After a moment, I decided to change the subject. "Anyway… enough about that. I finished a big presentation today. My group's been working on it for weeks, and I'm just hoping we get a good grade."
Elias leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. "Oh yeah? What's it on?"
I gave him a brief explanation, but as I talked, I noticed the amused smirk creeping onto his face.
"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing," he said innocently. "I was just thinking about my presentation skills back in the day. Let's just say I wasn't exactly… prepared most of the time."
I raised a brow. "Oh? Do tell."
He grinned, clearly relishing the chance to share. "Okay, so one time, we had to do this group project, and I completely forgot it was my turn to present. My solution? I made up a topic on the spot and tried to sell it as legit."
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're kidding."
"Wish I was," he said, chuckling. "The best part? I somehow convinced the teacher it was a 'creative approach' and got an A. My group, though? They weren't exactly thrilled."
I shook my head, still laughing. "I can't believe you."
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" he said, shrugging.
We fell into a comfortable rhythm, trading stories and laughing until my cheeks hurt. For a moment, it felt like everything else faded away, leaving just the sound of the ocean and the warmth of his presence.
But eventually, the chill in the air grew sharper, and I stood, brushing the sand off my coat. "I should head back. It's late."
Elias stood as well, his hands slipping into his pockets. "Alright, let's go—"
Before he could finish, he darted forward, snatching something from my hand.
"Elias!" I protested, realizing he'd grabbed my phone. "Give it back!"
He grinned, already taking a few steps back. "Nope."
"Elias, I'm serious! I need that!"
"Then come and get it," he said with a wink before turning and running down the beach.
"Elias!" I shouted, but he didn't slow down.
I took off after him, the sand making it harder to gain any real speed. "Elias, I swear—give it back! I want to go home!"
"Not until you catch me!" he called over his shoulder, laughing.
I groaned but kept running, determined to wipe that smug grin off his face.
When I finally caught up to him, I lunged forward, grabbing Elias's arm and trying to wrestle my phone out of his hand. "Give it back, you—"
Before I could finish, his foot slipped in the shifting sand, throwing both of us off balance. My heart lurched as gravity took over, and we tumbled together. The world tilted, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I fell backward.
Elias twisted mid-fall, his arm looping around me with startling swiftness. The next thing I knew, we hit the sand with a soft, muffled thud, his body cushioning mine from the impact. The warmth of him pressed against me was an abrupt contrast to the chill of the night.
For a moment, neither of us moved. My breath hitched, and my pulse thundered in my ears. Elias hovered over me, his hands braced on either side of my head, his face just inches from mine. I became hyper-aware of everything—the way his chest rose and fell with each breath, the faint scent of the ocean mixed with something warm and distinctly him, the erratic rhythm of my own heart as his gaze locked onto mine.
"You okay?" His voice was quiet, his tone unusually serious as his light blue eyes searched mine.
I nodded, my voice caught somewhere between my throat and my rapidly beating heart. "Y-yeah, I'm fine."
He didn't move immediately. His eyes flicked lower, lingering on my lips for a fraction of a second before darting back up to meet mine. The way he looked at me—intense like he was trying to read every thought racing through my head—sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
My hands, which had instinctively grabbed at his shirt during the fall, were still curled into the fabric. I realized it too late and quickly let go, the heat rising to my cheeks as his lips quirked into a small, crooked smile.
"You're… heavy," I managed to say, my voice uneven.
He chuckled, the sound soft and warm. "And you're surprisingly fast."
I rolled my eyes, though the movement felt sluggish. "Elias…"
"Hmm?"
"Get off me."
"Right," he said, though he didn't move immediately. His gaze lingered for just a moment longer before he finally pushed himself up, offering me a hand.
I took it, letting him pull me to my feet.
As we brushed the sand off, his smirk returned, and he held out my phone. "Here. You earned it."
I snatched it back, shooting him a glare. "You're annoying."
"And yet, here we are," he said, his grin widening.
Despite myself, I laughed, shaking my head as we started back toward the car.
The rest of the drive passed quietly, the weight of the night easing with every mile that separated me from the house.
When we finally pulled up outside my dorm, Elias turned to me, his expression soft but unreadable.
"Get some rest," he said, his voice lighter now. "And next time you're sitting at a bus stop late at night, call me first, yeah?"
I managed a small smile. "I'll think about it."
He rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward. "Goodnight, Raven."
"Goodnight, Elias."
I stepped out of the car, and the cold air nipped at my skin again, but it didn't feel quite as sharp this time. There was something about tonight—about Elias—that had left me feeling lighter, like a tiny sliver of the weight I carried had been lifted.
His car engine hummed quietly as he waited for me to get inside safely. I glanced back, catching his silhouette in the driver's seat, and raised my hand in a small wave. He returned it with a nod before driving off into the night.
Shaking my head, I turned toward the dorm building and hurried inside, the warmth hitting me as soon as the door shut behind me. My steps were soft as I made my way down the hall, not wanting to wake anyone at this hour.
When I entered my dorm room, the soft glow of Maya's nightlight illuminated her sleeping figure, sprawled out under her blanket. Her soft snores filled the room, and I smiled faintly. At least one of us was getting a peaceful night's sleep.
I plugged my phone into the charger on my desk, peeling off my coat and scarf. The cold had seeped into my bones, but the idea of taking a shower in this weather was a hard no. Instead, I changed into a pair of thick sweatpants and a hoodie, pulling on some fuzzy socks for extra warmth.
As I slipped under the covers of my bed, I felt my body slowly start to relax, though my mind wasn't quite ready to shut off.
Elias.
I sighed, staring at the ceiling. He'd managed to cheer me up tonight in a way I hadn't expected. The beach, the stories, the stupid chase on the sand—it had all felt so… different. Different in a good way.
But then my mind drifted to the fall. The way we'd landed. His face so close to mine, his hand shielding the back of my head, the warmth of his breath on my skin.
I felt my cheeks flush and buried my face in my hands. "Oh my god, was I thinking about him right now?" I muttered under my breath.
I smacked my forehead lightly with my palm. "Absolutely not. We just met. Besides, he's just a nice guy—" I paused, frowning slightly. "A nice guy who knows a lot about me… but I really don't know much about him."
The thought lingered for a moment, curiosity blooming in my chest. Guess I'll find out, I thought.
A small smile crept onto my face before I could stop it. I groaned and smacked my forehead again. "Why am I smiling? Stop it."
I rolled over and reached for my phone, which had charged just enough to turn back on. As I unlocked it, a notification popped up—a text from Elias.
Elias: Get some rest, princess. Don't overthink.😏
My face heated again, but I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. Shaking my head, I typed out a quick reply:
Me: Goodnight, Elias. Thanks for tonight.
I hit send and placed my phone back on the nightstand, pulling the covers up to my chin. A soft sense of contentment settled over me, and as my eyes drifted shut, the last thing I thought of was the way Elias's laugh had echoed over the waves.