Chapter 29: in between

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: in between

The first meeting of the Literature Society ended more quietly than Vivienne had expected.

Students gradually packed away their notebooks, lingering in small groups to exchange book recommendations, discuss their favorite authors, or continue conversations that had begun during the meeting.

Vivienne slipped her notebook into her satchel before quietly making her way toward the door.

As she stepped into the hallway, she glanced back one last time.

The clubroom remained lively behind her.

Someone had already begun recommending a mystery novel to another member.

A group of seniors stood near one of the bookshelves debating whether a particular ending had been tragic or hopeful.

Laughter drifted softly into the corridor.

A small smile found its way onto Vivienne’s lips.

...

She liked it.

Not because Anthony was there.

Not because it brought her closer to him.

But because...

She genuinely enjoyed it.

For the first time since arriving at St. Albion, she had joined something simply because she wanted to.

The realization felt unexpectedly satisfying.

Closing the door gently behind her, Vivienne made her way down the stone staircase.

Outside, the campus had taken on an entirely different atmosphere from the busy morning she had experienced.

The afternoon sun hung lower in the sky, bathing the university in warm amber light.

Students wandered leisurely between buildings instead of hurrying to classes.

Near the central lawn, members of the Drama Society rehearsed an energetic scene beneath the shade of an old oak tree.

Not far away, the Photography Club chased the golden afternoon light with their cameras, laughing whenever one of their friends accidentally wandered into the frame.

From an open window somewhere in the Arts Building came the faint sound of a piano, accompanied by a violin tuning alongside it.

For a moment...

Vivienne simply walked.

No destination in mind.

No frantic search for Anthony.

No carefully planned "accidental" encounters.

She was simply...

Enjoying the campus.

She slowed almost unconsciously.

It was strange.

When she had first awakened inside the novel, every thought had revolved around one thing.

...

Anthony.

Meeting him.

Speaking to him.

Changing their future.

Yet now...

She found herself appreciating everything in between.

The clubs.

The students.

The old buildings.

The quiet rhythm of university life.

A soft laugh escaped her.

"...Maybe I’m starting to like it here."

Then she smiled to herself.

Well...

That didn’t mean she had forgotten her original goal.

Not even a little.

"Vivienne!"

She turned at the familiar voice.

Claire stood several metres away, waving both arms dramatically.

Amelia and Eleanor followed just behind her.

"There you are!" Claire exclaimed as soon as they met.

"For a moment I thought the Literature Society had decided to adopt you."

Vivienne laughed.

"It was actually wonderful."

"I think I chose well."

"I knew you would," Claire said with a satisfied nod.

The four girls naturally fell into step, walking toward the residence halls together.

"So?" Claire asked.

"What was it like?"

Vivienne considered the question.

"It was peaceful."

"There wasn’t much excitement."

"The professor introduced the club, we met the officers, and everyone spent most of the meeting talking about books."

"It felt..."

She searched for the right word.

"...Comfortable."

Eleanor smiled.

"I suppose that’s exactly what a literature club should feel like."

"What about yours?" Vivienne asked.

Claire immediately launched into an animated retelling of an argument she’d witnessed in the Debate Society.

According to her, two seniors had spent nearly fifteen minutes passionately disagreeing over a political philosopher neither of them particularly liked.

By the time she finished acting out both sides of the debate, the other three girls were laughing.

Amelia smiled sheepishly.

"My club wasn’t nearly as dramatic."

"The Music Appreciation Society mostly introduced this semester’s recital schedule."

"They even said students can volunteer to perform."

Claire blinked.

"I honestly didn’t expect you to choose music."

"Neither did I," Amelia admitted.

"But..."

"I thought it might be nice to try something different."

Eleanor laughed softly.

"The Medical Interest Society was much calmer."

"They introduced some of the outreach programmes we’ll be helping with later this semester."

"It seems more community-oriented than I expected."

Claire suddenly clapped her hands together.

"Oh!"

"That reminds me."

"Tomorrow."

"The volunteer programme."

Vivienne blinked.

"That’s right."

Claire smiled proudly.

"I signed all four of us up for the same placement."

"...You did?"

"Of course."

Claire looked entirely unapologetic.

"It’s our first weekend."

"If we’re volunteering anyway, we might as well spend it together."

Eleanor smiled.

"That does sound like you."

"I knew none of you would object."

Claire folded her arms with unmistakable satisfaction.

"So I took the initiative."

Amelia laughed.

"Where did you sign us up?"

"The Ashford Foundation."

For a brief moment, Vivienne fell silent.

The Ashford Foundation.

Of course.

She remembered it well from the novel.

The Ashfords weren’t merely one of the kingdom’s oldest ducal houses.

They were also the founding family of St. Albion University.

The Ashford Foundation served as the university’s charitable arm, overseeing scholarships, educational outreach, community programmes, and weekend volunteer work for both students and the surrounding communities.

It was one of the university’s proudest traditions.

Naturally...

Members of House Ashford often participated.

Anthony had appeared there several times throughout the novel.

If he wasn’t occupied with another official engagement...

There was a very good chance he would be there tomorrow.

A tiny spark of hope quietly rekindled itself.

No horses.

No unexpected detours.

No being redirected somewhere else.

Just volunteer work.

And Anthony.

Surely...

This time...

Things would finally go according to plan.

Then she remembered standing outside the Polo Club for nearly half an hour.

She remembered Damian appearing instead.

She remembered walking into the cafeteria with him.

A quiet laugh escaped before she could stop it.

Claire looked over curiously.

"Hm?"

Vivienne smiled, shaking her head.

"...Nothing."

She looked toward the path stretching ahead of them, golden beneath the setting sun.

"I was just thinking..."

"...I probably shouldn’t tempt fate."

Claire looked completely confused.

Amelia and Eleanor exchanged equally puzzled glances.

Vivienne simply smiled to herself.

After everything that had happened this week...

She had learned one very important lesson.

Whenever she thought she had everything planned...

Life had an amusing habit of surprising her instead.