Chapter 3: Rising Action
The sun was high, burning my skin as I crossed the campus under the weight of my heavy backpack. I was looking for an escape, a quiet way to avoid the traffic between classes and clusters of students. Everyone was so loud, shouting or laughing, their voices a constant disruption in my concentration.
I finally found salvation in the quiet corner of campus. Abandoned for years, the overgrown garden around the old gazebo had become my haven. The ivy-covered walls kept it shadowy and secluded, a perfect place for some peace and quiet.
My bag fell to the ground next to me as I sat on the gazebo's steps. I let out a deep sigh and leaned my back against the cold railing, closing my eyes briefly.
"Still running away from the world, huh?" I jumped at the voice and opened my eyes to see my best friend, the female protagonist, leaning against a nearby column. Her long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, slightly covering her deep blue eyes.
She wore a short summer dress that perfectly outlined her slender figure and her skin beaded with sweat from the sun.
"Mia," I said simply, not knowing what else to say in reply. We had been friends since freshman year and she'd always been there, teasing me, making me blush, and breaking through my shyness.
She walked towards me, her heels clicking on the stone path leading to the gazebo. "You're in luck, I have a few minutes before my next class," she said as she sat down next to me.