Jerry had barely stepped into the lecture hall when he saw her.
Vess.
Her curly hair was as wild as ever, the oversized flannel somehow looking cool instead of sloppy. And that smirk? Yeah—Jerry could already tell she'd picked him as her entertainment for the day.
She spotted him immediately.
Her eyes lit up, and loud enough for everyone in a five-seat radius to hear, she called out:
"Look who finally decided to show up. Mr. 'Accidental Contact.'"
Jerry froze mid-step. A couple of students looked up from their phones. Someone near the front chuckled.
👻 Zen: "Well, you're famous now. Congrats."👻 Alric: "She doesn't just flirt—she publishes it."👻 Ragnar: "Honestly, I respect the chaos."
Jerry gave her a tight smile and walked past her row like he hadn't just been publicly roasted.
"You're late," she said as he passed. "I almost missed teasing you."
"Tragic," Jerry muttered.
"You wound me." She clutched her chest dramatically. "Sit. I need something pretty to look at while I ignore this lecture."
He paused a moment. Then—sighing inwardly—he sat down beside her. Of course he did.
The seat was already conveniently empty.
Her knee brushed his as he sat. Not subtle. Not an accident either.
"You look more put together than last time," she said, eyeing him. "Hair's not fighting gravity. Hoodie's clean. Did the gym gods bless you or something?"
Jerry shrugged. "Or maybe I just finally own a mirror."
Vess grinned. "Hmm. Modest and cute. You're killing it."
💻 [Thread Progress Detected: +1 Emotional Sync – Vess 🔥💋]
He opened his notebook and tried to focus, but all he managed was writing the word Intro three times like it was some kind of summoning spell. Vess was scribbling in the margins of hers, then leaned over mid-lecture and whispered:
"Don't look now, but the TA thinks we're dating."
Jerry glanced sideways. "Why would they think that?"
"Because I'm hot," she whispered, "and you look like you read sad poetry in the dark. That's couple energy."
He bit back a laugh. "I'm that tragic?"
"Oh yeah. But in a charming way."
👻 Zen: "This is a flirt battle and you're losing."👻 Alric: "Correction—he's stalling out."👻 Ragnar: "If he doesn't make a move by lunch, I'm haunting her DMs."
Jerry turned to Vess. "You always this forward?"
Vess smirked. "Only when I like someone's face. And their confused little blush."
"I'm not blushing."
"You are," she said, poking his cheek. "And it's adorable."
💻 [System Notification: Thread Tension Detected – Vess 🔥💋]🔸 Physical Proximity: Moderate🔸 Emotional Sync: Strengthening🔸 Reward Track: Hidden Scene Unlock Pending
Class dragged on. Vess doodled a cartoon ghost wearing his hoodie in the corner of her notes.
As the professor droned on about something nobody would remember by next week, she leaned over again, close enough for Jerry to feel the warmth of her breath.
"After class," she said, low, "wanna grab a vending machine snack or something? I'm starving and I don't trust campus sandwiches anymore. They smell like regret."
Jerry blinked, surprised. "Uh… sure."
"Cool," she whispered, eyes twinkling. "It's a date. A sad, salty snack date."
Five minutes later, they were outside the lecture hall, walking toward the machines near the stairwell. Jerry watched her scan the options like she was making stock market decisions.
"Chips or cookies?" she asked, frowning. "Chips are spicy, cookies are soft. Kind of like you."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
She ended up picking both and offered him one without asking.
They leaned against the wall, quietly munching. Jerry's shoulder grazed hers as they stood. He didn't move away.
"You're quiet," she said between bites. "Overthinking again?"
"Just… trying not to screw anything up."
Vess raised an eyebrow. "We're eating chips outside a vending machine. What's there to screw up?"
"Fair point."
She smirked. "You worry too much. But it's kinda endearing."
💻 [Side Interaction Logged: Shared Snack Scene – Minor Bond Increase]🔸 Mood Shift: Comfortable🔸 Tension: Lingering
When they finished, she crumpled the bag and tossed it into the trash with a perfect arc. "Swish," she said, grinning.
"Nice shot."
"I've been training for this moment my whole life."
They lingered for a second longer. Then she tilted her head toward the stairs. "Walk me out?"
"Yeah, sure."
The hallway was quiet and bright. The sun through the windows didn't match the way Jerry's pulse was racing.
"So," Vess said, looking straight ahead, "you never texted."
Jerry scratched the back of his neck. "Didn't know if you meant it."
"If I give you my number, I mean it." She looked at him. "You're not hard to talk to. Just... hard to read."
"You're a lot, you know."
"That a complaint?"
"No. Just... an observation."
Vess smiled at that. "Good. I hate being normal."
They reached the stairwell. She paused on the landing.
Then she stepped closer—just slightly. Her fingers brushed his wrist. The touch was light, but it felt... charged.
"You're weird," she said quietly. "But I like weird."
He met her eyes. "So what happens now?"
"Now," she said, voice low, "you text me. Maybe you buy me coffee. Maybe I let you."
"That's your game? Flirt until I become your barista?"
"Exactly." She leaned forward like she was going to kiss him—then stopped, smiling near his ear. "Later, Firestarter."
And she walked away.
Jerry stood still, brain buffering.
👻 Zen: "She's got you wrapped like a birthday present."👻 Alric: "And you love it."👻 Ragnar: "He's blushing again. This is better than Netflix."
💻 [Quest Progress Updated: 71%]📍 Notable Trigger: Mutual Flirting (Extended) | Physical Tease (x2)🔸 Optional Trigger Scene: Meet Vess After Class🔸 Reward: Relationship Thread Reveal (Pending)
Back in his dorm, Jerry collapsed onto his bed. His phone buzzed.
[ Vess 🔥💋 ]You're thinking too much again, aren't you?Chill. It's just coffee. Not a boss battle.
Jerry laughed, thumbs hovering.
[ Jerry ]Okay, then let's make it a side quest.Coffee this evening? I'll bring the charm, you bring the chaos.
Her reply came almost instantly.
[ Vess 🔥💋 ]Deal.Wear that hoodie again. It's unfairly cute.And maybe… don't be late this time.
Jerry set his phone down, heart thudding a little too fast for "just coffee."
👻 Zen: "You've got a date. Look at you."👻 Alric: "From 'awkward mixer reject' to 'texted by chaos incarnate.' Growth."👻 Ragnar: "And all it took was gym gains and emotional vulnerability."
Jerry pulled the blanket over his face.
He didn't know what came next.
But for once, he was actually excited to find out.