. "Well, I wasn't here two years ago. I took a gap year before starting college last year. It took me a while to decide between psychology and medicine. In the end, I couldn't choose, so I decided to double major. Crazy, I know."

Jackie's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Double majoring? That's impressive—and intense."

"It is," Amina admitted, smiling. "But I love both fields, so I figure it's worth the effort. And honestly, I feel like I'm doing okay so far." She sipped her coffee, her confidence apparent but not overbearing.

Jackie nodded. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

Amina tilted her head, studying Jackie. "Not entirely. But who does, right? Anyway, what about you? What's brought you back here?"

Jackie hesitated, then offered a small shrug. "Just felt like the right time to finish what I started."

Amina didn't press further, sensing Jackie's reluctance to dive into details. Instead, she shifted the topic. "What professors did you have back then, when you were here two years ago?"

As Jackie listed her past professors, a name slipped out before she could stop herself. "I had Professor Stark a few times as a substitute." A part of her mentioned it deliberately, curious to see how Amina might react or what she might say about Catherine.

The mention of Catherine brought a flood of memories that Jackie wasn't ready to face. Before she could redirect the conversation, Amina offered a thoughtful response. "Oh, Professor Stark? She's still teaching Abnormal Psychology," Amina said. "I think she took over permanently after Professor Newberry retired last year. She's really popular in the department—seems like everyone wants to take her classes."

Jackie nodded, swallowing the wave of emotions that came with hearing Catherine's name again. She realized she hadn't fully checked her schedule for the rest of the day and quickly pulled it out to review. Her stomach tightened when she saw her next class listed: Abnormal Psychology. The university usually didn't include professors' names on the schedule, leaving her to wonder—what if Catherine wasn't just a substitute this time but her actual professor?

Jackie shrugged off the unsettling thought and refocused on the woman in front of her. Amina was a year older, exuding a quiet confidence that seemed to draw people in effortlessly. As they talked, Amina shared that her family owned a successful chain of businesses both in the city and beyond—a fact she mentioned casually, without a trace of arrogance. Jackie couldn't help but admire Amina's determination as she described juggling her double major in psychology and medicine with her aspirations for the future. It was clear that Amina was ambitious but grounded, a rare combination.

When the conversation naturally shifted to Jackie, Amina's questions were thoughtful and unassuming. "So, what made you come back to Bloomington?" she asked, her tone warm and genuinely curious.

Jackie hesitated briefly before answering, surprised at how easy it felt to open up. She shared a few details about her acting career, including the recent success of her feature film and her decision to step away from the industry to finish her education. Amina listened intently, her dark eyes never wavering, nodding in encouragement as Jackie spoke.

"It must've been a tough call to leave all of that behind," Amina said, her voice filled with quiet understanding. "But it sounds like you made the right choice for yourself."

Jackie felt a warmth in Amina's words, a sincerity that made her feel seen in a way she hadn't expected. The usual guardedness she maintained with new people seemed to melt away in Amina's presence. She couldn't help but feel grateful for the woman's kindness and the ease of their conversation.

For the first time in a long while, Jackie felt a flicker of genuine connection, and it surprised her just how much she welcomed it.