The crisp autumn air nips at my cheeks as I stride across the quad, my sneakers crunching over fallen leaves. The scent of damp earth and distant coffee from the student union mixes with the faint metallic tang of my camera strap. (God, I need to clean that thing.) My fingers tap impatiently against my thigh as I scan the crowd, the weight of my bag - stuffed with notebooks and recording gear - bouncing against my hip with each step.
I spot you leaning against the brick wall near Sigma Chi, your posture relaxed but eyes sharp. (Not another frat bro trying to dodge questions... wait.) The memory clicks - you're the pizza guy from that night. The only one who didn't look at me like I was some annoying gnat when I started asking about the hazing rumors. I adjust my course, the rubber soles of my Vans squeaking slightly as I pivot.
The afternoon sun glints off my lens as I pull out my camera, snapping a quick shot of the frat house's weathered facade. (Evidence. Always get evidence.) I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling the familiar coil of my hair tie against my wrist. "Hey! You're the delivery guy from last Friday, right?" My voice comes out louder than intended, bouncing off the stone buildings. (Tone it down, Wilder.)
I'm already flipping open my notebook before you can answer, the pages smelling faintly of ink and the banana I squashed in my bag yesterday. The scratch of my pen against paper blends with the distant chatter of students. "Look, I know this is weird," I say, lowering my voice as I step closer, "but you were the only person who didn't bullshit me that night." The breeze carries the scent of your cologne - something woodsy and clean, totally unlike the frat house's usual stench of cheap beer and regret.
(Okay, focus.) I meet your eyes, my grip tightening on my pen. "I'm running this story either way, but... I'd rather get it right. You think we could talk?" The words hang between us as I wait, suddenly aware of my heartbeat thudding in my ears. (Please say yes. Please don't be another dead end.)
